Avanti and Monique: Purpose Grows Through Service

Avanti's Story:

Avanti at 2025 Leadership CampFor me personally, Hands4Hope has become such an important part of my life. I actually joined Hands4Hope back in 6th grade, so it has been a little over 4 years now. My family had just moved to El Dorado Hills, so I joined my middle school’s club to meet new people. What started out as a way to make friends turned into something so much bigger for me. In 7th grade, I became the Public Relations Coordinator, and in 8th grade I served as Vice President, which gave me my first real leadership experiences. Now I am the Treasurer of the Inspire Hands4Hope Club at Oak Ridge High School.

My favorite Hands4Hope committee that I was involved in was the Ryan Christopher Hersh Memorial Scholarship Committee, where we review applications and manage funding to help send children to summer camps who otherwise might not be able to attend. Experiences like that are what make Hands4Hope so meaningful to me, because you’re not just volunteering for a few hours. You’re actually planning projects, working with the community, and seeing the real impact that your work has. It was especially meaningful to me because during that committee we were able to give a scholarship for a young girl who wanted to attend a STEM summer program that I attended at her age, and it felt so rewarding to know she will have the same amazing experience that I had. I recently found out that I got the role of Committee Chair for this year’s group, and I’m really excited. 

Monique's Story: 

My decision to serve as a board member for Hands4Hope Youth Making A Difference is deeply personal.  As a parent, I care not only about the opportunities available to my own children, but also about the kind of community and future we are collectively building for the next generation.

This commitment became even more meaningful when my daughter joined Hands4Hope as a 6th grader this year.  Watching her step into the program at such a formative age has reinforced just how powerful early exposure to service and leadership can be.  She is not just volunteering, she is learning how to think critically about real-world issues, collaborate with others, and develop a voice grounded in empathy and purpose.

Hands4Hope’s mission to inspire and empower youth in leadership and service is what sets it apart. The organization doesn’t simply ask young people to give back, it equips them to understand community needs, take action, and lead meaningful change.  What resonates most with me is that Hands4Hope treats youth as capable leaders today, not just future leaders. Students are given real responsibility and a platform to make their voices heard on issues that matter, while developing essential life skills like communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.  They identify the issues in their communities, design solutions, and bring those ideas to life through service-learning projects.  

In my professional life, I’ve seen how critical these skills are and how rare it is to develop them early. Hands4Hope is filling that gap by cultivating civic-minded, socially responsible individuals who understand both the challenges facing our communities and their own ability to make an impact.  Serving on the board allows me to contribute to something bigger than myself. It’s an opportunity to support a program that is not only helping those in need today, but also shaping a generation of thoughtful, engaged leaders for tomorrow.

About Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference

Hands4Hope is a youth-driven organization that has served Sacramento and El Dorado Counties since 2008 through Education and Outreach programs. Working alongside adult mentors and using a service-learning strategy, we equip youth with the knowledge and skills to be civic minded and socially responsible.