Youth Volunteer 12,844 Hours in “volunteer for 15” Challenge

Sept. 12, 2022 (Kansas City, Mo.) – Nearly 550 youth ages 11-18 took the Volunteer for 15 pledge to volunteer 15 hours this summer in communities across North America. In total, the youth volunteered 12,844 hours between June 1-August 31, 2022.

Volunteer for 15 is a new partnership between Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ 15 and the Mahomies Foundation and nationally known youth service organization Youth Volunteer Corps. Of the 539 youth who took the pledge, 34% were from Patrick’s home base, Kansas City. In total, 19 different metropolitan areas, including two in Canada, participated in Volunteer for 15.

“I’m so impressed by these kids and all they did for their communities through Youth Volunteer Corps,” said Patrick Mahomes. “From serving food at homeless shelters to building handmade beds for children in-need, all these volunteers made a difference in their communities this summer. I’m so proud of everyone for taking the Volunteer for 15 pledge.”

“We are so pleased to partner with Youth Volunteer Corps, the experts in youth service, for this initiative,” said Marques Fitch, Executive Director of the 15 and the Mahomies Foundation. “Through YVC, youth meet community needs while simultaneously learning about nonprofit organizations and those they serve. They also have an opportunity to reflect on their service experience.”

Youth who signed the Volunteer for 15 pledge committed to:

• Volunteer for 15 hours between June 1 - August 31, 2022.
• Strive to be a positive difference-maker in their community.
• Embrace the vision of Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) to have compassion, selflessness, and respect for everyone.
• Fully participate in all YVC activities for community engagement and personal development.
• Represent Youth Volunteer Corps and Patrick Mahomes’ 15 and the Mahomies Foundation positively.

This is the first year for Volunteer for 15, and Youth Volunteer Corps CEO Tracy Hale says it won’t be the last. “We are thrilled by the response to the Volunteer for 15 challenge,” she said. “We anticipate the program growing next summer to more than 15,000 hours volunteered by youth across the United States and Canada.”

Since its beginning in 1987, more than 300,000 Youth Volunteer Corps participants have volunteered a total of five million hours. 98% of YVC participants say they better understand the needs of their community after participating in Youth Volunteer Corps, and 96% say they’ll continue to volunteer in the future.