SCI hosting Youth Pitch Event at Microsoft NERD Center - Media Invited

Now in its 3rd year, Social Capital Inc.’s 2024 Youth Grant Pitch Contest (YGPC) will culminate at the Pitch Event on April 6, 2024 at the Microsoft NERD Center in Cambridge. During the Pitch Event, 11 youth teams from nonprofits, schools, and public programs in Greater Boston will deliver a presentation to request funding for their community project idea to a panel of judges. A total of $14,000 of grant funds will be awarded to at least 7 teams. Funded youth teams will have until November 2024 to complete their respective projects and submit a project impact report.

The 2024 YGPC features a record number of 11 youth teams from the Boston area including:

• Arts and Culture Committee from the Boston Mayor’s Youth Council in Boston
• The Dreamers from the Cambridge Community Center in Cambridge
• Neighborhood Service Project from the Moses Youth Center in Cambridge
• Greater Love Tabernacle Youth Ministry from the Greater Love Tabernacle Church in Dorchester
• Harvest Hope Foundation from La Vida Scholars in Lynn
• Lynn Lady Leaders from the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn in Lynn
• Mental Health Awareness Association from La Vida Scholars in Lynn
• Wakefield Youth Action Team from the Wakefield Memorial High School in Wakefield
• Intrepid Keystone Club from the James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club in Woburn
• Inclusive Eats from Inclusive Eats Inc. in Woburn
• Unity in Action from the Woburn Memorial High School in Woburn

In total, there are 85 youth involved in the 2024 YGPC who want to support the mental health and well-being of the youth in their communities by developing a community-focused project.

The programmatic goal of SCI’s Youth Grant Pitch Contest is to connect youth across Greater Boston communities with the agency to decide how to strengthen their community while practicing valuable career skills such as public speaking, project management, and community organizing. With the guidance and support of multiple professional volunteer coaches, each youth team develops their project ideas and has the opportunity to be in the driver's seat of positive change.

Participating in this year’s YGPC are 28 volunteer coaches who are professionals from a variety of local startups, companies, and nonprofits such as GATO, United Healthcare, Microsoft, Draft Kings, and The Network For Social Justice. Through six coaching sessions scheduled throughout February and March, these dedicated coaches provided valuable mentorship to the youth teams, guiding them in the development of their community projects and pitches.

SCI invites media to attend the Pitch Event, which is open in limited capacity to the public. The welcome segment of the event starts at 2:15PM and the pitch presentations start at 2:45PM. The Pitch Event concludes at 5PM. If you would like to attend please email Serey Kremer at [email protected] to RSVP. RSVPs must be received by Wednesday, April 3rd.

For press inquiries please contact:
David Crowley, President, SCI: [email protected], 339-227-2146

This project is supported by: Kick It for a Cause; Winning Home, Inc.; Gail O’Rourke – Founder, Benefact4; Enterprise Bank; the AmeriCorps Agency; Massachusetts Service Alliance; a Massachusetts state budget line item, thanks to the advocacy of State Senator Cindy Friedman. Thank you to Microsoft New England for their partnership in hosting the 2024 Pitch Event. Major support for SCI Woburn is provided by Cummings Properties.

The mission of SCI Social Capital Inc. is to strengthen communities by connecting diverse individuals and organizations through civic engagement initiatives. Founded in 2002 in Woburn, SCI has grown to serve the Greater Boston area while continuing to have a significant impact in Woburn.

Visit socialcapitalinc.org to learn more about SCI programs and volunteer opportunities.