Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference inspires and empowers youth in leadership and service. Hands4Hope is a youth-driven organization that has served Sacramento and El Dorado Counties since 2008 through Education and Community Engagement 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.
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Sign up for a reminder about Big Day of Giving! Donations count toward Big Day of Giving totals from April 17 to May 1, 2025. To be eligible for prizes and boosts, donations must be made on May 1.
WHY IS HANDS4HOPE'S SERVICE LEARNING MODEL IMPORTANT FOR OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY TODAY?
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1. "Explore-Act-Lead" | Unique Youth Leadership Model
Hands4Hope - Youth Making A Difference youth participants explore social issues surrounding them, take action by choosing and designing service projects, then lead these projects from start to finish. Along the way, they gain experience and skills essential to success in college, the workforce and in life:
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creative leadership
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financial literacy
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planning & organization
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problem solving
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creativity
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communication
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collaboration
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2. We're breaking the barriers on volunteerism
Working alongside adult mentors, Hands4Hope youth build relationships with people and organizations to solve real issues in their community. Hands4Hope's network of 45+ nonprofit partners allows youth volunteers in 6th-12th grade the opportunity to fill unmet needs of those experiencing food insecurity, homelessness, mental and physical illness, foster care, disabilities, and so many others in need.
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Our proven model has not only served thousands of TODAY's less fortunate - we are cultivating a community of civic-minded and socially responsible citizens for generations to come!
OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL:
$85,000
Your donation of any size goes to work right away to inspire and empower youth in leadership and service.
$15 = Purchases a required participant T-shirt for one youth with limited means
$50 = Provides material for two handmade blankets to care for families in need
$100 = Provide a high school student with a new backpack filled with school supplies, including a scientific calculator
$200 = Supplemental food for two monthly dinners prepared for seniors at an affordable senior housing facility (average 55 meals)
$500 = Sponsors participation in three-day leadership camp for one youth
$2,500 = Operates the Placerville Youth Center and Emergency Food Pantry for one month
$3,500 = Funds one on-campus service learning Hands4Hope Club at a middle or high school for a quarter of a year
$7,500 = Funds one on-campus service-learning Hands4Hope Club at a middle or high school for half a year
Meet the teams
Meet some passionate Hands4Hope youth and adult supporters who have teamed up on Big Day of Giving to offer their own campaigns in support of Hands4Hope's goal. They each have a remarkable story to share about how they have personally been involved, and why they are choosing to support Hands4Hope in this meaningful way.
Heather and Carissa
Carissa first attended a Hands4Hope Club meeting at her middle school in 6th grade, and found herself in awe of how the youth leaders spoke to the group without any fear. Find out how far Carissa has come, and why she and Board of Directors President Heather want future youth to have experiences like Carissa's, and more!
ABOUT BIG DAY OF GIVING
Big Day of Giving is a 24-hour giving celebration from the Sacramento Region Community Foundation that inspires people to support causes they love in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo counties. This generosity-fueled movement has inspired $104 million in gifts for area nonprofits since 2013.
Donors can support Hands4Hope through our portal on the Big Day of Giving website to be eligible for prizes and boosts. To avoid transaction fees, donors can participate in Big Day of Giving by dropping off a check at the Hands4Hope El Dorado Hills Youth Center between April 17-May 1. If your check is to support a specific team / campaign, please indicate in the memo line. If you prefer to make a contribution online with reduced fees, please do so here and indicate BDOG in the comments box.
The Big Day of Giving platform accommodates donations through Donor Advised Funds (DAF) and other managed funds. You can find the drop-down to select this option during the check-out process, where the default is entering credit card info. If you would like to donate through Benevity, please contact us.