Youth Board

 Hi! My name is Lily Hinkle and I am the Hands4Hope Youth Board President. I am a senior at Ponderosa High School in the fall and this will be my seventh full year with the organization. One of my top strengths is Includer, which helps me make sure everyone is feeling a part of whatever we are doing and that everyone has a voice. In my free time, I love hanging out with my friends, family and dog, going to sporting events and traveling. Whenever I volunteer in my community, I am always rewarded with seeing the reactions of those who I have helped. I love knowing that I was able to make a difference in someone’s life, even if it was through something small. My goal for the Youth Board this year is to help everyone build on their strengths and continue to grow as a leader and a person. I am very excited to work with so many new people this year and can’t wait to get started! 

Hi! I am Carissa Pham and I am a senior at Oak Ridge High School. I've been involved in Hands4Hope for six years, ever since the beginning of middle school. I am currently the President of the ORHS Empower Club and the Secretary for the Youth Board Executive Committee. Through Hands4Hope leadership, I have learned about my Top 5 Gallup Strengths that gives me insight on my strengths and weaknesses for leadership. One of my Top 5 Gallup Strengths is Connectedness. This strength allows me to see the reason and connection behind things, which helps me make meaningful connections with my club members and keep projects very connected. Some of my hobbies are making crafts, thrifting, and spending time with friends. The driving force behind my involvement to fulfill unmet needs in my community is that I believe everyone deserves happy and healthy lives, but not everyone has that. Hands4Hope has the ability to change lives by meeting so many needs in the community and that can be truly powerful for underserved people.  My hope for the Youth Board this year is that we can create good relationships and support each other in our school clubs while also making a positive difference in the community. I am looking forward to another year with Hands4Hope! 

Hi, my name is Tania Thomas, and I am a senior at Vista Del Lago High School. I joined Hands4Hope in 7th grade during the 2020 pandemic. Currently, I am the Community Engagement Ambassador for the Youth Board. Additionally, I am involved in several seasonal committee leadership roles. One of my Top 5 Gallup Strengths is Input. This strength allows me to prepare for various situations by thoroughly researching before committing to new projects. It also helps me engage in successful peer leadership, as I can answer questions during discussions and gather valuable information from my surroundings. My hobbies include reading, painting, swimming, playing flag football, baking, and volunteering. I am inspired to address unmet needs in my community because my actions, no matter how small, can make a difference in someone's life. Being aware of unmet needs is far better than remaining ignorant about them, and education is a first step to positive change. My goal for the Youth Board this year is to inspire young people in our community to become passionate about helping others and build professional skills that will lead to their future success.

​Hi! I’m Jillian Mao and I’m a senior at Oak Ridge. I’ve been in Hands4Hope since my sophomore year and I’ve been involved with almost every after-school committee. Currently, I am the President of the Oak Ridge Inspire Club and the Vice President of the Youth Board Executive Committee. One of my Top 5 Gallup Strengths is Adaptability. This strength allows me to be flexible and make changes when things don’t go as planned. Outside of Hands4Hope, I like to go to the gym, go to the lake, hang out with my friends, and run. My inspiration to fulfill unmet needs in my community comes from my desire to understand our differences and create unity. This year on the Hands4Hope Youth Executive Board, I want to build new connections in my community and improve my leadership skills.

Hi I am Adi Laufer and I’m a sophomore at Folsom High School. I started Hands4Hope in 6th grade, so it's been five years now that I've been involved. My current leadership position is the Youth Board Treasurer. One of my Top 5 Gallup Strengths that I've discovered throughout Hands4Hope leadership is Individualization. This strength allows me to understand my peers in a way that will motivate them and appoint people to a task that would best suit their strengths and skills. Some of my hobbies outside of Hands4Hope include baking, exercising, teaching a secondary language, and reading. For me, my inspiration to help fill an unmet need in my community is the warm feeling I get when seeing people being helped. When I help people I feel fulfilled and proud of myself. I feel I have become more aware, responsible and giving. My hope is that by serving on the Hands4Hope Youth Board Executive Committee I can help teach future leaders, learn valuable professional skills that I will need in my future, and grow as a person while helping my community become a better place.