'TIS THE SEASON FOR GIVING BACK

MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

Greetings, YMWIC Supporters:

As we enter the holiday season, our mindset shifts to community; and we show up for others outside of our immediate circles in big ways. Supporting our communities is critical, now more than ever; and we encourage everyone to consider how they can contribute to the continued stewardship of all that we hold most dear.

At YMWIC, this is a core value that we work hard to instill into our Scholars. We have seen our Scholars give back in myriad ways this year, and may this inspire all of you in kind. When considering what lies ahead, this is the time to ponder the ways we can continue supporting the communities we serve, whether that be through volunteering our time, contributing charitable donations, or sharing resources--however the holiday spirit of generosity manifests within you.

This is also the time to pause and reflect on both the challenges and successes of the year, and plan for what lies ahead. We are looking forward to a busy and productive 2026. Scholars are well on their way to completing their Science Projects and preparing for our 15th Annual Science Expo in February. We also have an important milestone approaching: the YMWIC 16th Anniversary of our Annual Scholarship & Awards Banquet! We hope to see you all there.

As we look and move ahead, we invite you to join us as a YMWIC Partner, Supporter, Donor, or Volunteer. We encourage you to select one of these links: information link, volunteer link, or contact me directly to let us know how you would like to be involved. Our gratitude to our community of supporters is boundless. We simply could not do this without you.

We wish each of you a happy and healthy holiday and a prosperous New Year. We are truly grateful and thankful for each of you, and we cannot wait to see what we accomplish together in the coming year!

Richard Roberts, III

(610) 340-2844

rrobertsiii@ymwicfoundation.org

YMWIC MISSION:

To empower and prepare economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented youth to excel and become leaders in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) careers through a structured and rigorous curriculum, academic tutoring, mentoring and financial assistance programs, accomplished by leveraging alliances with K-12 school districts, universities, corporations, and our committed partners.



YMWIC CORE VALUES:

We Believe we can significantly impact the future of our youth through education and extraordinary leadership.

We Value Commitment, Honor and Accountability and through these principles we are dedicated to the tradition of excellence in serving our youth, our partners and our community.

We Promote Engagement and Collaboration by treating all people with respect and sincerity to create an environment of openness where shared success can be achieved. 

We Demonstrate Quality by working efficiently and effectively to continuously improve our programs for the benefit of our Scholars.

YMWIC 2025 PROMO VIDEO

Our Heartfelt Thanks

Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC): YMWIC Foundation, Inc., is eligible to receive funds from the EITC Program, which is administered by Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development. We thank those businesses that donate their EITC funding to YMWIC Foundation and encourage others to consider directing funding to our impactful community nonprofit that provides college and career preparation for K-12 students; empowers their families; counseling, financial support, and internships for YMWIC college alumni. We also enrich our communities through Community Service activities, increase the number of college graduates, and develop a talented and skilled workforce. Please contact Rick Roberts at (610) 340-2844 if you would like to consider our YMWIC Foundation, Inc., as the recipient of your company's EITC funds.

YMWIC - GivingTuesday - Thank you to our Donors

YWMIC thanks our donors for their generous support during the 2025 GivingTuesday event. GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. This event emphasizes opportunities to give back to communities and causes in ways that allow for social connection and kindness, which are core elements of the YMWIC Foundation. We couldn't do it without you. Thank you so much for your generous contributions this GivingTuesday! For more ways to support the YWMIC Foundation, please visit our page.

YMWIC Scholars Share a Day of Community Giving

What a joyous day! On Saturday, December 13th, YMWIC Scholars and their families from all Chapters gathered together for one of our most anticipated events of the Program Year, our Annual Holiday Giving Event. The event was held at B. Reed Henderson High School in West Chester, PA, in celebration of the holiday season.

We recognize and honor the diversity of holiday traditions within our organization and want all our community to come together and celebrate in a welcoming and inclusive environment. In doing so, we honor the spirit and traditions of all Scholars and their families.

Each year, we choose a family that could use a little extra help during the holiday season from the community of each Chapter, and we invite them to attend. These families were each presented with thoughtful and beautifully wrapped gifts for the children and their parents and/or guardians. The donated gifts were made by program families in each Chapter. Read More.

Honor Roll

We congratulate our Scholars who have worked hard and excelled in achieving Distinguished Honor Roll and Honor Roll status for the first marking period! Keep up the excellent work.

Chester Upland Chapter: Distinguished Honor Roll: Dior Livingston; Honor Roll: Joreliz Colon, Nayelis Colon, Joimary Delacruz, Mya Ferguson, Abby Hemighaus, Elijah Navo, Tayzhon D.R. Sadler, Anthony Stokes, Calvin Stokes, Zhiyonna Sutton, and Alonzo Taylor

Coatesville Chapter: Distinguished Honor Roll: Alejandro Sellan Samaniego

Furness High School Chapter: Distinguished Honor Roll: Jhonathan Mulyadi, Romanus Prasetya; Honor Roll: William DeJesus Sandoval

Martin Luther King High School Chapter: Distinguished Honor Roll: Askia Manley; Honor Roll: Brian Johnson, Gabrielle Bodbolt, and Jared Ware

Norristown Blockson Chapter: Distinguished Honor Roll: Jayni Desai, Shiv Desai; Honor Roll: Angel Morales, Arianna Kelsey, Caleb Reynolds, and Khairi Julien

Norristown Eisenhower Chapter: Distinguished Honor Roll: Eddie Baldwin; Honor Roll: Braheem Douglas, Kimora White, and Noah Whittington

Upper Darby Chapter: Distinguished Honor Roll: William Zhao, Jahzara Walker, Mason McKnight, Abdul Sesay; Honor Roll: Jaden Ammons, Oprah Bricks, Hermela Gebrekidan, Yared Gebrekidan, Liya Gebru, and Nakiyah Wilder

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Featured Scholars

Chester Upland Chapter: Dior Livingston is a 10th grade student. She really appreciates the opportunities and support YMWIC offers. She enjoys the supportive and caring atmosphere where we review key concepts together, and there is no judgment in asking for help. As a Scholar focused on academic excellence, she has achieved Honor Roll. Dior hopes to become a lawyer after successfully completing college. Dior values support and tutoring provided by Foundation staff and volunteers as they help her with homework, which has improved her grades. Her advice to others is, "Use your time thoughtfully, and take advantage of the Foundation's resources and opportunities." In her free time, Dior enjoys playing bass, games, and listening to music. We are proud of your accomplishments, Dior!

Coatesville Chapter: Jose Alejandro Sellan Samaniego is a 9th grade student at Coatesville Area Intermediate High School. Jose Alejandro joined YMWIC the summer of 8th grade going into 9th grade. He most enjoys the fun and exciting activities planned at YMWIC. For example, he loved the Community Service activity we were able to do with the Chester County Food Bank. He really enjoyed coloring and decorating the boxes that we gave to the Senior Citizens in our area: "It was cool to know that my work was going to put a smile on someone's face during the holiday season. I would not have been able to experience that without being a YMWIC Scholar." Read more.

Furness High School Chapter: Kiara Young is a 10th grade Scholar at Furness High School who joined YMWIC in 9th grade. One of the aspects Kiara enjoys most about YMWIC is the sense of teamwork and, of course, the food! Through the Program, she has built strong friendships and values the supportive environment it provides. Kiara is proud to be on the Honor Roll, showing her commitment to her academics. After high school, she is interested in possibly becoming a Food Critic, combining creativity with her love of food. In her free time, Kiara enjoys eating her favorite foods and watching TV. Her advice to younger Scholars is simple and powerful. "Do your work on time and lock in." Kiara encourages others to join YMWIC, describing it as an environment with like-minded Scholars that provides exciting activities, help with schoolwork, provides socializing and engaging activities, and enhances our overall growth and development. Continue doing well, Kiara!

Martin Luther King Chapter: Natalya Massey is a 10th grade Scholar at Martin Luther King High School who joined YMWIC in the 9th grade. Natalya enjoys the friends, food, and activities that YMWIC offers and credits the Program with helping improve her grades. Natalya hopes to become a Veterinarian after graduating from high school and currently has her sights set on Ursinus College. She stays active by participating in volleyball and choir. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball and gaming. Her advice to younger Scholars is encouraging and straightforward. "Try it." Natalya describes YMWIC as a fun Program with lots of activities, and she values the opportunities it provides both academically and socially. We are proud of your growth and achievement as a YMWIC Scholar!

Norristown Blockson Chapter: Shiv Desani is a 7th grade student at Eisenhower Science & Technology Leadership Academy Middle School. Shiv joined YMWIC this year. So far, he really enjoys the SIGs and says the Foundation has multiple opportunities for scholars, e.g. College Expos, clubs (Robotics team, Math and Science, Art, Civics & Debate, Chess, Jazz Ensemble, Chorus, etc.) that are available to join. Scholars even have opportunities to travel for competitions. Shiv feels the Foundation's Project Support and guidance enahnces Scholars' time management skills. As a result of sharpening my skills and focus, I submit my assignments on time, which leads to better grades. In the future, Shiv would like to be an Artist. Shiv has received Excellence Awards this marking period in Science, Social Studies, and Global Leadership, as well as Achievement Awards in Math and ELA (English Language Arts). In his spare time, Shiv enjoys sketching, playing basketball, and playing games with family and friends. We enjoy watching your growth and accomplishments, Shiv!

Norristown Eisenhower Chapter: Eddie Baldwin is an 11th grade student at Norristown Area High School. He joined the YMWIC this year, and so far, most enjoys Community Service activities. Eddie feels it's a wonderful opportunity to help others and be more active in your community. The Foundation's biggest impact so far has been giving Eddie the ability to assist and support others. Eddie feels YMWIC is a wonderful Program with countless opportunities and positive staff. Eddie would like to be a Marketing Manager, working in branding, graphic design, social media, etc. when he graduates from high school. He is looking at East Stroudsburg University, Shippensburg University, and Westminster University for college options. His advice to younger Scholars, "Don't procrastinate! It only makes things more difficult. Do things in a step-by-step manner. In the first marking period, Eddie has achieved Second Honor Roll, National Honor Society Certificate of Membership, and the Gear Up Certificate of Recognition. In his free time, Eddie enjoys playing the piano, singing, and wrestling. You're off to a great start, Eddie. Congratulations!

West Chester: Max Schmied is a hard-working, dedicated Scholar who is currently in 10th grade at West Chester East High School. Max has been part of YMWIC since the 6th grade and has been committed to being involved in the program and learning new things. Max's dedication to learning has brought new perspectives and growth to the YMWIC West Chester Chapter. While Max is in the 10th grade, he is laying down a path for his bright future. What Max values about the YMWIC West Chester Chapter is having opportunities available for him to explore. He enjoys the fact that we offer college tours. Read More.

Upper Darby Chapter: Mason McKnight is a 6th grade student who really enjoys working with peers during workshops and participating in the YMWIC Summer Enrichment Program. Making new friends and working on science activities has had a big impact on Mason. As a Scholar focused on academic excellence, he has achieved Distinguished Honor Roll, the President's Honor Roll, and 100% attendance. After graduating from high school, Mason wants to attend college, and with additional coursework and training, become an Astronaut. His advice to other Scholars is to "Stay on top of your LDU's and Study Hours." In his free time, Mason likes to play Roblox, sing, and listen to music. Continue doing well, Mason! Keep up the good work.

Franklin Edmonds: Zakir Murphy is an 8th grade student at Franklin Edmonds. He became a YMWIC Scholar in the 7th grade. He says, "What I enjoy most about the Program is learning about engineering and science. I also enjoy developing new skills that can help me become better in the field of science. The biggest impact that the Foundation has made on me is the ability to focus and make wiser choices. Even though I am not an adult, I still have power over my future and the decisions I make. When I graduate high school and complete training, I would like to be a cosmetologist. Read More.

William Penn Chapter: Isata Ngaima is an 11th grade Scholar at Penn Wood High School. "I joined the YMWIC Program for the first time this year. What I enjoy most about the Program is the research that we complete for our Science Projects, along with the different activities we do during Project Support/Workshops. I also enjoy the interesting speakers who discuss relevant topics throughout the Program Year. The biggest impact the Foundation has made on me is being able to be a better student, understanding the importance of studying, and meeting new Scholars. When I graduate from high school, I would like to go into the medical field to become an Oral Surgeon. As far as colleges that I have in mind, my top picks are NYU, the Air Force Academy, Emory University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Read More.

Community Service

Simons Recreation Center's "Turkey Give Away" Community Service (MLK)

On November 22nd, Scholars from the YMWIC Martin Luther King Chapter participated in a Community Service event at Simons Recreation Center supporting their annual Thanksgiving Turkey Give-Away.

Scholars assisted with organizing and distributing turkeys and food items to families in the community, helping ensure that households had what they needed to celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday. Throughout the event, Scholars demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and a strong commitment to service as they worked alongside Simons Recreation Center staff.

This opportunity allowed Scholars to give back to a community partner that consistently supports local families, while also reinforcing the importance of civic engagement and community responsibility. Events like this reflect YMWIC's mission to develop Scholars who are not only academically driven, but also actively invested in supporting and uplifting their communities.

We are grateful to Simon's Rec Center for the opportunity to partner once again and look forward to continuing our collaboration through future service projects.

Pre-Apprenticeship: Rasual Abernathy - PECO

Congratulations to Rasual Abernathy, YMWIC 2025 Pre-Apprenticeship graduate, for his new opportunity as a Data Analyst Apprentice with PECO. Shown in the photo to the left, Rasual poses with, PECO President, David Vahos. When asked to reflect upon his pre-apprenticeship experience with YMWIC, Rasual stated, "The YMWIC Pre-Apprenticeship program was a great experience for me. I had an opportunity to visit four different industries, learn about professional development, financial literacy, and the importance of personal branding. My experience through YMWIC gave me a leg up on corporate expectations, and I felt more prepared than some of my peers. This is a great program you have put together." We wish Rasual much success in his future.

Upcoming Events

The YMWIC 15th Annual Science Expo and Scholar Presentations will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Henderson High School in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Beginning in September, YMWIC Scholars selected a challenging grade-appropriate Science Project and will utilize the Scientific Method to execute their Projects. They are required to meet specific deadlines for their project's Research Plan, Lab Report, Project Board, and PowerPoint Presentation.

The culmination of Scholars' hard work will be the Presentation and defense of their Projects at the YMWIC Annual Science Expo to a room full of YMWIC Partner judges and an audience of their peers, family, and community members. We invite each of you to attend and support our Scholars, who are our next generation of STEM Leaders.

YMWIC 2025-2026 Program Year Key Dates & Volunteer Opportunities -- Mark your Calendar!

• September, 2025 – May, 2026: Workshops at partnering school districts and tutoring*
• January 19 - June 12, 2026: Pre-Apprenticeship Program*
• February 21, 2026: 15th Annual Science Expo and Scholar Presentations*
• March 18 – 22, 2026: NSBE 52nd National Conference in Baltimore, MD
• March 29 – April 3, 2026: Annual College Tours
• April – May, 2026: Job Shadowing Period*
• April 2026: Botball Robotics Team Competition in Washington, DC*
• May 21, 2026: 16th Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet*
• June 15 – July 23, 2026: Summer Enrichment Programs (K–12)*
• June 25, 2026: 2nd Annual Chef and Wine Gala
• June – August 2026: Summer Jobs & Internships for 12th grade Scholars and Alumni*
• September 14 2026: 12th Annual Scholarship and STEM Golf Classic* 

*These are volunteer opportunities for Partner Employee Involvement.

YMWIC is Looking for Volunteers

YMWIC is looking for tutors to support our local chapters for elementary and secondary education in math, ELA and Science. 

YMWIC is also looking for volunteers to support our Science Projects during the September – February timeframe.

Additional volunteer opportunities include:

Event committee participation with the Scholarship and Golf Classic, Scholarship Banquet, and Science Expo.

If you are interested in applying for a volunteer opportunity, please select this link; and we will contact you immediately. All volunteers must have the required clearances: Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Criminal History Clearance which is required for all employees and some volunteers.

Stay Connected with our YMWIC Family

Want to keep up with our amazing YMWIC Scholars? We’ve got you covered! Follow us on Instagram and Meta (formerly Facebook) to stay in the loop on all the fun, learning, and exciting updates happening in our programs.

It’s super easy to join in! Just open up your Instagram or Meta (Facebook) app, search for YMWICScholars, and hit that Follow button when you see our logo. Don’t be shy—drop a comment and say hi! 👋

We can’t wait to see you join our social media family and experience all the awesome things happening at YMWIC. Let’s have some fun together!

📲 Click HERE to follow us on Meta (Facebook)! 📸 Click HERE to catch us on Instagram!

Thank You for your Generous Support