Photo Credit: Young Men’s Service LeaguePeople
Nonprofit of the Month: Young Men’s Service League
The Hello Woodlands Nonprofit of the Month is brought to you by Randy Lovelace of Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies and highlights a local nonprofit organization that serves the Montgomery County community.
The nonprofit of the month is Young Men’s Service League (YMSL), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization where moms and their teenage sons volunteer together to serve their local communities during his four years of high school. YMSL offers moms service opportunities and time together with her son(s) to grow their relationship and to instill in him a heart of service to last a lifetime. In addition to service, as part of its four-year comprehensive program, YMSL teaches leadership and life skills to develop our young men to become the capable, confident, and compassionate leaders of tomorrow. Read our interview below with Amy Formolo, VP Communications of The Woodlands Chapter.
The Interview
Tell us about Young Men’s Service League. What is the organization’s story? How did the organization start? What is your mission and why?
The Young Men’s Service League (YMSL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit national organization. Members of YMSL are moms and their teenage sons who volunteer together to serve their local communities during his four years of high school. YMSL was founded in Plano, TX in 2001 and has since expanded to over 195 chapters in 22 states. Our local YMSL The Woodlands chapter was formed in 2020.
YMSL offers moms service opportunities and time together with her son(s) to grow their relationship and to instill in him a heart of service to last a lifetime. The mission of YMSL is to assist, serve, and support those who are in need in our community, develop leadership skills among our membership, and promote mother-son relationships.
Who and where do you serve? What programs and services do you offer?
YMSL partners with local philanthropies to serve those in need in our community. Moms and sons volunteer with philanthropy partners to assist with a variety of needs, including: food insecurity, homelessness, families in need, senior citizen care, environmental protection, and more. A few examples of our chapter’s partner philanthropies include: Meals on Wheels Montgomery County, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Montgomery County Food Bank, and Salvation Army of Montgomery County.
In addition to service, as part of its four-year comprehensive program, YMSL teaches leadership and life skills to develop our young men to become the capable, confident, and compassionate leaders of tomorrow.
What makes this organization unique?
YMSL is unique because it combines community service, leadership training, and a four-year commitment specifically focused on strengthening the bond between mothers and their high-school-aged sons. Through the program, moms and sons not only serve together but also learn, grow, and connect in meaningful ways. Young men and moms have opportunities to develop leadership skills through their roles within the organization. They also learn and gain valuable insight from engaging guest speakers and relevant life topics at Member and Young Men meetings. Together, these experiences create meaningful impact and valuable connections while helping our young men grow into well-rounded, community-minded leaders.
How can the community get involved, volunteer, and support this organization?
There are a number of ways to support and get involved with YMSL, whether as a prospective member, philanthropy partner, or local resident. Moms with sons entering high school may apply to any local community chapter, with the application process beginning in January of the son’s 8th grade year. Local organizations and charities can request to partner with our YMSL chapter as approved philanthropies. Local residents can offer to serve as guest speakers to share expertise on leadership, life skills, or community topics during grade-level young men meetings.
Where can the community learn more?
Please visit the YMSL national website at https://ymsl.org or our local YMSL The Woodlands chapter website at https://chapters.ymsl.org/chapter/thewoodlands to learn more about our organization.
ABOUT RANDY LOVELACE
To learn more about Randy Lovelace, his “Referral for a Cause” program to help local nonprofit organizations, and Paragon Independent Insurance Agencies, please call (281) 298-0440, email rlovelace@paragoninsagencies.com, or visit www.paragoninsagencies.com/woodlands.
