YOUTH UNITED • A Young Leaders Society!
Greater Mankato Area United Way’s YOUTH UNITED is a Society for Young Leaders from all over our 4-county region.
URGENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: United Way's Annual Men's Event
ISG Field, Wednesday, June 10th, 2026 @ 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Volunteers Needed)! Email jillc@mankatounitedway.org
IMPORTANT!! Volunteers needed to bag groceries at the Uptown Hy-Vee off Adam's Street on June 20th 10 am - 4 pm. Email Jill to sign up jillc@mankatounitedway.org!
NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN JULY. EMAIL JILLC@MANKATOUNITEDWAY.ORG FOR MORE DETAILS.
ABOUT YOUTH UNITED: The very first ever YOUTH UNITED Committee Meeting was held in January 2025, and this group continues to meet once each month. Area youth in grades 6-12 are invited to be part of the committee, all youth are encouraged to get involved and volunteer. This group was designed to inspire and engage the next generation of philanthropic and civic-minded young adults in the community. YOUTH UNITED is a passionate group of school-aged (K - 12) United Way fundraisers and donors, who work to ensure that our mission is carried out, year after year, to secure and invest resources into the community to improve and save lives, with a focus on basic needs, health, and education. This is a network of engaged youth, primarily under the age of 18, who share a passion for fundraising, helping others, and strengthening our community alongside Greater Mankato Area United Way.
YOUTH UNITED MISSION: The mission of those actively involved in YOUTH UNITED is to make and influence others to be a positive difference in their homes, schools, and communities, by GIVING, ADVOCATING, & VOLUNTEERING with United Way!
Greater Mankato Area United Way YOUTH UNITED Committee Chair: Miss Sydney Cusick:
Sydney, who sometimes goes by Syd, is a Senior at Mankato East High School. She is an AVID student participating in 2 enriched courses, and an advanced placement (AP) class. She is also a member of Project for Teens (P4T). Tennis is one of her interests, and she is a part of the Varsity Girls Tennis, and Track team, as a thrower, also at East. Syd has been selected as a FIAT Leader at Camp Summit for 3 years in-a-row, an overnight faith-filled summer adventure camp for middle school youth, through her church. Sydney also works as a summer camp counselor with the Mankato Family YMCA. People describe Sydney as friendly, helpful, and a leader. She loves giving back to the community, being an example, and helping out younger generations. Doing volunteer work through Greater Mankato Area United Way has been a great way to give back and she enjoys doing it! Sydney is grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to see YOUTH UNITED grow!
Greater Mankato Area United Way YOUTH UNITED Committee Vice Chair; Miss Klaire Hicks:
Klaire, is a Junior at Mankato West High School. She is a member of the Hope Squad (a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program funded by United Way), a member of Project for Teens (P4T), and Key Club. Choir is one of her interests, and she is a part of the Golf team, also at West. People describe Klaire as being mature, friendly, confident, and helpful. She enjoys being involved in the community and helping people in need.
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2026 YOUTH UNITED CALENDAR:
June Volunteer Outing 1: Annual Men's Event - Wednesday, June 10th, between 1 pm and 10 pm. Email Jill to sign up jillc@mankatounitedway.org
June Volunteer Outing 2: Fundraiser Grocery Bagging @ Uptown Hy-Vee - Saturday, June 20th, between 10 am and 4 pm. Email Jill to sign up jillc@mankatounitedway.org
June Volunteer Outing 3: Tocqueville Event - Monday, June 22nd, between 2 pm and 8 pm. Email Jill to sign up jillc@mankatounitedway.org
June Committee Meeting: N/A. We will meet again in July. Email Jill for details. jillc@mankatounitedway.org
July Volunteer Outing 1: Saint Peter Old Fashioned 4th of July Parade! Email Jill to sign up jillc@mankatounitedway.org
July Volunteer Outing 2: Ribs & Rides - Unique Classic Cars (BBQ & Cars Fundraising Event) - Saturday, July 11, between 9 am and 4 pm. Email Jill to sign up jillc@mankatounitedway.org
July Committee Meeting: TBD. Email Jill for details. jillc@mankatounitedway.org
Future Volunteer Outings: Men's Event (June 10), Women with Heart (Aug 5), Human Foosball (Sept 12), Drummers Porch Pot Event (Nov), Reading Festival (Nov), & Fire & Ice Gala (Dec).
Email jillc@mankatounitedway.com to sign up to be involved. Thank you!
Special Thanks To: 2025 & 2026 YOUTH UNITED Hospitality Sponsor - Matt Norland
CFP® and Wealth Advisor with Meyer & Norland Financial Group
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