Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes
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Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes *
The Hershey’s Heartwarming Young Heroes Youth Service Program is a national initiative that awards competitive microgrants to young people leading projects that foster connection, empathy, and emotional well-being. Each year, a select group of youth leaders are chosen for their creativity and commitment to making a difference in their communities.
By supporting student-driven service projects, the program empowers young changemakers to address meaningful issues and build more caring, connected communities.
We were honored to be selected as part of the 2025 Heartwarming Young Heroes cohort and to receive a $500 grant to support our work.
Our Work with the Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Grant
With support from the Hershey’s Heartwarming Young Heroes grant, All Write organized two journaling workshops in April for 40 eighth-grade Breakthrough Miami volunteers at the Miami Country Day School site. During the sessions, students assembled journaling kits—complete with journals, inspirational stickers, colored pencils, and stationery—for the incoming cohort of fifth-grade Scholars.
Volunteers also wrote welcome letters to the new students, using the opportunity to reflect on their own Breakthrough experience and express encouragement. The activity not only supported the new participants but gave the volunteers space for gratitude, reflection, and creativity. One student shared that she had stopped journaling because people asked to read her writing—but after the workshop, she felt safe enough to start again.
Each volunteer also created a journaling kit for themselves, deepening the personal impact. Adult and youth leaders helped facilitate the sessions, and the experience was shared on social media by both All Write and Breakthrough Miami. In total, the project benefited approximately 84 people: 40 youth volunteers, 40 new Scholars, 2 adult volunteers, and 2 youth leaders in each of the two sessions.
