Serve with Skills

Making a meaningful impact in the community goes beyond donating time or money—it starts with using your skills and talents to create positive change.

Volunteers are the backbone of every initiative, contributing their time to make activities successful. Behind every successful effort, however, are individuals who plan, organize, lead, innovate, and create opportunities for others to contribute.

Serve with Skills recognizes youth who use their unique abilities to advance TNF’s mission. Whether they organize events, raise funds, facilitate activities, create awareness campaigns, or contribute their creative and technical expertise, these young changemakers demonstrate that every skill can make a meaningful difference. Through service, they strengthen their leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving abilities while making a lasting impact on their community.

Youth volunteers will be recognized for their efforts in the following ways:

• Serve with Skills award presented by a Certificate of recognition at the TNF Annual Convention, every two years.
• Volunteer name and skill used listed on TNF’s website
• Recognition during Chapter TNF Events

We welcome passionate K–12 students across the United States who are committed
to advancing TNF’s mission through meaningful volunteer service as Youth LOVES volunteers.

Eligibility

Youth volunteers can contribute in many ways by using their talents, skills,
leadership, and creativity to support TNF’s cause. The examples below illustrate
the types of activities that may qualify for recognition. These examples are not
exhaustive. If you have a unique idea for serving through your skills, please
contact your Chapter Youth LOVES Coordinator or the Director of Youth.

Examples of Eligible Activities

• Organize skill-development camps or workshops and donate the proceeds to support a TNF project.
• Conduct free skill-development camps or workshops and use the opportunity to create awareness about TNF among participants.
• Organize DIY fundraisers and donate the proceeds to TNF projects. Examples include bake sales, craft sales, lemonade stands, and similar initiatives.
  Youth volunteers should play a significant leadership role, with parents or adults serving only in a supporting capacity when needed.
• Perform in an individual or group talent event and designate TNF as the sole beneficiary of funds raised or gifts received. Examples include arangetrams, musical performances, dance recitals, and drama productions.
• Lead or co-lead a fundraising program or activity that benefits TNF.
• Lead or co-lead a collection drive that benefits the local community while also creating awareness about TNF. Examples include recycling drives, school-supply drives, and food drives.
• Lead or co-lead a TNF chapter event or TNF-wide event and/or serve as the primary Master of Ceremonies (MC) for the event.
• Participate in a youth-led TNF activity and make a significant, measurable contribution. For example, actively participating in a fundraiser and successfully raising funds.

Additional Guidance

If an activity you plan to undertake is not addressed in the examples above,
please contact your Chapter Youth LOVES Coordinator or the Director of Youth for clarification.

Recognition is awarded based on the merit of the effort, the skills demonstrated,
and the overall impact of the contribution. While the examples above are based on
past experience and should be used as guidance, the primary purpose of the award
is to recognize initiative, commitment, consistent participation in TNF activities,
leadership, and the demonstration of meaningful skills in service of TNF’s mission.

All recognitions are determined and administered by Director of Youth and the team of Youth LOVES coordinators across Chapters, in consultation with Chapter committee members and TNF board members. 

The Director of Youth along with Youth LOVES coordinators could revise the eligibility guidance on a case-by-case basis. The attributes used to determine awardees will be, but not limited to, demonstration of a skill, leadership (even if developing with TNF events), impact on TNF (funds raised and awareness creation).

Above and Beyond

Starting 2026, a new category of Serve with Skills award was introduced. This category aims to recognize youth who have gone above and beyond using their skills to contribute to TNF’s cause. Such youth LOVES volunteers will be identified by Director of Youth based on the demonstration of consistency, commitment, innovation and effort. Such individuals will be identified from the pool of volunteers who qualify for Serve with Skills Award. Their picture will be published in Annual report and/or the website to highlight their contribution.