About Youth United
Who We Are
Youth United was founded in May of 2004 by Morristown and Parsippany Hills High Schools.
Youth United is an organization of youth, ages 5-25, who have united to educate the community about the need for affordable housing by planning, fundraising for, and ultimately, building a house. As we are continually expanding, with YOUR help, we can become a bigger and better community, while bringing a worthy family home.
Who Can Participate?
In our goal of avocation for youth volunteerism, we are looking for youth, ages 5-25 and adults to act as mentors. We feel strongly that taking on Youth United will give more youth in Morris and surrounding counties an opportunity to help the community in eliminating poverty housing through advocacy and construction.
How You Can Help
You can join the Executive Committee (EC), which holds monthly meetings and plans future events. Our current executive committee includes individuals and students from middle schools, high schools and colleges in Morris and surrounding counties. At our EC meetings, we will present an overview of the program and answer any questions you may have. After, you are invited to stay and observe/participate in the meeting. If you don’t have the time to join the EC, you can provide support for special events and fundraisers and also help with construction. Use the Morris Habitat for Humanity group on Facebook to stay in touch with the other volunteers you have met, share your thoughts on building affordable housing, and network to find experts to help with our projects.
Achievements to Date
House Sponsorships
- Raising $35,000 from 2009-2010 for a half House Sponsorship of the 37 Willow Street project in Morristown.
- Raised over $80,000 from 2004-2009 to sponsor a house at the first Student Build on Hazel Street in Morristown.
Grants were received from…
- Bike & Build—$11,900
- State Farm—$4,000
- BJ’s Charitable Foundation—$5,000
- Argosy Foundation—$5,000 matching funds
- Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation—$2,000
Fundraisers have included…
- Holiday gift wrapping—raised $4,120
- Ink-jet cartridge and cell phone recycling—raised $800
- Sales of Macy’s “Shop for a Cause” discount cards—raised $1,350
- New St. Jude’s/St. Elizabeth’s chapter appealed to their congregations—raised over $4,100!
- Several children’s poster contests for Youth United symbol design
- The Parsippany Police Department versus student basketball game was a great success—raised $775
- Candy sales at both Parsippany Hills and Morristown High—raised over $1,400
- Selling t-shirts
Right now, we are…
- Applying for additional grants for our newly-founded chapter to fund our construction
- Making Youth United brochures
- Creating committees to work in planning specific areas (e.g. fundraising, grant writing, publicity, building, etc.)
- Planning more fundraising and educational events
- Helping Morris Habitat with construction of homes
In looking towards the future, we plan to…
- Continue applying for grants to fund our construction
- Raise $2,500 for the Lozier Road project in Mount Olive
How to Contact Us
Ellen Eppie
Youth United Advisor
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this e-mail address)
973.891.1934