California High School Student Recognized for Outstanding Youth Peer-to-Peer Support Efforts

CONTACTS:
Natalie Paskoski, Manager of Content, (434) 236 – 5583, Natalie.Paskoski@afpglobal.org

(Arlington, Virginia) The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is proud to announce that Hanson L. Yan, a high school student from Orange County, California, is one of the recipients of the 2024 William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, Individual, sponsored by Carter.

The award, sponsored by Carter through the AFP Foundation for Philanthropy, recognizes young people with a proven record of exceptional generosity, who demonstrate outstanding civic and charitable responsibility and whose philanthropic efforts encourage others to engage on a community, national, and/or international level. Hanson L. Yan was nominated for the award by the AFP San Diego Chapter.

“I am deeply grateful to AFP to receive the 2024 Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award. Over the past several years, I have strived to support others facing challenges similar to mine. For me, I overcame these obstacles by working towards a lifelong dream of becoming a social entrepreneur who uses technology to enhance the lives of those in my community," said Yan. "Founding Triple V represents one of my biggest dreams — establishing a youth platform that empowers my generation to nurture their talents alongside a supportive network of peers and mentors. Triple V is, and will always be home to, dedicated, passionate individuals who thrive and make meaningful contributions to the world.”

At just 17, while navigating his own education at St. Margaret Episcopal School in Orange County, Hanson witnessed the stark challenges his peers faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the loss of meaningful connections due to the shift to online learning. Motivated by this, he co-founded Triple V alongside a family friend with nonprofit expertise. Together, they built an organization committed to shining a light on student stories of perseverance and equipping young leaders with the essential resources for success.

The Triple V Me Fellowship program lies at the heart of Hanson’s vision, offering a platform for students to share their unique stories and challenges, from artists and community leaders to those in pursuit of higher education. This initiative not only provides financial support to address economic barriers but also offers personalized, hands-on support to guide students on their academic and career paths.

Triple V’s commitment extends beyond individual support, forging valuable connections with local nonprofits to offer resources for underprivileged youths. Collaborations with organizations like the Boys & Girls Club, Cristo Rey Network, Hands On San Diego, and Lion’s Heart, underscore Triple V’s dedication to community upliftment.

Looking ahead, Triple V is set to launch the Triple V App, a visionary project by Hanson designed to further bridge the gap between students seeking guidance and those who have successfully navigated similar paths. This platform promises interactive chat rooms on a variety of topics, fostering an even stronger community of support and guidance.

“Hanson’s creativity and proven success in connecting and lifting up his peers to address challenges our youth are facing worldwide is nothing short of inspiring,” said Steve Higgins, CFRE, president & CEO of Carter. “It is an honor to help recognize his meaningful work, and we look forward to following Hanson’s and Triple V’s bright future.”

“Hanson’s compassion for his classmates is evident in his innovative philanthropy that is uniting and uplifting his community, said Mike Geiger, MBA, CPA, AFP president and CEO. “All of us at AFP are inspired by his work so far, and we’re excited to be able to honor him.”

The award will be presented in Toronto on April 9 during AFP ICON 2024, the largest fundraising conference in the world.

For more information about this award or AFP ICON, please contact Natalie Paskoski at (434)-236-5583 or natalie.paskoski@afpglobal.org. 

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Co-founded by Bob Carter and Steve Higgins in 2011, Carter is a team of 50+ senior-level nonprofit professionals working in the areas of fundraising, governance and organizational planning to advance philanthropy worldwide.

Each Carter consultant brings decades of executive-level development experience to serve as an extension of an organization’s team, help maximize their potential and better serve their cause.

Carter has guided hundreds of organizations of all sizes, ranging from regional nonprofit agencies and national associations to international causes, in successfully planning for and implementing significant and transformational campaigns and organizational projects. For more information, visit www.carter.global.
 

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Since 1960, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) has been the standard-bearer for professionalism in fundraising. The association works to advance effective and ethical philanthropy by providing advocacy, research, education, mentoring, collaboration and technology opportunities for the world’s largest network of professional fundraisers. AFP’s more than 26,000 members in over 220 chapters raise over $100 billion annually for a wide variety of charitable organizations and causes across the globe. For more information, go to afpglobal.org. 

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