Our Story

Building a Culture of Success

The Young Center’s impactful journey began in 1987, when actor-educator William Allen Young founded the Young Foundation in Los Angeles.   Mr. Young recognized the urgent need to build a Culture of Success in local schools and communities where graduation rates ranked among the nation’s lowest.  ​​​​​​​

In the 1990s, the Foundation partnered with the LA Unified School District to improve student success rates in 13 underperforming schools.  Through an ambitious Education Incentive Plan, the Foundation mobilized parents and community volunteers to provide tutoring, mentoring, and classroom support at failing schools, free-breakfast programs for low-income students, and awarded scholarships to college-bound participants.  This collective effort led to a dramatic rise in student success rates, and the Foundation Plan was eventually adopted at LA schools districtwide. ​​

In 2001, the Young Foundation was reformed as the Young Center for Academic & Cultural Enrichment expanding the Foundation's mission to include youth leadership training through its California Youth Think Tank and Youth Ambassador programs and community development initiatives that promote youth advocacy and coalition building.  Today, the Young Center is a respected nonprofit leader, having served students from over 250 schools and earning 5 prestigious Awards of Excellence in Youth Development.  Our success rates are among the highest in the nation, our alumni are thriving at colleges and universities nationwide, and many are respected leaders in professional fields.​