October 1, 2026 | Written by Lindsey Barta

With support from a 2026 9/11 Day Youth Engagement Grant, 250 students, educators, and nonprofit partners spent the day serving their community.

On September 25, 2026, 250 students, teachers, and nonprofit representatives gathered at Lakeland Community College for the fifth annual Northeast Ohio Youth Leadership & Service Conference for 9/11 Day. Students from 15 schools across the region came together to learn, lead, and serve. By the end of the day, they had packed, crafted, potted, and donated nearly 1,400 items for neighbors in need.

This year's conference carried special meaning. It marked the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001, a day remembered not only for the lives lost, but for the extraordinary spirit of service, compassion, and unity that followed. Students honored that legacy the best way they know how: by rolling up their sleeves.

A Grant That Put Service Front and Center

Magnified Giving is proud that this year's conference was selected to receive a 2026 9/11 Day Youth Engagement Grant, allowing us to place an even greater emphasis on hands-on service. 9/11 Day began as a grassroots effort to make the anniversary of September 11 a national day of doing good, in tribute to those killed and injured and those who rose in service that morning.

The grant helped us expand the conference's pop-up service projects, so students didn't just learn about community needs. They met them. Throughout the day, participants moved from breakout sessions to service tables, putting what they learned into practice in real time.

By the Numbers: Service in Action

All day long, students found ways to give back. Here's what they accomplished in a single day:

680 books donated to Kids Book Bank
220 snack packs assembled for End 68 Hours of Hunger
220 care packages packed for active-duty service members through the USO of Ohio, led by Wickliffe High School's Learn Lead Serve Program
100 hygiene bags for clients of Karpos Soup Kitchen
100+ toys for animals and shelters made from upcycled fabric scraps with Sew4Service
More than 50 handmade cards created with Lifeline, Inc. for senior citizens living alone
25 mums potted and donated to Danbury Senior Living
$500 awarded to Project Hope for the Homeless through Magnified Giving's Philanthropy in Action Giving Circle

That last gift was entirely youth-directed. In the Giving Circle pop-up, participants researched local nonprofits, advocated for the organization they believed would create the greatest impact, and voted to award a $500 grant from Magnified Giving to Project Hope for the Homeless.

Partner Spotlight: Sew4Service

For many students, the Sew4Service table was their first time sitting at a sewing machine. Sew4Service brought machines to the conference so youth could learn a new skill while giving back. Together they turned donated fabric scraps into pet mats for the cat room at the Euclid Animal Shelter, showing how a creative project can also reduce waste and meet a real need in the community. Sew4Service welcomes junior volunteers ages 13–17 at its chapters in Euclid, Lakewood, Medina, and Alliance, demonstrating that they believe, as Magnified Giving does, that young people have unique gifts and talents to offer their community!

Read Sew4Service's full recap of the day, Creativity Meets Community Service: Sew4Service Connects with Junior Volunteers.

Learning From Leaders, Including Their Peers

The day opened with a welcome from Lakeland Community College President Sunil Ahuja, Ph.D., and a keynote address from Ryan Britt, a Crestwood High School and Bowdoin College graduate.

Students then chose from 21 interactive breakout sessions led by nonprofit professionals, educators, and fellow students. Topics ranged from food insecurity and human trafficking awareness to Holocaust remembrance, disability inclusion, and student-led philanthropy. Several sessions were led by youth themselves, who shared how they've built service programs, fundraisers, and giving clubs at their own schools.

At midday, students from each school joined roundtable discussions to swap ideas about how service happens in their buildings and explore partnerships they could bring home. The day closed with a Volunteer Fair, where 24 nonprofits tabled and connected students with ongoing ways to stay involved long after the conference ended.

In Their Words

"Because of this conference, I feel more confident as a leader in my community and more influenced to start new projects on my own."
– Student participant

"I gained a greater knowledge about local volunteer opportunities and how to get involved with them."
– Student participant

Thank You

The Northeast Ohio Youth Leadership & Service Conference is a reminder that service doesn't require extraordinary circumstances, only a willingness to care and take action. Thank you to Lakeland Community College for hosting, to 9/11 Day for its support through the Youth Engagement Grant, and to every presenter, nonprofit partner, educator, and student who made this year's conference our most service-focused yet.

Interested in bringing youth philanthropy to your school or youth-focused program? Learn more about Magnified Giving's programs at www.magnifiedgiving.org/youth-philanthropy-program.