By Emmariah Holcomb
Staff Writer
Simone Bernstein and her brother Jake were listed in Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 2013 list as social entrepreneurs, last week.
“I am extremely humbled and honored to be on the list with other inspiring entrepreneurs,” said Bernstein.
According to forbes.com, Forbes editors and reporters work with panels of expert judges to choose the field’s brightest stars under the age of 30. Those selected represent the entrepreneurial, creative and intellectual best of their generation.
Bernstein, a junior social entrepreneurship and altruism major earned her spot on the list after founding VolunTEEN Nation in March 2012. VolunTEENNation.org is an organization that helps youth across the United States find local volunteer opportunities. According to Bernstein, many youth want to get involved. The virtual and on-site opportunities database, gives teenagers a new way to find volunteer opportunities. Every teenager has the opportunity to give back to his or her community by taking advantage of the large-scale projects and volunteer fairs.
“After viewing the list in the January 2013 Forbes’ print issue, we hope more parents will encourage their children to start volunteering in their respective communities,” Bernstein said.
Inspiration for the organization began when the Bernstein siblings’ father was deployed. According to Bernstein, they were overwhelmed with the support they received from an outpour of volunteers during this difficult time.
Though Bernstein helped her mother with childcare and errands, she longed to volunteer. However, Bernstein said she had difficulty finding an organization willing to allow someone under 18 to volunteer in her hometown of St. Louis, MO. The Bernsteins then created their own regional website for youth to find volunteer opportunities easier in the summer of 2009.
“Through growing interest in the regional website, I was inspired to broaden the website into a nation- wide resource,” Bernstein said.
The national site categorizes various organizations that offer volunteer opportunities for students by state, zip code, age group and area of interest. The website helps students easily find updated contact information, requirements and opportunities for volunteer agencies. Following the nation-wide shift, more than 8,500 youths have found volunteer opportunities, according to Bernstein.
“When students enter middle school and even high school, summer volunteer opportunities are tough to find,” Bernstein said. “More organizations are realizing the importance of marketing and establishing youth volunteer programs.”
“Through creating VolunTEEN Nation, I am determined to help organizations understand that kids have so much to give,” Bernstein said. “They have the energy, interest, time and dedication to give back to their community if given the opportunity to serve. My goal is to promote social justice to create positive change in the world.”
