IYC California Branch
Impact Youth Club (IYC) expanded to California in 2023, and we're excited to bring our passion for service and community to the Bay Area!
If you're a student who wants to make a positive difference, connect with like-minded peers, and participate in meaningful volunteer projects, we'd love to have you join us. At IYC, we believe young people have the power to inspire change, strengthen communities, and grow through service.
Whether you're interested in supporting our ongoing initiatives or have a new project idea you'd like to bring to life, we encourage you to get involved. Together, we'll learn, lead, serve, and create a lasting impact in our community.
Youth Leadership Team
Vice President
Senior Student Council
Get Involved with IYC California
Interested in joining our projects or learning more about Impact Youth Club’s California branch? We’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to us at ca.iyc@impact-usa.org for inquiries, volunteer opportunities, and more information.
Want to get involved?
If you're interested in joining one of our projects or learning more about IYC California, please email us at ca.iyc@impact-usa.org
California IYC Projects
Presidio Habitat Stewards (PHS)
This program gives IYC youth volunteers the opportunity to protect and restore one of California's most treasured natural landscapes while making a meaningful impact in the community. Through weekly volunteer projects, participants remove invasive plants, spread mulch, maintain trails and trailheads, and plant native species to help preserve the Presidio's diverse ecosystem and promote long-term environmental sustainability.
These hands-on learning experiences that deepen participants' understanding of conservation and the importance of protecting local habitats. Working alongside park staff and fellow volunteers, members develop teamwork, leadership, problem-solving skills, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.
Origidgets for UCSF Children's Hospital
IYC volunteers create and donate Origidget kits (Origami + Fidget) for children receiving care at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital. These handmade paper fidget toys are thoughtfully designed to help relieve anxiety, reduce stress, and provide a fun, calming activity during hospital stays. Each ready-to-use kit includes a handcrafted Origidget along with easy-to-follow instructions, allowing children to interact with and enjoy their new creation.
Through this project, youth volunteers combine creativity with compassion, demonstrating how a simple handmade gift can bring comfort, encouragement, and a smile to a child during a challenging time.
Seasonal Greeting Cards for Senior Center
IYC volunteers create handmade holiday and birthday cards for seniors at the On Lok Senior Center, each featuring heartfelt, handwritten messages to brighten someone's day. Every card is uniquely designed to celebrate special occasions while reminding seniors that they are remembered, appreciated, and cared for by their community.
Early collections featured hand-colored illustrations, while more recent creations incorporate origami paper and other creative techniques to produce distinctive, one-of-a-kind cards. Through this project, we combine creativity with compassion, using art and personal messages to foster meaningful intergenerational connections and spread kindness throughout the community.
Weekend Bingo at Curry Senior Center
IYC volunteers host Saturday Bingo at the Curry Senior Center, bringing fun, companionship, and meaningful connections to older adults in the community. In response to budget constraints and reductions in food services, our volunteers stepped in to help create an enjoyable weekend activity that brings residents together in a welcoming and engaging environment.
Our volunteers also bring homemade baked goods and handmade greeting cards to brighten the seniors' day and remind them that they are valued by the community. Through laughter, conversation, and shared experiences, this project helps reduce social isolation while fostering intergenerational friendships and spreading kindness one weekend at a time.
Computer Center & Food Services Support
IYC volunteers support seniors at the On Lok Senior Center by providing technology assistance at the Computer Center. Whether answering questions about computers, smartphones, or other digital devices, volunteers help older adults build confidence using technology and stay connected with family, friends, and essential online resources.
In addition, IYC volunteers assist with meal preparation and food service, helping create a welcoming dining experience for seniors. IYC members build meaningful relationships across generations while demonstrating compassion, patience, and a commitment to older adults in the community.
A Year of Heartfelt Words
To reduce social isolation among older adults, IYC volunteers launched A Year of Heartfelt Words, a year-long letter-writing initiative dedicated to sharing kindness, encouragement, and companionship through handwritten messages. Each week for 52 weeks, volunteers wrote thoughtful letters filled with comfort and care, reminding seniors they are valued and remembered.
In April 2025, these heartfelt letters were compiled into a publication and shared with select senior centers across San Francisco. More than a collection of letters, the project reflects a year of compassion and connection, showing how simple acts of kindness can make a lasting impact.
Tat Wong Academy Teaching Assistant
As a black belt in Kung Fu, IYC volunteers serve as weekly teaching assistants at Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy, helping instruct young children in self-defense techniques and martial arts fundamentals. Working alongside experienced instructors, volunteers provide encouragement, demonstrate techniques, and assist students as they build confidence, discipline, respect, and perseverance.
Through this ongoing volunteer opportunity, youth leaders strengthen their own leadership and communication skills while giving back to their community by mentoring younger students in a positive and supportive learning environment.