School supplies
Students collect essential supplies and educational resources that help children begin the school year ready to learn.
Our programs
Experiences that honor. Programs that connect.
Each YRU initiative creates a meaningful path for military families, civilian communities, student leaders, companies, and sports organizations to come together.
SIGNATURE FAMILY EXPERIENCE
Winter Wonderland
Holiday joy with a deeper purpose.
Winter Wonderland creates an unforgettable evening for military-connected children and families.
The celebration brings families, volunteers, student leaders, sponsors, and community partners together for entertainment, gifts, books, food, and the warmth of being surrounded by people who care.
Every detail is designed to send a simple message: you are seen, your sacrifice matters, and your community stands with you.
Watch the films and view the gallery
YOUNG LEADERS. SHARED PURPOSE. LASTING IMPACT.
Mission to Unite · Established 2022
Students serving students.
Mission to Unite was established by high school students from Briar Woods, Our Lady of Good Counsel, and Langley who wanted to support children through service, education, and connection.
What began with essential school supplies grew into a literacy initiative encouraging reading and access to books. Each year, participating students also organize school-based book drives for Winter Wonderland, providing new books for military-connected children.
Mission to Unite shows young people that leadership begins with empathy—and that they can create meaningful change when they come together with purpose.
Mission to Unite in action
Young people can make a meaningful difference.
Literacy
The initiative increases access to books and encourages a lifelong love of reading.
Book drives
Annual drives at each participating school help place new books directly into the hands of military children at Winter Wonderland.
Kid2Kid
Understanding can begin with one child.
Kid2Kid helps civilian children recognize the sacrifices made by military-connected children and find age-appropriate ways to show appreciation.
See life through another child’s eyes.
Families, schools, and youth organizations explore how deployment, relocation, and separation affect military children.
Turn empathy into appreciation.
Children can write notes, create art, organize a service project, or share a thoughtful action using the Kid2Kid spirit.
SPORTS CREATE COMMON GROUND.
United in Play
Belonging begins on the field.
A shared love of sports creates an easy, joyful way for military-connected and civilian children to meet.
United in Play brings young people together for movement, teamwork, friendship, and fun. Professional athletes, coaches, teams, and community volunteers can transform a day of play into a lasting reminder that no military child stands alone.
Partnership activations
Built together. Designed for impact.
YRU works with companies and sports organizations to create authentic engagement shaped around their people, resources, and goals.
Corporate service
Employee volunteer days, program sponsorship, in-kind support, and customized social-impact opportunities.
Sports with purpose
Game-day experiences, athlete engagement, youth events, and activations that extend the power of the game beyond the field.
School participation
Service projects and collection drives that help young leaders learn, contribute, and inspire their peers.
Bring a program to life
Support an existing initiative—or build something new with us.
Some of the strongest partnerships begin with a conversation about what your organization hopes to accomplish.