Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
The Young Automotive Group's experienced an incredible amount of growth since their founding in 1924. What once started as mechanic Seldon "Jack" Olsen's service shop in Morgan has expanded into over 30 locations across Utah, Idaho and Montana.
Collectively, the company runs several automotive and powersports related operations. That said, one piece of the organization stands at the center of the company's heart — their nonprofit.
Known as Young Caring for Our Young, it has been dedicated to aiding children in need for over 14 years. Throughout the organization's tenure, they've donated over $6.5 million to communities, school foundations and other philanthropic organizations. While their past has been impactful, director Tami Olsen says that no other year was quite like 2024.
"We were able to see an incredible amount of change in our communities throughout last year," said Olsen. "We've seen our capabilities expand, and that's proliferated our ambition. Our goal is to create an army of good across all of the areas we serve, and thanks to the incredible efforts of our team, volunteers and partners, it's something that we're proud to have accomplished."
While they're involved in efforts to remedy a variety of issues, Young Caring for Our Young has four areas of focus: clothing, hunger, education support and child homelessness. Here's how they were able to make an impact last year:
Clothing
Since 2022, several of Young Caring for Our Young's initiatives have involved one of their creation's called the KIND Fund. The program has educators identify children in need of clothing assistance, and then provides a volunteer with $150 to buy new apparel for a student. The volunteer then delivers the clothes to the school, where the educator gives them to the child.
Over 2,600 children were helped through the KIND Fund last year alone, and more than 6,000 since the program started. Since its inception, it's spent over $950,000 directly to clothe kids in need. The program is expanding to other districts including Provo, Nebo, Salt Lake, Alpine and Granite, and will continue to expand as donations increase.
Last year, several notable individuals shopped with the KIND Fund, including first lady Abby Cox, NFL cornerback Clark Phillips III and the spouses of Utah's legislators.
The foundation also hosted their sixth annual Julie's Clothes for Kids event, which supplies over 250 students across Cassia and Minidoka's counties in Idaho with clothes, books, school supplies and dental hygiene items.
"Meeting a child's basic clothing needs is critical to their success in school, and their success in school is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty," said Olsen. "It's empowering for them, and helps foster dignity and confidence. That's why initiatives like this play a major role in the direction of our organization."
Hunger
For a third year, the nonprofit partnered with Young Powersports to fill 400 backpacks with living essentials during their Power Up Against Teen Homelessness event in 2024. Stuffed with items such as clothing, sweats, gloves, socks, beanies, blankets and hygiene products, the backpacks were distributed by Young Caring for Our Young to drop-in centers and shelters across the area — which provide children and families in need with access to showers, laundry facilities, computers, food and support staff.
Working with community partners such as America First Credit Union, Weber State University, Mountain America Credit Union, Stokes Stevenson Real Estate, Global Logistics, Rhinehart Oil and Centerpoint Construction as well as dealerships from across the Young Automotive Group, the foundation organizes volunteers into assembly lines to stuff packs with non-perishable food items. Through 2024, they donated 24,000 packs — over 6,000 more than in 2023.
Education support
As an organization that's dedicated to bettering the lives of children in need, Young Caring for Our Young recognizes the importance of a quality education. That's why they stand as an advocate for teachers who go the extra mile.
The foundation partners with Young Kia and Young Mazda annually to award Davis and Ogden school districts' teachers of the year with an all-expenses paid one-year lease on a new vehicle. Nominated by their peers and administrators, the 2023-2024 honorees were Lincoln Elementary kindergarten teacher Kimberly Pickett and Viewmont High School football coach Andru Jones.
"Having organizations like the Young Automotive Group who value what we do is incredibly impactful," said Chad Carpenter, Ogden school district's assistant superintendent, during Young Mazda's teacher of the year giveaway. "It's so important to be able to recognize teachers who go above and beyond."
Child homelessness
It's hard to believe that over 1,600 children across Davis County are experiencing homelessness, as well as 1 in 10 children in Ogden School District. At Young Caring for Our Young, profound statistics like these are considered gut wrenching, and have driven the foundation's efforts to provide resources to support teen and family drop-in centers across the Wasatch front.
For a third year, the nonprofit partnered with Young Powersports to fill 400 backpacks with living essentials during their Power Up Against Teen Homelessness event in 2024. Stuffed with items such as clothing, sweats, gloves, socks, beanies, blankets and hygiene products, the backpacks were distributed by Young Caring for Our Young to drop-in centers and [shelter's] across the area — which provide children and families in need with access to showers, laundry [facilities], computers, food and support staff.
Though this list of efforts is expansive, it does not cover all of the foundation's actions in 2024. They've provided for thousands of children as well as held over 50 free community-centered events, and they're working to springboard off of today's achievements to ramp up their efforts for 2025.
"We're expanding our reach and impact," Olsen said. "The needs are growing, and we feel a responsibility to do what we can to address those needs. With the support of generous donors, our amazing employees and countless community partners and volunteers, we're ready to face that challenge."
For more information on Young Caring for Our Young, visit this link.
