Our History

Heart For Youth Charitable Trust was originally founded in New Zealand in 2012 by Ross and Susan McCook, and is dedicated to guiding and improving the lives of youth and young adults through mentorship. Heart for Youth New Zealand is now connected with over 50 different agencies and organizations that support vulnerable youth – in particular those impacted by family violence and social isolation.

Heart for Youth USA was started by Holly Jones, and was sparked by seeing the need firsthand while working at Job Corps and attaining her Masters in Social Work. Holly worked with youth, particularly foster children, who had little direction and support from adults in their lives, and was inspired to give them positive experiences and a chance to dream bigger.

“My personal experiences with mentors who cared for me, and the opportunities they introduced me to gave me the confidence to succeed, become a leader, and know that I could thrive in this world. These activities make an incredible impact on kids, because it helps empower them to think about their dreams and learn how to chase after them.””
— Holly Hernandez, Founder, Heart For Youth USA

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to empower at-promise youth to reach their full potential by connecting them with mentors that provide ongoing guidance and encouragement.

Our Vision

Our vision is to help our youth become confident, self-assured, and grounded in a culture that supports and helps each other. We do this by providing guidance through adult mentors that help introduce them to positive experiences they can learn and grow from.

Our Values

Heart for Youth has four core values that we use to guide how we operate:

Acceptance
We accept our youth
unconditionally and support them for who they are

Connection
We emphasize building ongoing connections through our many initiatives

Equip
We equip our youth with the tools and skills to help them grow into positive young men and women

Encouragement
We form lifelong connections and encourage youth to reach their full potential

Our Team

Holly Jones President and Program DirectorWhen I was young, I had several caring adults in my life that mentored me and walked by my side through the ups and downs of a teenager’s life. I have always felt passionate about loving and caring for young…

Holly Hernandez
President and Program Director

When I was young, I had several caring adults in my life that mentored me and walked by my side through the ups and downs of a teenager’s life. I have always felt passionate about loving and caring for young people, especially ones who are vulnerable, creating meaningful experiences for them, and encouraging them to reach their full potential. I earned my Masters in Social Work and have dreamed of starting a nonprofit for many years. My past work experiences at San Jose Job Corps, CityTeam Ministries, and Silicon Valley Children’s Fund, have solidified that working with youth is where I want to be!

Laura Holmbeck Vice PresidentI am a married mom of two grown kids of my own but I have been a mom, a coach and a mentor to many kids. I have always enjoyed spending time with teens and young adults – I love their spirit and grit. I am so excited to …

Laura Holmbeck
Vice President

I am a married mom of two grown kids of my own but I have been a mom, a coach and a mentor to many kids. I have always enjoyed spending time with teens and young adults – I love their spirit and grit. I am so excited to be a part of this program and to be able to reach kids that need someone to coach and mentor them. I currently work at WestGate Church as the Executive Director of Operations and CFO. My work experience also includes about 25 years in high-tech as well as having been on the board of several non-profits working with kids.

Kara Loiacono SecretaryI am a married mother of two grown children, and currently work at a Junior High/High School here in the Bay Area. Having seen numerous times firsthand what a mentor can do for a youth’s life, I knew this program could benefit…

Kara Loiacono
Secretary

I am a married mother of two grown children, and currently work at a Junior High/High School here in the Bay Area. Having seen numerous times firsthand what a mentor can do for a youth’s life, I knew this program could benefit so many at-promise youth! I am excited to be a part of this amazing team, who are all dedicated to making a difference for the youth in our community.

Geoff Stedman
Board Member

I am a married father to two grown daughters and have worked in technology marketing for the past 30 years. I am frustrated at how poorly our government support systems work and joined the board to help make a difference for kids who most need a different approach to achieve their full potential.

Michael Stenman
Chairman of the Board

I grew up in Santa Clara and was blessed to have multiple adult mentors throughout my formative years.

At University I was offered the opportunity to mentor youth and my life was forever changed. We live in one of the most prosperous counties in the world that is filled with talented people from all over the world.I also believe that so many professionals in the county want to give back and impact their local community. I joined Heart for Youth to help connect the at risk youth with life changing mentors.


 

Want to join our mission? We’re looking for an additional board member.

New Board Position Opportunity

Heart for Youth is moving from a start up to an early scale up organization. We have been serving “at risk” youth and young adults in Santa Clara County for the last seven years. We are now ready to extend the reach of our community to a larger circle of youth and young adults. Are you looking for a ground level board position with the opportunity to shape the trajectory of an organization? Do you have fund raising and networking experience? Do you have a passion for impacting youth and young adults through mentoring?

The Mission

Heart for Youth provides life-changing adult mentorship to at-risk youth across Santa Clara County. We believe that a single consistent relationship can change a child's trajectory. As we move from our "startup" phase to a "growth" phase, we are looking for a fundraising architect to join our Board of Directors.

The Role

This is a working board position. You will not just be advising; you will be the lead strategist for our revenue growth. You will partner with the Executive Director to build a sustainable donor pipeline from the ground up.

Key Responsibilities

  • Strategic Fundraising: Develop and execute an annual fundraising plan (individual giving, corporate sponsorships, and local grants).

  • Network Activation: Introduce Heart for Youth to South Bay influencers, tech philanthropists, and community leaders.

  • Donor Stewardship: Act as a "closer" for mid-to-high-level donations and ensure donors feel the impact of their gifts.

  • Board Participation: Attend monthly board meetings and lead the "Development Committee."

  • Start Up to Scale Up: Help H4Y transition from a startup to scale up mode. Create a funding model that will sustain our first full time director

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, sales, or business development.

  • Deep roots or a strong professional network within Santa Clara County.

  • A "builder" mindset—you enjoy creating processes where none exist.

  • A genuine passion for youth development and social equity.

More Info

Organization: Heart for Youth (https://www.heartforyouthusa.org/)

Location: Santa Clara County, CA (Remote/Local Hybrid)

Role Type: Volunteer / Working Board Member

Contact: Michael Stenman, Board Member, mstenman@comcast.net, m: 408 483 5675

Contact

 

Ask questions, give feedback, or simply say hello! 

Email
info@heartforyouthusa.org

Phone
408-813-2459

Address
3054 Aspen Dr
Santa Clara, CA 95051