GLOBAL PITCH 2026
Congratulations to our 2026 changemakers! The teams below participated in our 9th annual Global Pitch event, and received funding for their social impact projects. They're now in the project-building phase, and will present their finished projects at our Changemaker Showcase on June 7th. Click the button below to sign up. We hope to see you there!​
Youth led PROJECTS
Large vehicles consume far more gasoline than everyday cars, so electrifying only cars will not significantly reduce emissions. Vehicles such as garbage trucks and buses are ideal candidates for electrification because their fixed routes make charging predictable and efficient. The impact we made was through advocacy and education at Bedford 2030’s Earth Day Festival and on Instagram. In addition, we ran a postcard campaign to oppose Senate Bill S5931, which would prolong the use of gas trucks on the road. 42 postcards were signed and sent to Senator Pete Harckham, and we garnered over 3,000 views on our Instagram.
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Leaving a domestic violence relationship is statistically the most dangerous part for victims. That is why we are asking for funding to create an app disguised as a calendar to help. When victims log in to the app, they will enter their name and address, then receive a code word. When a victim is in danger or needs help and doesn't know how to receive it, they can type their code word into their “planner app,” which will alert a local shelter or domestic violence hotline to send help.
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This year, Pawsible Access worked to improve accessibility for blind individuals by combining the benefits of guide dogs with emerging technology. Through interviews with experts, including the Guide Dog Foundation and Be My Eyes founder Hans Jørgen Wiberg, we identified Meta AI glasses as a tool to support navigation and independence. We organized a community walk-a-thon and raised $500, enough to help fund two pairs of Meta glasses for a pilot program at the Guide Dog Foundation, where they could demonstrate to their clients how to use them and give them the option to buy a pair of their own.
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Our team, Limitless Learning, worked together to create meaningful change by raising $2,200 and educating friends and family members to purchase three solar panels for the schools and health clinic in Acholik, a village in Uganda. Through this fundraising, teamwork, and determination, we are able to provide a sustainable source of electricity that will positively impact daily life for years to come. These solar panels will provide reliable power, expand educational opportunities, enhance safety, and support the community’s future growth. Most importantly, this project taught us the power of collaboration and showed that when people come together with a shared purpose, even small efforts can create a lasting impact worldwide.
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Fast fashion is a major environmental issue, consuming large amounts of water, generating significant CO2 emissions, and creating excessive textile waste. To address this, we created Forever Fashion, an app that helps users understand the environmental impact of their clothing by scanning items and viewing sustainability statistics. After interviewing the senior communications manager at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, we learned that lack of awareness is a key challenge. We also launched a social media campaign reaching 5,000+ accounts and a sneaker drive with Nike Grind and Soles4Souls, collecting 400+ pairs resulting in 9600kg of CO2 saved.
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Suicide is the second leading cause of death globally for teenagers due to society stigma. As teenagers. Goal was to help combat the stigma and normalize talking about mental health. We successfully educated a group of parents, students and faculty members along with a health class of sophomores. In addition, we hosted a wellness basket, making event to provide resources for WJCS and WP&CT, where around 15 people came and we made 20 wellness baskets. We also normalize conversation about mental health by posting relatable and unfiltered content on TikTok and Instagram where we have over 300 followers on Instagram, and over 1000 views on both platforms. To finalize our impact this year and partnership with WJCS, we are donating $94 to them. We also have made future plans to guest speak at an event next year in February at temple Shaaray T’filah. Remember, a broken mind hurts as deeply as a broken bone.
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Fast fashion has had a major negative impact on the environment through high carbon emissions, water waste, and pollution. This project raised awareness by creating QR code stickers linked to an educational website explaining the harmful effects of fast fashion and the benefits of shopping second-hand. We distributed over 500 QR code stickers onto clothing throughout Fantastic Finds, a local thrift store in Chappaqua, New York. Shoppers could scan the codes to learn about clothing waste, overconsumption, and sustainable shopping habits. Funds raised supported website development, sticker production, and outreach efforts encouraging environmentally responsible consumer choices within the local community.
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Sports are supposed to be games cherished by our country, not a bridge to our world's greatest problems. We aspire to improve the mental health of athletes. We created a custom headband and arm sleeve to promote our message and donated them to high-profile teams. We spread awareness through our Instagram, which is displayed on our gear. The need to stay silent stems from the stigma around fans and the way they act towards athletes. That is why our project is built around our social media, which is designed to create empathy towards athletes and mental health.
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We presented our healthcare navigation initiative to 35 community members at a Neighbors Link event, where attendees expressed strong interest and shared that they believed the resource would be highly beneficial. As a result, Neighbors Link has agreed to promote our website and share it with their community, and we have been invited to present at additional events in the future. We have also raised $2,256 to support first aid kit distribution and first aid training sessions this summer with the Neighbors link community. Additionally, our Instagram has grown to over 180 followers, and our 9 educational posts have each reached between 200 and 500 viewers.
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Health For Her has spread awareness about period poverty and the lack of funding in Women’s Health Research by posting informational videos on an Instagram account that reached more than 15.2K people in the past 30 days, writing articles on a Substack blog, giving presentations to health classes at my high school, hosting a Lunch-and-Learn with the founder and executive director of the Women’s Health Foundation, and collecting more than 60 period products for 914 Cares.
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Pregnant mothers often need guidance, resources, and reassurance to navigate motherhood, yet many feel abortion is their only option. With nearly one million abortions occurring annually in the United States, countless lives are lost as a result of fear, financial pressure, and lack of support. This project aims to highlight life-affirming alternatives by partnering with local churches, schools, and pregnancy resource centers to host donation drives for essential baby items and financial assistance. These efforts will provide support to mothers in need. We will also create an Instagram page to educate others and encourage informed, compassionate choices.
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This project focused on educating people about Jewish identity and reducing antisemitism through a website entitled "Jews For Justice." Antisemitism often comes from misinformation and a lack of understanding. This website includes personal stories from Jewish individuals who share their everyday lives or experiences with discrimination. By sharing real stories, this project has built empathy and awareness among readers. The website has been shared online amongst thousands, and our future plans include getting them published in public schools. This project has used storytelling to promote understanding and stand against hate. The website link is here: https://sites.google.com/byramhills.net/jews-for-justice/current-news-on-antisemitism
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This project addresses the education crisis in Kenya, where many students lack basic learning resources needed to break the cycle of generational poverty. Through empathy interviews with educators from Crossing Thresholds, we learned that schools urgently need classroom technology and opportunities for student engagement. Our team, Beyond the Books, hosted an interactive community event featuring bracelet-making and letter-writing activities to raise awareness and funds for projectors. We will also conduct Zoom lessons with Kenyan classrooms and provide recordings for future use. Our efforts are expected to raise nearly $2,000, funding approximately 18 projectors while fostering meaningful global connections.
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The Add to Art Project is a podcast in which I interview various professionals in their fields and relate it back to art principles. The discussions not only discuss but also demonstrate the various benefits of art, and how those skills apply universally. This hopes to make students more interested in art not only as a hobby or profession, but a skillset. I've raised $161, outside of business expenses, to be donated to various initiatives funding the arts and have produced roughly 5 hours of episodes and reels to be published on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Instagram.
Visionary Institute PROJECTS
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WeLinkA is a youth-led initiative dedicated to improving HIV and mental health awareness through education, advocacy, and community engagement. Within just one month, we successfully organized five impactful seminar, two in-person and three virtual, reaching diverse audiences with evidence-based information and inspiring personal stories. One of our virtual seminars featured Saidy Brown, who shared her HIV journey and encouraged open dialogue around stigma and resilience. We also published five educational articles and created more than twenty awareness-focused digital content pieces that expanded our outreach. Our work was recognized by three board members of NAFI (Ngoketunjia AIDS Fighter), healthcare professionals, and community leaders. With support from Mrs. Annalise Hoopes via Wix, we launched our official website and continue empowering young people to become advocates for HIV awareness, mental health, and social change.
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People and Earth Law Group is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing legal aid to underserved communities which have been impacted by industrial animal agriculture. As an organization, we take a particular interest in strategic litigation as a tool of empowerment and welcome your support in helping us create a world with less pollution and more compassion.
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Globally, air pollution is linked to approximately 20% of premature deaths. While this crisis is deeply felt in Mexico City, many residents feel powerless to address such a massive challenge. Inspira was created to bridge this gap. Our team, composed of mindfulness experts and climate scientists, has developed a specialized environmental education curriculum for public elementary schools. By integrating low-cost sensor technology with mindful breathing techniques, we empower the children we work with weekly, fostering a sense of hope and local activism.
Mai Più per Strada / Homeless No More
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MaiPiùPerStrada / HomelessNoMore is an Italian nonprofit supporting people experiencing homelessness. We start with lifesaving interventions in situations of extreme vulnerability, then we build a network around each person until stable protection is found. In these months, we secured stable accommodation for Vincent, a painter who had been living on the street for years; found a real home for Carlo; supported Sonia’s move first to a hostel and then in a women’s shelter; and helped ensure that Stani’s severe memory loss was formally recognized, leading to the appointment of a legal guardian. We also drafted a petition to improve local social housing funding rules.
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