Headshot Photo of Benjamin Brodsky
2017 Award Recipient

BenjaminHoffner-Brodsky

Project Youth Leadership Davis

Location Davis, CA

Issue Area Mental Health & Emotional Support

When Benjamin was in tenth grade, a friend of his who was homeless committed suicide. In response to this loss, Ben leveraged his significant involvement with Youth Leadership Davis (YLD) to provide an outlet for informed, compassionate, and spiritual students to engage with their community. Since then, he has ensured a constant flow of trained interns to help run and oversee the Interfaith Rotating Winter Shelter’s (IRWS) operations, which manages more than 2,000 volunteers.

Through the YLD program, high school students intern at non-sober shelters that provide the homeless with warm meals, a place to sleep, and other resources. Volunteers undergo rigorous training and a certification program.

Youth Leadership Davis is my way of fighting to create a community.

Benjamin Hofner-Brodsky
“It is never too late, too early, or too often TO GIVE BACK AND MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE”
Helen Diller