Youth Ambassadors of Service Awarded $25,000 from The MATTIE Fund

Donation supported by Pivotal Ventures, led by a Melinda French Gates Fellow.

Youth Ambassadors of Service (YAS) is honored to announce that it has been selected to receive a $25,000 Emerging Equity Grant from The MATTIE Fund, a philanthropic initiative advised by nationally recognized mental health and equity leader Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble.

The MATTIE Fund was established with support from Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company founded by Melinda French Gates. Through this initiative, Melinda French Gates selected just twelve global leaders to steward $20 million each in grantmaking funds to advance equity, mental health, and opportunity for girls, women, and marginalized communities. Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble was among those trusted leaders, underscoring the vision and impact behind The MATTIE Fund’s investments.

This grant recognizes Youth Ambassadors of Service’s commitment to youth leadership, mentorship, and mental health-centered service learning. The unrestricted support will allow YAS to strengthen its programs while building the organizational infrastructure needed for long-term, systemic impact.

“This moment is incredibly meaningful for our organization,” said Sonali Ratnasinghe, Founder and Executive Director of Youth Ambassadors of Service. “To be supported by The MATTIE Fund and Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, whose work has shaped national conversations on mental health and equity, and to know that this fund was entrusted to her by Melinda French Gates through Pivotal Ventures is both humbling and inspiring. It affirms the power of youth-led solutions and community-rooted work.”

As National Mentoring Month comes to a close, YAS is using this milestone to energize its next phase of growth. The MATTIE Fund’s focus on grassroots organizations advancing inclusion and equity aligns closely with YAS’s mission to equip young people with the tools, confidence, and opportunities to serve their communities and lead lasting change.

Endless gratitude goes out to Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, The MATTIE Fund team, and Melinda French Gates for believing in youth-driven innovation and backing that belief with meaningful resources. This support represents what becomes possible when visionary philanthropy meets lived experience and community-centered action.

To learn more about Youth Ambassadors of Service or get involved, visit www.youthambassadorsofservice.org.