Youth Ambassadors 2025-2026 Hub

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Welcome Current 2025-2026 Youth Ambassadors and Parents!

Congratulations on being accepted as a 2025-2026 Breakthrough T1D Mid-Atlantic Youth Ambassador! As a Youth Ambassador (YA), you will have the opportunity to advocate for and raise awareness about type 1 diabetes (T1D) in your community. You will also help fundraise for better treatments and a cure for T1D. In turn, Youth Ambassadors will gain confidence in sharing their T1D story, demonstrating leadership skills and collaborating with T1D peers while advancing the mission of Breakthrough T1D.

Thank you for your support and driving forward our mission to cure, treat and prevent T1D!

Current Youth Ambassadors and parents, please look below for program information and opportunities.

Looking for information on the YA program but didn’t apply for this school year? 

The Youth Ambassador program is open to kids in grades K-12. Our Youth Ambassadors have already been selected for this year, but next year’s application will open late summer of 2026. If you have questions, please email Jess Allston at jallston@bt1d.org.

Program Requirements

From now until June 30, 2026, each Youth Ambassador should complete the following:

  • Attend the virtual Youth Ambassador Orientation or watch the recording to ensure you’re up to date with goals, requirements, and happenings.
  • Commit to volunteer a minimum of five hours to support Breakthrough T1D programs and/or events​
  • Commit to attend and/or participate in a minimum of four Breakthrough T1D engagements or event​
  • Participate in at least one fundraising opportunity and commit to raising a minimum of $100 (Breakthrough T1D Walk, Breakthrough T1D Your Way, Breakthrough T1D Ride)​
  • Complete a minimum of one Stewardship Opportunity (Thank You Cards, Breakthrough T1D Walk new family letter writing, in-store thank you’s for retail campaigns, etc.) ​
  • Attend Quarterly Youth Ambassador Zoom Calls

Examples of opportunities to look out for to get volunteer hours, event attendance, or fundraising:

  • Attend a Breakthrough T1D Youth Ambassador National Meet Up
  • Attend a local meet up
  • Attend a virtual teen call
  • Become a Youth Advocacy Leader (see link below)
  • Participate in a clinical trial (see link below)
  • Write general thank you letters or create thank you videos (for sponsors, volunteers, donors, etc.)
  • Speak at a “lunch & learn” at your parent’s work or an information table about T1D
  • Share your story & educate others (ie: school, club, health fair, sports teams, info table, etc.)
  • Form a Walk team and fundraise
  • Participate in Breakthrough T1D Ride and fundraise (ages 13+)
  • Participate in Breakthrough T1D Run and fundraise
  • Post to your parents’ social media why you Walk, Ride, Run- share your story
  • Create a Your Way fundraiser and share your story (see ideas below)
  • Volunteer at a Breakthrough T1D event (Summit, Gala, Walk, Breakfast with Rufus, etc.)
  • Additional opportunities that may arise locally or virtually that you receive communication about

 

Activity Log (optional)

If it’s helpful, you can use this activity log to keep track of your activities for the year. I will not ask for these at the end of the year. Every time you write a thank you note, make a video, attend an event, etc., fill it out on the sheet. Remember to send me updates and photos of what you’re up to!  https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:249323b6-e292-4008-8b21-00cd20c7a7ed

 

Upcoming Engagement Opportunities:

The opportunities listed here will help Youth Ambassadors complete the program requirements for the year.  New events and opportunities will continue to be added throughout the year, so check back often!

 

Fundraising Opportunities:

 

Volunteer to help:

 

Youth Advocacy Leader Program

Did you know that sharing your story can help drive meaningful changes on Capitol Hill and beyond? We need dedicated Breakthrough T1D Advocates–just like you–to help strengthen our efforts to create a world without type 1 diabetes. As a Breakthrough T1D Youth Advocacy Leader (YAL), you can lend your voice on behalf of the T1D community to help support legislation and policies that accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications! Youth ages 17 and under are encouraged to apply (pro tip – it’s a terrific way to strengthen a 2027 Children’s Congress application!) Learn more and apply!

 

Participate in a Clinical Trial

Please check out our Clinical Trial webpage to see if there are any trials you qualify for near you!

 

Resources for hosting a Lunch & Learn, Info Table, etc. and Sharing Your T1D Story

Here are worksheets that you may use to build your T1D story to share in front of an audience:

 

Other Ideas to Support Fundraising

–Service Clubs Presentations (Lions, Kiwanis, Optimist, Rotary, etc.)

–Bake Sale

–Dimes for Diabetes at School

–School Fundraiser

–Employee Matches

–Corporate donation

–Social Media – Facebook Fundraiser

–Breakthrough T1D Fundraising app

–Dog Walking

–Plant Sale

–Bracelet Sale

–Family Carwash

-Milestone requests (donate $10 for 10 years living with T1D, etc.)

-Train for a Marathon/Triathalon/Cycling event and invite people to sponsor a mile.

-Birthday or Anniversary Fundraiser – instead of gifts, ask for donations for your birthday.

-Product Party – Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, etc. – percentage of sales goes to your fundraiser.

-More ideas can be found HERE

 

Looking for Breakthrough T1D Apparel? 

If you’d like to add some Breakthrough T1D swag to your wardrobe, visit https://shop.breakthrought1d.org/products/apparel/

 

Any Questions? Please reach out to Jess Allston at jallston@bt1d.org.

Written by: jallston