YouthUp: True Value’s program for the kids

True Value Foundation introduced YouthUp, a matching gift program designed to help kids succeed.

Under the program, when a True Value member donates to various youth-focused not-for-profit organizations in the retailer’s community, True Value will match the donations, up to $1,000.

YouthUp was unveiled here at the 2017 True Value Spring Reunion.

To be eligible for matching funds, not-for-profits must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charities with missions such as leadership development, entrepreneurship and business, job and school readiness, community service, social skills, nutrition, arts and culture.

The co-op has set aside $100,000 for the program, and requests for matching funds will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

In rolling out the program, the foundation pointed to some of its youth charity success stories:

• Co-op associates in Chicago have clocked more than 2,500 hours since 2015 as mentors, volunteers and fundraisers for the True Value Boys & Girls Club.
• Some 1,200 retailers are engaged in some way of giving back to Boys & Girls Clubs.
• Since 2009, retailers have donated some 25,000 gallons of paint for schools and clubs through Painting a Brighter Future.
• True Value suppliers have donated more than $4 million in products to Habitat for Humanity since 2010.