History

As part of his research in 1985, for his senior public policy thesis, YVC President David Battey visited existing service corps and interviewed leaders in the newly forming youth service field.

His research showed that while service opportunities were randomly available through schools, churches and synagogues, a broad-based community organization offering challenging, organized service opportunities to youth of all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds was not consistently available.

Developing a framework for such an organization, Battey returned to his hometown of Kansas City in 1986 and established the Youth Volunteer Corps of Greater Kansas City under the sponsorship of the Heart of America United Way and with funding from numerous public and private sources.

Timeline
1985	David Battey and four fellow Williams College Seniors present thesis on national service. The A- boosts David’s G. P. A. and the work will lead to the formation of YVC.
1986	The first volunteer begins by exploring program and funding options while living for $100/month rent at his parents’ house in Kansas City. David’s parents eventually bought him a breakfast table and chairs with the money upon his move into an apartment the next year.
1987	The program is given a name and a logo for free by a generous Kansas City advertising agency—Bernstein-Rein. The Heart of America United Way Volunteer Center sponsors the YVC of Greater Kansas City and gives David a desk, phone, secretarial support and credibility. The first group of 68 diverse YVs serve on one of 12 teams doing four-week projects throughout the metropolitan Kansas City area. A youth Advisory Council is formed and school year service projects begin. YVC of Greater Kansas City grows to involve 112 YVs in the summer program. Youth Service America under the direction of Roger Landrum and Frank Slobig sponsors the replication of the YVC model by hiring David on October 1 as the director of YVCA Maurice Byrd is hired by the Volunteer Center to operate the Kansas City program.
1989	The first expansion YVC site is started in Spartanburg, SC, as part of the United Way of the Piedmont.
1990	YSA receives a $1 million four year grant from the W. K. Kellogg foundation to expand the YVCA model. Monica Meeks, Frank Dirks, and Rosemary Barnes are hired as additional YVC staff. The first YVC conference is held in Washington, DC; there are 12 attendees.
1991	A number of new YVC sites begin including several in Michigan ( Marquette, Battle Creek and Detroit)
1992	On May 1 YVCA separates amicably from YSA and becomes an independent national not-for-profit organization based in Kansas City, with Dr. Rich Davis as founding Board Chairman.
1993	YVCA develops its 30th site. Fran Rothstein becomes YVCA’s Washington, D.C., representative.
1994	YVCA’s first group of AmeriCorps members begins in September under the direction of Joe Gonzales. Dr. Lynne Ford publishes positive results in her independent evaluation of the YVC model and its impact on youth.
1995	Veronica Knight joins the YVCA staff. YVC Canada is formed with headquarters in Calgary, Alberta, under the leadership of Tina Willard.
1996	The first YVC International Conference is held in San Antonio, Texas, with 150 Attendees including a dozen from Canada. Don Sloan becomes YVCA Board Chairman.
1997	Numerous representatives from the YVC network including David and three Board members attend the Presidents’ Summit on Volunteerism in Philadelphia and commit to doubling the number of YVs to 40,000 by the end of 2000. The first National Volunteam Day takes place on July 25th with the theme—Paint the Town.
1998	YVC launches its cars for cause vehicle donation program with strong support from H&R Block. Leslie Evans is hired as Executive director of YVC Canada. YVs from Seattle set up YVCA’s web site, www.yvca.org, and unveil it at the International Conference in Vero Beach, Florida.
1999	The YVC of Greater Kansas City is sponsored by YVCA. YVCTalk listserv is started.
2000	Revised version of the Operations Manual is sent to all affiliates. Miles Richmond joins the YVCA staff
2001	YVCA develops new marketing materials including new brochures and a revamped web site
2002	Cars for a Cause brings in a record $58,539 after expenses YVC International Conference is held in Banff, Canada. The first time it has ever been held outside the United States
2003	Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation investment in YVC over the past 10 years tops $1,000,000
2004	YVCA receives our largest AmeriCorps grant ever—$680,000