When Ashley Holck first joined Give Next, she wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Like many students entering the program for the first time, she was curious — and a bit skeptical — about how much impact she could really have.
“At first, I was still figuring out how everything worked,” Ashley says. “But over time, I came to understand the purpose of the program and the real impact it has on our community.”
What she discovered was much bigger than she initially imagined. Give Next not only supports local nonprofits through student grantmaking, it also creates space for young people to step into leadership and discover their own voice.
Through Give Next, students from public middle and high schools across Larimer County research community issues, meet with nonprofit leaders, and work together to decide where more than $180,000 in classroom grant funding (provided by local donors and student fundraising) will go. Along the way, they gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing their community and the organizations working to address them.
For Ashley, those experiences opened her eyes.
“Give Next has opened my eyes to challenges within our community that I wasn’t aware of before,” she says. “It’s powerful to not only learn about these issues, but to actively be part of the solution.”
Now a senior at Rocky Mountain High School, Ashley sees the program from a very different perspective. After several years in Give Next, including two years serving as a leader on the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), she has helped shape parts of the program itself.
Through YAC, students share insights with Give Next staff, helping refine the student experience and represent youth perspectives in program decisions. Ashley’s voice has helped influence several program updates, including updates to Kickoff Day and the student-designed postcard that both promotes Give Next to fellow students and shares information about local organizations that provide support and resources in our communities — the same organizations students themselves support through classroom grantmaking.
For Ashley, these opportunities reinforced something important: young people can and should play a meaningful role in shaping the programs designed for them, and, they can influence on behalf of those programs in very visible ways.
Caption: Ashley Holck is a Give Next Youth Advisory Committee Member.
“It has given me a voice in important program decisions and opportunities to represent Give Next through public speaking,” Ashley says. “Through YAC, I’ve been able to help improve the program and strengthen its ability to serve our community.”
One of the most meaningful outcomes of her time in Give Next has been her own personal growth, especially the confidence she has developed in speaking about local challenges and encouraging others to get involved in making a difference.
“The program has helped me discover my voice and shown me that I’m capable of doing hard things,” Ashley explains. “One of the biggest skills I’ve developed is public speaking. I now feel confident informing others about community needs, encouraging people to give back, and raising awareness about issues that often go unnoticed.”
Ashley encourages students who are just starting in Give Next to fully embrace the experience.
“My advice would be to fully invest yourself in the experiences, think critically, put in the effort, and stay open to growth,” she says. “The impact you make will come back to you in meaningful ways.”
Looking ahead, Ashley plans to pursue a career in nursing at the University of Northern Colorado — a path she sees as closely connected to the skills and values she developed through her participation in Give Next.
“The lessons I’ve learned through Give Next will continue to shape how I care for and advocate for others through my role as a nurse and in my community,” she says.
For Ashley, Give Next wasn’t simply an activity she participated in during high school. It became a place where she grew as a leader and experienced firsthand how powerful it can be when young people are trusted to help shape the future of their communities.
Each year, Give Next engages nearly 700 students across 33 schools in the Estes Park, Poudre, and Thompson school districts; creating opportunities for students to find their voice, be inspired to create change, and make a meaningful impact on the issues they care about most.
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Give Next is about more than student grantmaking — it’s about building a culture of giving, youth leadership, and inspiring young people to take action across Larimer County.
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