Gift of Giving Foundation's student ambassadors to learn about the working world

The Gift of Giving Foundation inducted more than 20 students from Sewanhaka and Elmont high schools into the organization’s student ambassador program on March 30 — the largest group to be bestowed with such an honor.

Elizabeth Forbes, founder of the Gift of Giving Foundation, launched the program as a way to help young individuals visualize their career goals for the future through volunteering for local businesses, neighborhood groups and nonprofits.

Through these community relationships, the goal is for students to understand that they just need to take the first step to embrace all opportunities for success.

“My last year in high school, I had no clue about the big world I was about to enter — I had no knowledge or excitement about the new path ahead of me,” Forbes said. “Our future generations should be ready to take on the big world rather than second- guess the path ahead of them.”

Jessica Brown, director of the student ambassador program and Forbes’ niece, is a recent graduate of Iona College with a degree in media and strategic communications. Brown has been part of the program since the beginning, when it only enrolled a handful of students.

After seeing how many young people took the ambassador’s oath at the induction ceremony, Brown said the growth shows the positive impact the program is making.

“I think all of us have a sense of confusion when thinking about our futures,” Brown said. “It makes me proud to be a part of the program and makes me happy to see how excited (the students) all get when the program starts.”

Guidance counselors select the students, and once they are inducted into the ambassador program, they are expected to visit participating businesses on a weekly basis.

For the next eight weeks, the teens will learn the ins and outs of the workforce firsthand from several business leaders in a variety of fields, including law enforcement, nonprofit work, retail, design, the restaurant industry and more, according to Forbes and Brown.

The ambassadors earn up to 15 to 20 hours of community service through the program.

This spring’s lineup of mentors include Belimage.com, the POP Squad, Architectural Sign Group, 718 Solar, Guggin Café, Island Harvest, Queen of Hearts, A2Z Automasters and Four Village Studio.

“They get a chance to really learn about stuff they might not have even dabbled in before,” Brown said.

At the induction ceremony, held at Sewanhaka High School, Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages and Town Councilman Tom Muscarella congratulated the students as they embark on this educational experience. They also commended the students for showing incredible leadership in school and in their community.

Dorah Naissant, a junior at Elmont High School, joined the Gift of Giving Foundation in October, calling it an “amazing experience.”

“It feels like I am with my family when I’m here and with Ms. Elizabeth,” Naissant said. “It’s taught me a lot about the real world. It also helped me choose which career path I want to go to.”

Kimani Forbes, a senior at Sewanhaka High School, thanked his mentors at A2Z Automasters for sparking his interest in car mechanics.

“The program has opened my mind to future endeavors and possibilities,” he said. “As a young man who is into cars, I was able to get hands-on experience with very knowledgeable people.”