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14-year-old Amy Jang brings hope to low-income LA families with shoe giveaway

June 4, 2015

Founder and CEO of Youth Hope Summit celebrates with Hobart Boulevard Elementary School students on June 3, 2015 after a charitable shoe give away for low-income families. (Korea Times)

14-year-old Founder and CEO of Youth Hope Summit Amy Jang celebrates with Hobart Boulevard Elementary School students on June 3, 2015 after a charitable shoe give away for low-income families. (Korea Times)

By Brian Han

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Spirits were soaring in the Hobart Boulevard Elementary School auditorium Wednesday with over a hundred students waiting in anticipation for their name to be called out.

Youth Hope Summit (YHS), a charitable group based out of Southern California, hosted a give away for students after raising funds in February through a concert event.

The goal was to help provide basic needs to children from low-income families and in this case with pairs of shoes — 155 to be exact.

14-year-old YHS Founder and CEO Amy Jang drew inspiration from 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai who was the youngest laureate ever at the age of 17.

Yousafzai has championed access to education and Jang hopes to follow in her footsteps.

“[Yousafzai] and the actions of other kids who set up organizations or strived to help others really convicted me,” she said. “I thought to myself, look at all these young people making a difference in the world, but what am I doing here at school and home. I wanted to impact the world, like these kids, and to show that age doesn’t matter if you wish to achieve great things.”

Her ability to empathize and think so far beyond herself is a rare trait among most others her age.

“Of course, I’m very proud,” said her father Michael Jang. “And we plan to continue to raise money and give back.”

Although the children could barely contain their excitement as pairs of shoes were handed out one by one, they waited as patiently as they could while watching other classmates hold up their gifts proudly.

“Honestly something like this goes a long way for my kids,” one mother said. “Every dollar counts in this family so we are grateful, very grateful.”

Besides the practical value provided, Jang hoped that the give away would express something beyond that.

“I chose to give out shoes because we need [them] to walk on a certain path,” she said. “In this case, the path symbolizes the road to accomplish one’s dreams. When we give out these shoes, I hope to show the kids that they can reach their goals.”

Wednesday’s give away is the organization’s second so far since its recent inception just six months ago.

But Jang plans for YHS to stick around for awhile.

“Youth Hope Summit started as a dream to empower kids,” she said. “I do hope to continue this organization even after I graduate high school. My heart will always be for the youth of this world.”

For more information visit the www.youthhopesummit.com.