News
Meet YOTO’s New Board Members!
Youth On Their Own is excited to welcome three new members to our Board of Directors. These outstanding leaders will [...]
Welcome YOTO’s New Board Members!
Youth On Their Own is excited to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors! These outstanding leaders will [...]
YOTO HAS A NEW HOME!
Youth On Their Own Moves to New “Forever Home” at 2525 N Country Club Rd After years of planning and [...]
Meet YOTO’s New Board Members!
Youth On Their Own is excited to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors. These outstanding leaders will [...]
Meet YOTO’s New Board Members!
Youth On Their Own is excited to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors. These outstanding leaders will [...]
Youth On Their Own is excited to welcome three new members to our Board of Directors!
Each of these outstanding leaders will serve for a minimum of three years to provide governance, financial oversight, and [...]
Youth On Their Own has found a “forever home”!
When YOTO began in 1986, it was a tiny grassroots organization staffed entirely by volunteers. With the support of our [...]
Youth On Their Own is excited to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors
Both of these outstanding leaders [...]
Double Your Impact: This Giving Tuesday, TEP Will Match Your Gift to Provide Security to Homeless Youth
Giving Tuesday, celebrated annually on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is a global day of giving and unity. On this [...]
YOTO’s student portal receives a huge boost thanks to a generous grant from the Abbett Family Foundation!
Last fall, thanks to the support of donors Jan and Jim Springer, YOTO launched the Youth On Their Own (YOTO) [...]
Sky Ranch Foundation supports 27 youth experiencing homelessness with $12,500 grant to Youth On Their Own!
This summer, Sky Ranch Foundation, a charitable organization that strives to give underserved youth a second chance, joined the YOTO [...]
YOTO student Grace shares her experience as a new parent working toward her high school graduation: “I have never felt more confident in my future than I do right now!”
It takes enormous resolve for a young person experiencing homelessness to successfully pursue their education. Becoming a parent - during [...]
Youth On Their Own is excited to welcome three new members to our Board of Directors
Each of these outstanding leaders will serve for a minimum of three years to provide governance, financial oversight, and strategic [...]
A 2021 YOTO senior shares his story of overcoming a difficult year and achieving graduation success!
Youth On Their Own students really showed us what it meant to persevere this year! Class of 2021 seniors faced [...]
YOTO liaisons from Santa Rita High School and Eastpointe High School share some of the highlights from the past school year
Youth On Their Own’s dedicated school liaisons are truly the backbone of our organization! During the school year, these committed [...]
CEO Elizabeth Slater discusses how YOTO is tearing down barriers to high school graduation in recent Great.com podcast
Youth On Their Own (YOTO) CEO Elizabeth Slater recently chatted with Great.com host Emil Ekvardt about YOTO as part of [...]
YOTO Welcomes Four New Board Members!
Youth On Their Own is delighted to welcome four new members to our Board of Directors. Each of these outstanding [...]
YOTO announces $238,000 in Survivor’s Grant payments to YOTO students and alumni
In partnership with the City of Tucson’s Mayor and Council, YOTO is thrilled to share that we have provided hundreds [...]
Bank of America announces Youth On Their Own among 2020 Neighborhood Champions
Youth On Their Own (YOTO) is both humbled and proud to be named as the 2020 Bank of America Neighborhood [...]
Check out our first ever YOTO Family Cookbook!
With the holiday season upon us, we’re so excited to share with you – our Youth On Their Own Family [...]
YOTO 2020 Fall Brunch Video
Miss the Fall Brunch? You can watch the show anytime right here! CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FALL EVENT!
The Masonic Charities of Arizona awards YOTO $1,500 to support youth!
It always warms our hearts when Youth On Their Own (YOTO) alumni reach out to [...]
The online YOTO Student Portal is changing how YOTO serves youth – now and in the future!
Requesting items from YOTO’s Mini Mall has never been easier for students thanks to the new student portal! Now more [...]
Help Homeless Youth Graduate!
Youth On Their Own - or YOTO, as it's informally called - has been helping youth experiencing homelessness in Pima [...]
An Update from YOTO’s CEO Elizabeth Slater
Dear YOTO Family, Elizabeth Slater, YOTO CEO Every few years, Youth On Their Own begins a new strategic [...]
YOTO wins big among Tucson’s 100+ Women Who Care and 100+ Guys Who Give!
Sometimes, it’s hard to imagine the impact that your gift has on the life of a YOTO student. There are [...]
Who are YOTO’s Program Coordinators and how do they help YOTO youth?
Have you ever wondered how Youth On Their Own supports youth experiencing homelessness? Who works on the frontlines to actually [...]
YOTO’s adapting to support students as they return to school!
As the summer heat rages, it’s hard to believe kids will be heading back to school soon! What exactly will [...]
Tucson Subaru announces YOTO as the 2020 “Shares the Love” local partner!
For the sixth year in a row, Tucson Subaru proudly announced that Youth On Their Own will be the Hometown [...]
Birthday buddies Paula and Greg celebrated their 50th with a golf tournament and fundraiser for YOTO youth
What do you get when you bring together two friends who share the same birthday, a love of golf, and [...]
A recent YOTO high school graduate shares her COVID-19 experience and what she is looking forward to most
YOTO youth are truly the most resilient and awe-inspiring young people around! Even though COVID-19 cast a shadow on many [...]
Local photographers and high school seniors support YOTO youth with graduation portrait fundraiser
As the summer winds on, we’re so proud of our YOTO Family for continuing to support YOTO youth during the [...]
Checking in with Pueblo High’s incredible YOTO school liaison, Andrea Vazquez Mata
With over 2,000 students at over 100 schools (and only 28 staff members), YOTO’s work would not be possible without [...]
YOTO’s Commitment to Our Community
The YOTO family stands in solidarity with the Black community against systemic racism, white supremacy, and the horrible injustices we’ve [...]
Three YOTO Family members share their experiences working in the food service industry in the time of COVID-19
Gary Hickey is the chef-partner at Charro Steak, Charro del Rey, and Charrovida. He is a former YOTO alumnus, [...]
Three cheers for Jennifer Wilson on her “Belling” from Ben’s Bells!
Pictured: Rowena O’Haver (left) and Jennifer Wilson (right) stand in front of a Ben’s Bells “be kind” mosaic mural [...]
Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez: from Flowing Wells High School to Ivy League Graduate, Wells Fargo Analyst, and TED Talk Speaker
“I did not know it back then, but during those eight years that I lived without my family, I had [...]
YOTO Alumna Spotlight: Deja Foxx’s birthday fundraiser for YOTO
Deja Foxx is a force to be reckoned with. At just 20 years old, this activist, organizer, Ivy League student, [...]
The YOTO Family Shines During These Difficult Times
With schools closed and most businesses either reducing their hours or ceasing operations altogether, it’s safe to say that our [...]
Help Us Meet the Match
At every YOTO luncheon, we appeal to our YOTO Family to help us ease some of the burdens our youth [...]
Volunteers, Students and Board Members share “Why I’m a Member of the YOTO Family”
The ever-expanding YOTO Family is made up of students, staff, volunteers, school liaisons, donors, members of the local media and [...]
YOTO’s Volunteer Group of the Year Award
Volunteer groups also play an integral part in YOTO’s operations. Typically, these are members of a school, club, religious organization, [...]
YOTO’s Volunteer of the Year Award
Volunteers have been the heart and soul of YOTO from the very beginning. Among other duties, YOTO volunteers staff our [...]
YOTO’s Liaison of the Year Award
School liaisons are the foundation of YOTO’s program. They are YOTO’s points of contact at each school, advocating on [...]
YOTO’s First “Ann Young Advocate for Youth Award”!
YOTO was founded in 1986 by Ann Young, a guidance counselor at Amphi High School, when she noticed that [...]
YOTO is Family Spring Luncheon 2020
On Tuesday, March 3, Youth On Their Own proudly hosted the 2020 “YOTO is Family” Spring Luncheon at the Tucson [...]
Join us for a Community Appreciation Open House!
Please join us for a Community Appreciation Open House on Tuesday, February 4th, from 11:00am-1:00pm. There will be come and [...]
Inmates and Staff from the Arizona State Prison Complex (ASPC)-Tucson Host Fundraiser and Donate Over $11,600 to Support Homeless Youth
The YOTO family never ceases to amaze us! The Arizona State Prison Complex (ASPC)-Tucson recently held a month-long fundraising event [...]
YOTO named “Favorite Charity” and $25,000 prize winner at NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl
Youth On Their Own was named “Favorite Charity” at the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl football game on December 31st! [...]
Spreading the Warmth and Cheer at Pueblo High School!
With the holidays just around the corner, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate a special group of people [...]
Tuesday, October 29 – Attend YOTO Open House/Mural Unveiling!
On Tuesday, October 29th, YOTO will hold an open house and reveal its newly completed murals! Please drop in anytime, [...]
Attend YOTO’s Fall Brunch!
YOTO's first ever Fall Brunch will be held at Charrovida on Sunday, November 3rd from 10 AM - 1 PM. [...]
Join The Conversation: Paper Tigers
On Wednesday, October 23rd, please consider joining City Center for Collaborative Learning’s screening of Paper Tigers, a groundbreaking documentary that [...]
Donating to the YOTO Mini Mall is Easier Than Ever!
Like to shop? Put your shopping savvy to good use by helping to stock the Youth On Their Own Mini [...]
Welcome Elizabeth Slater, YOTO’s New CEO!
Youth On Their Own is proud to welcome Elizabeth Slater to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Slater, a nonprofit [...]
Casa Kira and Tucson Community Rally to Fill Mini Mall Shelves
Tucson is such a generous community. I knew that given the opportunity, when people found out about the great work [...]
AZPM Radio Interview with Rashel Olalde and Bethany Neumann
"I felt alone and hopeless. I didn't think I would make it through high school, because of that loneliness." ~Rachel [...]
Thank You to LongHorn Steakhouse!
Thank you to LongHorn Steakhouse for their very generous donation of $358 to YOTO! Your support and contributions will continue to help [...]
A Day For YOTO Run/Walk
Calling all runners/walkers! You’re invited to A DAY FOR YOTO – a 24-hour run/walk to raise funds to help homeless [...]
Join YOTO at Tucson Hop Shop’s Second Annual Pride Night and Inaugural Queer Bazaar!
Join YOTO at Tucson Hop Shop's Second Annual Pride Night and Inaugural Queer Bazaar! We are so happy to be [...]
Thank you, Vantage West!
A big thank you to Vantage West CU employees who helped unbox, fold and sort dozens of towels for YOTO students! [...]
Thank you to Davis-Monthan Security Forces Squadron!
A big shout out to the airmen from Davis-Monthan Security Forces Squadron for helping with our unboxing and sorting [...]
Mini Mall Needs for June
Please consider making a donation of one of these urgent Mini Mall needs for June! Without school lunch opportunities, summer [...]
Memorial Day Fundraiser with ZumbaHabit!
Memorial Day is known for being a day of remembrance. ZumbaHabit, a local fitness club, [...]
The Toy Lady Comes to YOTO
Sharon Loper’s mantra is “Today I am going to make THE DIFFERENCE in someone’s life.” This past Mother’s day, Sharon [...]
Thank You to Our YOTO Volunteers!
This past April, Youth on Their Own is excited to say that we had so many wonderful groups of volunteers [...]
Mini Mall Donations for May!
We are looking for Mini Mall donations for the month of May! Please consider donating any of these items to [...]
Help Create Dorm Kits for our YOTO College Bound Students!
Youth On Their Own is starting to collect the following items for students who will be starting college in the [...]
Thank you Pima Community College Center for the Arts at West Campus
This past weekend, the Pima Community College Center for the Arts at West Campus invited Youth On Their Own to [...]
Thank you Soroptimist Desert Tucson Club
In February, Youth on Their Own Representative Elysa went to an event with the Soroptimist Desert Tucson Club to spread [...]
Thank you Tom Tatro – State Farm!
Tucson, Ariz. – For the months of February and March, Tom Tatro – State Farm Insurance raised $500 for Youth [...]
We Love Our YOTO Volunteers!
This past April, three employees from JCPenny El Con Center volunteered at Youth On Their Own. Interested in helping out [...]
Support YOTO at Long Realty Central’s Shredding & Recycling Event
The Long Realty Central office will be holding a Shredding and Recycling event on Saturday, April 27th! Please make sure to [...]
Come tour YOTO!
Stop by Youth On Their Own on Tuesday, April 30th, from 7:30am-9:30am for a tour of YOTO. These tours will [...]
Come Support YOTO Students at Harlow Gardens
The University of Arizona Project Management students are hosting a silent art auction for our YOTO students on Saturday, April [...]
Thank you to the Rimini Street Foundation!
Thank you to The Rimini Street Foundation and Corinna Pietruszynski for supporting the homeless youth in Pima County! Youth on [...]
Fuel For Life with Southwest Gas
Tucson, Ariz. -- For the next two years, Southwest Gas employees in Southern Arizona will be donating money to Youth [...]
YOTO Representatives at Las Puertas Community School
On February 15th, Youth on Their Own representatives Kelli and Elysa attended Las Puertas Community School’s 2nd annual Resource Fair to [...]
YOTO is participating in Jim Click’s “Millions for Tucson”!
At Jim Click’s 10th annual “Millions for Tucson” raffle kick off on February 13th at Reid Park Zoo, ten random [...]
Share the Love with Tucson Subaru!
We are excited to announce that once again this year, Tucson Subaru has selected Youth On Their Own as a [...]
Check out YOTO’s Fall Wine Tasting next to the Wine Wise column of this month’s Desert Leaf!
Check out YOTO’s Fall Wine Tasting next to the Wine Wise column of this month’s Desert Leaf!
Thank you, Southwest Women’s Charitable Club!
We are happy to share that Youth On Their Own was the receipt of a grant from the Southwest Women’s [...]
YOTO Featured in Pueblo HS’s School Newspaper, El Guerrero!
There’s no better feeling than to see the students we serve graduate! Big thanks to the student journalists of El [...]
YOTO Goes Global!
Youth On Their Own-graduates Louie and Jose were featured in the Dutch publication Straatnieuws this summer! Click here to see the [...]
Armando’s Story Article
Click here to read part one of Armando's story. Click here to read part two of Armando's story. Congratulations, to [...]
Important Tax Credit News
Make your Tax Credit Donation today! On August 23, 2018, the US Treasury released proposed regulations that may limit the tax [...]
YOTO featured in BizTucson – Giving Youth a Chance
April Bourie with BizTucson interviewed YOTO’s CEO Nicola Hartmann about how YOTO is Giving Youth a Chance. Read the full article here! [...]
Resale Home Store Closing – May 12, 2018
Dear Friends of YOTO, It is with mixed emotions that Youth On Their Own announces the closing of the [...]
Youth On Their Own often serves as stand-in family for homeless students—Arizona Daily News
Eva Murzaite understands firsthand that a family is more than kin into which you are born — it is [...]
Join us for a free “Why-A-Will” Class!
Join us and Rubin & Bernstein PLLC on March 22nd from Noon to 2 PM to learn more about creating [...]
YOTO Mentioned in Cronkite News
YOTO was featured on Cronkite News Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. We had the opportunity to share one of YOTO’s [...]
Join us in Congratulating Daniel Armenta & Daniela Zasa in Their New Promotions Here at YOTO!
Daniel Armenta who was our Donor Relations Manager, works closely with the community and our donors. He is always [...]
Daniela Zasa, YOTO’s Director of Programs, Takes on Fast Pitch!
Daniela Zasa, YOTO’s new Director of Programs blew the crowd away with her outstanding Fast Pitch Thursday, November 9th, [...]
Get to know: Eva Murzaite, Board Member
Born and raised in Lithuania, she later moved to Arizona in 1996. After finishing her studies she learned on [...]
Get to know: Cristie Street, Board Member
Cristie Street co-founded Nextrio in 2003 and serves as the managing partner of this Tucson-based IT consulting firm of [...]
YOTO Loves Tucson Subaru – “Share the Love” Event
Share the Love has donated more than $94 million dollars to charity since 2008. With the help from customers [...]
“Thanksgiving in a Box”
For most of us, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all the great things we are fortunate to [...]
The Women of Quail Creek Spice Things Up!
If you’ve ever come to YOTO for a visit you’ve probably had a chance to see the mini-mall where [...]
Second Chances
Not enough can be said about the pivotal role persistence plays in helping YOTO’s students. It’s unfortunate, but sometimes [...]
YOTO Receives Copper Cactus Award
After applying for several years, Youth On Their Own was chosen out of sixteen applicants to be this year’s [...]
Staff Spotlight: Diego Coronado (Program Coordinator)
This week, we’ll be sharing with you another one of YOTO’s newest staff members: Diego! Diego is one of [...]
Staff Spotlight: Monika Cabrera (Program Coordinator)
This week, we’ll be sharing with you one of YOTO’s newest staff members: Monika Cabrera! Monika is one of [...]
AZ Daily Star—Tucson middle school students get to pick the brains of professionals
Professionals Needed to Mentor Students For professionals who want to give back but have limited time, the Leadership Institute [...]
Alumni Update – Jesus Valenzuela (Class of 2016)
This is chapter 2 of Jesus Valenzuela’s story, centered on his experiences during the second semester of his Freshmen [...]
Get to Know: Deb Salaiz, Board Member
With her connections and involvement in the Old Pueblo, one would automatically think Deb Salaiz is a native Tucsonan. [...]
It Takes A Village: Youth On Their Own’s Resale Home Store
The YOTO Home Store was founded in October 2015 and has continued to grow ever since. All products for [...]
Get to Know: Glynda Underwood, Board Member
As a young child, Glynda moved around a lot… enjoying the opportunity to visit new cities/states and meet new [...]
Get to Know: William Taylor, Board Member
William, a local general dentist, has been practicing dentistry for 9 years. The Shreveport, Louisiana native came to Tucson [...]
Get to Know: Bob Villamana, Board Member
Bob grew up in suburban New York in the town of Eastchester. The middle child, Bob has been lucky [...]
Washington Federal helps homeless youth with education
Washington Federal branches across Pima County have partnered with local nonprofit Youth On Their Own and its annual “Back [...]
Volunteer Spotlight: Chris Nanos
This week, we’ll be sharing with you one of YOTO’s newest volunteers: Chris Nanos! Get to know a little [...]
AZ Daily Star – Back to School Events will provide backpacks, supplies to kids
As July winds down, a bevy of back-to-school events offer multiple opportunities for public involvement while providing everything from [...]
Volunteer Spotlight: Izzy Plecity
This week, we’ll be sharing a light-hearted volunteer spotlight on our favorite furry friend: Izzy Plecity! You may have [...]
YOTO Selected as Finalist for Tucson Metro Chamber’s Copper Cactus Awards
More than four dozen businesses and four business leaders in Southern Arizona have been selected as finalists for the [...]
A Complete History of Youth On Their Own
Written by Ann Young, Youth On Their Own Founder Edited by Reilly Salkowski, YOTO Volunteer “As a school counselor [...]
Local Libraries Lend a Hand to Homeless Youth
31-Year-Old Nonprofit Expands Relationships & Resources to Serve More Homeless Youth Tucson, Arizona – In June 2017, Youth On [...]
Volunteer Spotlight: Joan & Tom Gardner
Joan & Tom are two of YOTO’s amazing volunteers who regularly frequent the YOTO offices – Joan providing friendly [...]
YOTO Welcomes Two New Members to the Board of Directors
In May, Youth on Their Own welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors: Katina Koller and Deb [...]
Volunteer Spotlight: Katie White
Katie is one of YOTO’s incredible volunteers whose friendly smile greets you at the front desk! Get to know [...]
Anthony Robbins Foundation – Grants + Community Impact Spotlight
In 2017, YOTO was awarded a $10,000 grant from the Anthony Robbins Foundation to provide a minimum of 71 [...]
Arizona Public Media – Beating the Odds to Graduate from High School
There are a number of reasons a student might pass through Bonnie Kneller’s office in Tucson High Magnet School. [...]
KVOA – Youth On Their Own takes in wealth of donations after break-in
Youth on Their Own (YOTO) has received four tons worth of donations since thieves stole nearly half a ton [...]
AZPM – Border Dilemma: Parents Can’t See Triplets Graduate
U.S. born children whose parents have been deported or voluntarily returned to their country of origin face an uncertain [...]
Greater Tucson Leadership: Multipurpose space serving homeless youth to be unveiled
Room renovation part of GTL community impact project Youth on Their Own, a nonprofit dropout prevention agency supporting homeless [...]
Tucson News Now – 1 in 5 homeless teens become victims of human trafficking
New reports are shedding light on how common trafficking is among homeless youth around the country. According to studies [...]
YOTO Meets $50,000 Matching Funds Challenge
Less than 1 month after presenting our $50,000 matching funds challenge at our 1st annual spring lunch, you have helped [...]
Tucson News Now: Tucson Federal Credit Union Awards Tucson Nonprofits $45,000
Three Tucson area nonprofits received $45,000 thanks to the Tucson Federal Credit Union and its Community Partnership Awards on [...]
Arizona Gives Day Raises $2.74 Million for Nonprofits Statewide
Arizona Gives Day, the grassroots, statewide day of giving that invites Arizonans to support their favorite causes, raised $2.74 [...]
Youth On Their Own Debuts 2017-2020 Strategic Plan
Youth On Their Own (YOTO) recently underwent a strategic planning process conducted by Alexander | Carrillo Consulting, a local nonprofit [...]
KGUN9: Tucson steps up to replace food for homeless teens
A heart-warming response to a hard-hearted crime. Last week, KGUN9 showed you how someone stole stockpiles of food from Youth [...]
Tucson News Now: Donors helping Youth On Their Own recover after devastating theft
Youth On Their Own calls itself an anti-dropout program for homeless youth. It provides support, such as food, to [...]
14th Annual ARCA Raffle – Buy Your Tickets Today!
Over the past 13 years, the Arizona Roofing Contractors Association (ARCA) has raised over $216,000 for Youth On Their [...]
KVOA: Tucson non-profit battling child homelessness
Arizona ranks as the fifth worst state for child homelessness, at any given moment there are around 5,000 homeless [...]
KGUN9: Hard-hearted thieves steal food for homeless teens
Tucson: How cold blooded is this? Thieves stole a stockpile of food meant for homeless teenagers who were doing [...]
Tucson’s “Youth On Their Own” breaking service record
The news came in a simple tweet on Tuesday from Youth On Their Own: “We have already served over [...]
Electronics for Empowerment
Local Tucson Nonprofit Refurbishes 30 Computers for Homeless Youth Throughout the 2016-2017 school year, Youth On Their Own (YOTO) [...]
Get to Know – Sean Denlinger, Board Member
Sean Denlinger attended Pima Community College and the Hogan School of Real Estate. He is currently a senior loan [...]
Get to Know – Jane Klipp, Board Member
Jane Klipp attended San Diego State University as an undergraduate and the University of Arizona for her graduate degree [...]
Get to Know – Dr. Bryan Foulk, Board Member
Dr. Bryan Foulk attended the University of Arizona as an undergraduate with a double major in biology and chemistry, [...]
Double Your Impact for Greater Tucson’s Homeless Teens!
Greater Tucson Leadership’s Class of 2017 is on a mission to help our community’s homeless teens. With your support, the [...]
YOTO Launches Caring Couriers Pilot Program
Local Tucson Nonprofit Expands Delivery Services to Homeless Youth Youth On Their Own’s new pilot program, “Caring Couriers,” was [...]
Arizona Daily Star – Giving Back in Southern Arizona
Local philanthropist Bonnie Kay has pledged to match all donations — up to $5,000 — to build a multi-purpose space [...]
Youth On Their Own – Spring Lunch Recap
On behalf of all those we serve, thank you so much for your support of our 2017 Spring Lunch. [...]
Get to Know—Kris Cohen, Board Member
Youth On Their Own has an incredibly passionate Board of Directors who work tirelessly to ensure that our students [...]
Youth On Their Own – Feeding the Future
31-Year-Old Nonprofit Educates Homeless Youth on the Importance of Nutrition Tucson, AZ – In February 2017, Youth On Their [...]
Arizona Sonora News Service: Homeless youth find help in Tucson
According to the National Center on Family Homelessness, Arizona is the fifth worst in the United States for child [...]
AZ Daily Star – Tucson’s Wheels for Kids donates its 2,000th refurbished bicycle
A Sun City Vistoso volunteer group has donated its 2,000th refurbished bicycle to local youths and adults in need. [...]
Arizona Public Media – At Tucson Volunteer Fair, Activism by Lending a Hand
Tucsonans who want to get more involved had a chance at the Community Volunteer Fair, hosted at the Historic [...]
Former homeless teen starting medical school, continues to give back
Youth On Their Own Alumnus Shares How Local Nonprofit Helped Him on the Path to Success Tucson, AZ – [...]
Former homeless teen now works at Tucson Mayor’s Office
Youth On Their Own Alumna Shares How Local Nonprofit Helped Her on the Path to Success Tucson, AZ – [...]
Former homeless teen serves as head football coach at CDO High School
Youth On Their Own Alumnus Shares How Local Nonprofit Helped Him on the Path to Success Tucson, AZ – [...]
Arizona Sonora New—Homeless Youth Invisible in Southern Arizona
They are the hidden ones living under a different roof each week. By no fault of their own, they [...]
Former Homeless Teen Studies Abroad on Scholarship
Youth On Their Own Alumna Serves as Global Correspondent for U.S. Dept. of State Scholarship Program Tucson, AZ – [...]
What do YOTO students want the most right now? Milk.
“During the strategic planning process for YOTO, I had two focus groups with homeless youth at their schools. When [...]
YOTO’s Team is Growing!
We recently said goodbye to David Martin, Director of Programs, who has left YOTO to pursue other opportunities. David [...]
Get to Know – Tom Hoyt, Board President
Youth On Their Own is extremely fortunate to have a board of directors that believes fully in our mission [...]
Paying It Forward – Undergraduate Students Partner to Explore the Funding of Nonprofits
Students in Pam Perry’s MGMT 381: Management of Effective Nonprofit Organizations class ended their semester by making a real [...]
One Idea + A Big Heart = HUGE Impact!
Bill Carson’s dedication and hard work have been a huge help to YOTO, and have shown the impact that [...]
Youth On Their Own—A Brief History
In 1986, Ann Young was a guidance counselor at Amphitheater High School concerned about an increasing number of homeless [...]
The Stipend – How Does It Work?
At Youth On Their Own, homeless youth enrolled in the program are given the opportunity to earn a stipend [...]
Snapchat Influencer Q&A: Youth On Their Own
As part of their social media marketing strategy, YOTO has been utilizing Snapchat. In the interview, Kristyn Conner (Director [...]
Tucson Weekly—How you can help make the world a better place, at no cost to you!
The end is nigh! The end of the year, at least, although some of you out there might be [...]
AZ Business Daily—Tucson Electric Power volunteers spread holiday cheer
Tucson Electric Power employee volunteers are spreading cheer during the holiday season, hanging lights on parade floats and trees, [...]
AZ Daily Star—Business awards earned in Southern Arizona
Youth On Their Own, a Tucson nonprofit dropout-prevention agency, was recently awarded a $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist grant. [...]
1.8 Million Votes Cast for a Million Dollars
Youth On Their Own receives $25,000 State Farm Neighborhood Assist® grant to make a difference Tucson, AZ – 1.8 [...]
Two Tucson nonprofits hoping to benefit from season of giving
In the midst of finalizing celebrations or prepping traditional Thanksgiving feasts, many Tucsonans are also strategizing for the biggest [...]
Help Youth On Their Own Win $25,000—Vote Now!
State Farm Neighborhood Assist® Announces Top 200 Causes That Need Your Votes Tucson, AZ (October 26, 2016) – Communities [...]
Youth On Their Own Promotes Several Team Members
30-Year-Old Nonprofit Strengthens Team & Resources to Serve More Homeless Youth Tucson, AZ—On September 1, 2016 Youth [...]
Youth On Their Own Welcomes New Donor Relations Manager
30-Year-Old Nonprofit Strengthens Team & Resources to Serve More Homeless Youth Tucson, AZ—In September 2016, Youth On Their Own [...]
Arizona Republic—There are 29,537 homeless kids in Arizona public schools
They are called the hidden homeless. Young outcasts who, through no fault of their own, have entered a world [...]
Youth On Their Own Welcomes New Director of Finance & Operations
30-Year-Old Nonprofit Strengthens Team & Resources to Serve More Homeless Youth Tucson, AZ – In June 2016, Youth On [...]
KGUN 9—New federal guidelines to help homeless students
This fall new federal guidelines will be put in place to help homeless students across the country. The changes [...]
U.S. News & World Report—Getting Drop-Outs Back In the Classroom
Students in Tucson, Arizona, are back in classrooms Thursday. But the day before, when educators and school officials are [...]
Youth On Their Own Appoints New Executive Director
On June 1st, Youth On Their Own (YOTO) welcomed Nicola Hartmann as its new Executive Director. Nicola joins the [...]
KVOA—Youth On Their Own helps guide homeless teens to graduation
Pima County is home to thousands of youth and for some, staying in school can be difficult. The Tucson-based [...]
AZ Daily Star—Contractors’ bowling tournament to help homeless students
As the world gears up for the Summer Olympics, local roofers and builders invite the public to join in [...]
KGUN9—New Program Helps Homeless Teens Transition After High School
When Benjamin Carnahan was 15-years-old, he says he ended up living by himself on the streets. “I was kind [...]
The Atlantic—The Complicated Task of Identifying Homeless Students
The number of homeless students in the United States has doubled in the past decade. During the 2013-14 school [...]
Youth On Their Own Brings Nationwide Youth Initiative to Tucson
Grant Program Connects Homeless Youth to Higher Education and Employment On June 14th, Youth On Their Own (YOTO) launched [...]
The Washington Post—These are the faces of America’s growing youth homeless population
“My sisters and I were going hungry. We lived off of ramen noodles for weeks at a time; we [...]
Youth On Their Own Receives Platinum Seal from Guidestar
In May 2016, Youth On Their Own received the GuideStar Platinum rating for its commitment to program impact and [...]
Tucson’s Homeless Youth: ‘It’s Pretty Much Survival Each Day’
Skyler Azrael has lived in group homes and on Tucson streets for five years since he said his mom [...]
AZ Daily Star—High schooler with deported parents earns $20,000 college scholarship
Jesus Valenzuela was summoned to the Desert View High School principal’s office at lunchtime Wednesday, and he was somewhat [...]
AZEDNEWS: Billions in the Balance—Mayors Sound Alarm, Join Forces to Improve Grad Rates
A group of Arizona mayors is warning of “disastrous” economic consequences in the billions of dollars if the number [...]
Nonprofit reducing food limit for homeless teens, seeking donations
Youth On Their Own took to Twitter last week urging people to consider donating nonperishable food items to their [...]
Desert Leaf: Working Toward Changing Lives
It’s not often that a cashier shakes a customer’s hand after a purchase. But this one did. He wasn’t [...]
KGUN9 News: Paid internships available for homeless, at-risk teens
“I wish I had like a mother figure,” said Esmeralda Gallardo, a participant in the program. “I kind of [...]
Sahuarita Sun: Homeless SUSD students have help
“Thirteen students are classified as homeless in the Sahuarita Unified School District. YOTO defines homeless youth as students who, [...]
Former YOTO Scholarship Recipient Off to a Great Start
Luisa Daniel shared with us how the $2,000 Noah Warren Cohen Scholarship helped her this past semester. “My first [...]
AZ Daily Star: Student fights for life, high school graduation
To earn his diploma from Sunnyside High School, Edgar Casas, 19, fought for his life. As a high school [...]
AZ Daily Star: New resale store a boon for shoppers, teens
For an entire week, the high school senior filled out résumés — four or five a day. “I was [...]
AZ Daily Star: Program hopes to brighten holidays for 4,000 children
The turkeys are not yet stuffed, but supporters of holiday toy drives for children hope Tucsonans will add a [...]
AZ Daily Star: HUD homeless count not clear on youth, families
Whether homeless rates are improving in Pima County and Arizona depends on your definition. The U.S. Department of Housing [...]
AZ Daily Star: We are thankful for these five Tucson charities
Five Tucson-based charities have earned top ranking from a national group that evaluates nonprofits’ finances, accountability and transparency. Charity [...]
Washington Post: Is homelessness among U.S. kids declining, or surging? It depends on whom you ask.
Is child homelessness declining, or is it skyrocketing? If you are looking at federal government figures for the answer, [...]
The nation’s high school dropout rate has fallen, study says
The U.S. high school dropout rate has fallen in recent years, with the number of dropouts declining from 1 [...]
Youth On Their Own shelters Warriors
YOTO, also known as Youth On Their Own, was established in 1986 by Ann Young at Amphitheater High School [...]
Rotary Club to hold car show fundraiser
The Rotary Club of Tucson hopes that fundraising for local charities will be fast and furious at the ninth [...]
Youth On Their Own provides support for at-risk Tucson teens
It is often easy to forget the things we take for granted in our lives: having food, shelter, being [...]
Number of homeless students in U.S. has doubled since before the recession
The number of homeless children in public schools has doubled since before the recession, reaching a record national total [...]
YOTO selected as semi-finalists for the SVP Tucson’s FAST PITCH program
YOTO was selected as one of 15 semi-finalists for Social Venture Partners (SVP) Tucson’s Fast Pitch – a two-month [...]
Fiesta Bowl selects YOTO as featured charity for Fiesta Bowl Kickoff Luncheon
A big thank you to Fiesta Bowl for highlighting YOTO as the featured charity for their annual Kickoff Luncheon [...]
Youth on their Own Buys Resale Home Store – Opening Sept!
Youth On Their Own (YOTO) of Tucson recently purchased the building at 1642 N Alvernon Way in Tucson for [...]
AZ falling grad rate adds urgency to turnaround efforts
June 17, 2015 Arizona school districts and nonprofit organizations are using nationally proven strategies and innovative practices in their [...]
YOTO Students Awarded the Noah Warren Cohen Scholarship
Thank you to Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona (JCF) for stopping by our office! The JCF awarded two YOTO students [...]
Young and homeless in Tucson
As homeless people cleared their belongings from the Downtown encampment called “Safe Park” over the weekend, youth homelessness in [...]
Group helps homeless students stay in school
Supporters of Youth on Their Own want to make it clear that homeless youths trying to stay in school [...]
Bill re-introduced to expand definition of homelessness and be more inclusive to youth
The Homeless Children and Youth Act, a bill that would make the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) [...]
Report: Homeless children struggle to stay in school
WASHINGTON – The nation’s public school systems are being affected by the number of homeless children, which a report [...]
Trico awards 2015 POWER Grants to seven non-profits
TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) – Thanks to the Trico Electric Cooperative POWER Grant program seven non-profits in Tucson, Marana, [...]
New Computer System to Help Connect Homeless People With Services
Pima County is using a new computer program to help connect homeless people with housing and other services, and [...]
As numbers of homeless kids rise, resources fall short
On Katie Jeffery’s seventeenth birthday, her mom kicked her out of the house—She then spent four months living on [...]
Southern Arizona’s homeless remembered at memorial service
TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) – People of all faiths gathered at Evergreen Cemetery’s Pima County lot to remember [...]
Staggering number of children, teens and young adults live on the street in Pima County
TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) – Homeless people are a familiar sight in some parts of Tucson, but you [...]
Phoenix’s Arizona Bus Club Donates 3K to YOTO
The Arizona Bus Club, a Phoenix group dedicated to the restoration, preservation, and enjoyment of the Volkswagen Transporter, has [...]
Report ranks AZ 1st for risk of child homelessness
TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) – Arizona has more homeless children than most every other state in the U.S. [...]
TEP Presents $100,000 in Grants to Groups Helping Youth, Families and Seniors
TUCSON, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Tucson Electric Power (TEP) has awarded a total of $100,000 to 15 programs run by nonprofit organizations [...]
Communities Struggle To Reach Homeless Students Living In The Shadows
It’s late afternoon and the day has just ended at a Los Angeles school. Students are making their way [...]
Homeless children take photos capturing their hopes, dreams
The “hopes and dreams” of a dozen homeless children who live in Tucson were celebrated Monday through greeting cards. [...]
YOTO and University of Arizona Partner to Help Homeless Students
In December of 2013, Youth on Their Own was approached by the University of Arizona College of Education to [...]
Dozens Of Homeless Kids Forced To Sleep In Arizona State Buildings
Although it’s been happening for years, the Arizona Department of Child Safety began keeping records of the homeless children [...]
Young, Gifted & Homeless
Sudsville 24-Hour Coin Laundry sits on the main drag of Reisterstown, Md., right off I-795 in the northern suburbs [...]
Homelessness on the rise in Arizona
It was somewhere between leaving her mother’s Arizona house and walking toward the bus stop that the frightening reality [...]
Arizona university students opening health clinic for homeless
Some of Arizona’s university students will get a taste of real-world experience this weekend, all while helping those in [...]
Gilbert dropouts cost town $139 million over lifetime
How high school dropouts affect 7 Arizona cities Gilbert educators say flexible schooling options are a must to decrease [...]
Arizona faces growing problem of displaced kids
Arizona has a growing problem of children being displaced from their homes and thrust into a world of uncertainty, [...]
Manheim Partners with Local Car Dealerships to Donate $44K to YOTO
Teresa Liverzani-Baker, Executive Director of Youth On Their Own, and Mike Di Christofano, Owner of Volvo Tucson, thank [...]
Arizona dropouts equal $7.6B loss of economic activity
According to a new report by the Arizona Mayors Education Roundtable, the more than 18,000 Arizona students who dropped [...]
Open Inn, which finds shelter for homeless Tucson youths, is closing
Open Inn, an Arizona organization providing services and crisis shelter to Tucson’s homeless youths and families, is closing after [...]
When a Local Partner Closes, a Response Plan Keeps Youth Services Constant
No youth and family services organization works alone, so the Tucson-area youth-serving community reacted with concern in March upon [...]
Tucson Giving Nonprofit Helped Homeless Teen Forge A Better Future
Michelle Cooper understands the challenges that homeless teens face, and she has also experienced how the local nonprofit Youth on [...]
Pima County homelessness highest in Arizona
The Arizona Department of Economic Security has recently released its Homelessness in Arizona Annual Report for 2013 and the [...]
Number of Homeless Children of Deportees Growing
The number of Pima County homeless youth whose parents have been deported rose 50 percent in one year, a nonprofit [...]
Tucson Nonprofit Helping Homeless Teens Stay in School
In Arizona there are thousands of teens and young adults who do not have a permanent place to call home. [...]
Tucson Nonprofit Helps Homeless Teens Graduate High School
Recent studies estimate there are 4,000 youth in Pima County who lack a permanent home and are struggling to [...]
Homeless Tucson teens seeking help at a record-breaking pace
A growing number of Tucson-area youths are becoming casualties of economic and family instability. Referrals to a local nonprofit [...]
1995 YOTO Grad Donates $250K!
As a young person, alone and living on her own since she was 16, Susanna Alvarez-Hadden knew that she [...]
Homeless High School Kids Get Help And Graduate
Arizona ranks number one in the country for high school dropouts. Many of them are not troublemakers. Many of [...]
Fundraiser helps students in need
Kristen Bennett, Kathy Kang and other volunteers with Youth On Their Own – or YOTO – subscribe to the [...]
YOTO Named Small Nonprofit Organization of the Year
Arizona Business Magazine, in partnership with the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, presented its inaugural Non-Profit and Corporate Responsibility Awards. [...]