VOiCEup Berks Celebrates a Decade of Impact at 'Rooted in Service' 10th Anniversary Gala

From VOiCEup Berks

Pictured above, from left to right: Group of honorees and youth honorees.

More than 225 community leaders, supporters, volunteers, students, and partners gathered at the Reading Public Museum on July 24 to celebrate VOiCEup Berks’ 10th Anniversary Gala, “Rooted in Service: Celebrating a Decade of Growth.” The evening honored the people who helped build the organization while celebrating the thousands of young people whose lives have been transformed through service-learning.

Founded in 2016 by Christi Terefenko, Christie Botterbusch, and Rachel Kuhn, VOiCEup Berks began with a simple belief: young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they have the power to make a difference today.

“What began as a small group of middle school students serving their community has grown into a countywide movement,” Executive Director Christi Terefenko shared during the evening. “Our greatest accomplishment isn’t the number of volunteer hours or the grants we’ve received. It’s every young person who leaves one of our programs believing, ‘I can make a difference.'”

Over the past decade, VOiCEup Berks has engaged more than 5,000 unduplicated young people in over 68,000 hours of service, helping youth develop leadership skills while addressing some of Berks County’s most pressing needs. Through programs including Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading (YVCR), IGNITE in-school service-learning curriculum, Youth Mental Health Ambassadors, STAR, and the Generation Impact initiative for young adults, the organization has intentionally built a pathway that empowers young people to become lifelong civic leaders.

The evening also marked another significant milestone in the organization’s history. Earlier this year, VOiCEup Berks officially transitioned from operating as a fund of Berks County Community Foundation to becoming its own independent 501(c)(3), positioning the organization for continued growth and expanded impact throughout the region.

Throughout the gala, attendees heard powerful stories from students whose lives have been transformed through service, reinforcing the organization’s belief that leadership begins by trusting young people with meaningful responsibility.

The evening also recognized individuals whose quiet leadership and unwavering support have helped shape the organization’s first decade. VOiCEup Berks presented its inaugural Unsung Hero Awards to David Patti of Customers Bank, Christopher Pruitt of East Penn Manufacturing, and Carl and Charlene Dragonette, honoring their years of mentorship, generosity, and steadfast commitment to investing in young people.

The celebration concluded with the presentation of VOiCEup Berks’ highest youth honors.

The 2026 Heart of YVC Reading Award was presented to Luca Mele, a rising senior at Lancaster Country Day School, recognizing his hundreds of hours of service, compassionate leadership, and unwavering commitment to strengthening the community through volunteerism.

The organization’s highest youth honor, the 2026 YVC Reading Youth of the Year Award, was presented to rising Wilson High School senior, Athena Worley, who has contributed more than 1,000 hours of service and inspired countless young people through her exceptional leadership and dedication.

Looking toward the future, Terefenko shared the organization’s vision of expanding opportunities for young people across Berks County by growing its integrated civic leadership pathway that begins in middle school, deepens through high school, and continues into college and young adulthood.

“Our work has never been about creating volunteers,” she said. “It’s about developing young people who understand that their voices matter, that they belong in this community, and that they have the power to shape its future.”

As VOiCEup Berks enters its second decade, the organization remains committed to ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to discover the confidence, purpose, and leadership that come from serving others.

About VOiCEup Berks

VOiCEup Berks mobilizes and empowers young changemakers to shape a more equitable community through service-learning. Through Youth Volunteer Corps, IGNITE, Youth Mental Health Ambassadors, STAR, Generation Impact, and other innovative youth leadership initiatives, VOiCEup Berks provides young people with meaningful opportunities to serve, lead, and create lasting change throughout Berks County. Since its founding in 2016, the organization has engaged more than 5,000 young people in over 68,000 hours of service, helping develop the next generation of civic leaders.

For more information, visit voiceupberks.org.