Teen Board

Become a Leader!

The NeighborUp Teen Board exists to uphold the mission and values of NeighborUp ministries by serving as ambassadors and volunteers of the organization while also fostering leadership development among its members. 

  • Teen Board members are selected from submitted applications in the summer, and the program runs from September – May each year.
  • Throughout their term, Teen Board members participate in NeighborUp community events, attend monthly meetings, work on impactful programs, plan a capstone project, and receive leadership training.

Important Dates

Late spring/early summer of 2026: Applications open for the 2026-2027 Teen Board. Check back soon!

2025-2026 Monthly Leadership Meetings

All meetings are held at NeighborUp from 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

September 12

October 17

November 14

December 12

January 9

February 6

March 20

April 10

May 2 (Sunday)

Other Upcoming Events

October 4: NeighborUp Volunteer Picnic

November 17: NeighborUp Thanksgiving Breakfast

December 13: Kid’s Holiday Market

February 3: Glenaire Fashion Show

March 21: Easter Egg Hunt

How to Apply

Applications are open to all rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students. 
The application due date is July 25. 
Application results will be communicated by August 24.

Teen Board Member Requirements:

  • Minimum of 18 volunteer hours with NeighborUp throughout the length of the program
  • Attend all monthly leadership meetings and mandatory Teen Board events
  • Participate in the Teen Board capstone project
  • Uphold the values of NeighborUp including compassion and dignity
  • A full of list of requirements and expectations can be found in the Teen Board By-Laws

If you are selected as a member of the 2026-2027 teen board, please complete the following:

  • Attend the first leadership meeting on September 12 from 7:00-9:00pm.
  • Bring a signed copy of the Teen Board By-Laws to the first leadership meeting. By-Laws must be signed by both the member and their parent/guardian.
APPLY TODAY

Executive Committee

The NeighborUp Teen Board is advised by Leigh Ann Miller, NeighborUp's VP of Philanthropy.

Luke Dezendorf

Board Chair

Evie Miller

Vice Board Chair

Joanna Choi

Secretary and Governance Chair

Mary Gardner

Communications Chair

contact the teen board

Recent Projects

One of our very favorite events of the year - the Glenaire Fashion Show! The Teen Board collaborated with residents from Glenaire to create and host a Senior Fashion Show in February. There were lots of smiles, cheers, and laughter from Teens to Seniors on this wonderful night showcasing all the amazing things you can find at the Dorcas Thrift Shop!

Teen Board members work together volunteering in the Dorcas Thrift Shop as part of their annual volunteer hour requirement.

The Teen Board organized our first “Kid’s Holiday Market” where they provided a (free) shopping experience for children to select gifts for all of their family members. We had about 40 children who shopped for presents and many happy smiles!

The Teen Board hosted its annual Summer Stock-Up food drive to support children over the summer months when they don’t have access to meals at school.

The NeighborUp Teen Board created Play Pack Kits for the NeighborUp Community Support team. These are activity kits that children can use when their family comes to NeighborUp for a case management meeting. These kits help keep children safely occupied during these important discussions. The Teen Board created a plan for creating the kids with age-appropriate toys, games, and books. Items were collected and packaged by the Teen Board and distributed to the Community Support staff.

The NeighborUp Teen Board Executive Committee won the 2024 Young Philanthropist of the Year award from the Triangle Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. They won this award for their hard work, dedication, and creation of the NeighborUp Teen Board! Congratulations to this team on well-deserved recognition!

The NeighborUp Teen Board participated in the NeighborUp Love Your Neighbor Campaign by spreading love to staff. They collected candy, created packages, and wrote notes of encouragement to the NeighborUp staff, who work hard every day to meet the needs of our community.

The Executive Committee of the NeighborUp Teen Board was invited to present at the Morrisville Rotary Club. The team created a presentation on the board’s creation, mission and goals. They worked together to present to this group of local business and community leaders.

The NeighborUp Teen Board Executive Committee hosted a food drive at an NC Courage game. They collected cash and food donations for the NeighborUp Pantry and helped spread awareness about NeighborUp’s programs and services.

The NeighborUp Teen Board kicked off in September for the very first time with the 2024-2025 cohort. This group of high school students submitted applications and were selected for their desire to serve as ambassadors and volunteers of NeighborUp. Their first monthly board meeting was held in the NeighborUp Workforce Development Center and was a huge success!