Ellen Perrault
The nonprofit organization Youth Influencing Change, Inc., hosted its first ever Elevated Excellence Awards event at the Eagle Glen Country Club in Corona, CA on Saturday, July 27, 2024.
The event marked a significant celebration of exceptional young talent and community leadership within the Inland Empire. Awards were presented in the categories of Arts, Academics, Community Service, Leadership, Sports and also included a Special Selfless Giver Award for dedicated adults.
Candidates eligible for the awards were residents of the Inland Empire who were either a youth between the ages of 12 to 17 or an adult aged 18 or over (for Selfless Giver Award).
Finalists who demonstrated exceptional skills in their respective fields included in the Arts category, Jayenne Cook, Isaiah Buffong, and Kaylie Herrera. Those recognized in the category of Academics were Brooke Vansuch, Maya Melvin, Adison Alves, and Kamori Armstrong.
Kimberly Lewis of KA Strategists was our MC Host for the evening and presenter of the Presidential Award to Yvette 
World renowned artist Maurice Howard & Collette Alves founder of RevCentric Marketing 
View of the audience and event room. 
Yvette Reeves Executive Director of Youth Influencing Change Inc. non-profit / Owner of Red Rouge Wellness Spa & Recipient of Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service 
Academic Finalists Kamori Armstrong / Adison Alves / Brooke Vansuch / Maya Melvin (winner Kamori Armstrong) 
Arts category Finalists Lauren Stewart / Kaylie Herrera / Jayenne Cook / Isaiah Buffong (winner Lauren Stewart budding 8th grader) 
Leadership Finalist Brooke Vansuch / Adison Alves / Alexis Alves 
Yvette Reeves receiving the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award signed by President Joe Biden for over completing over 4,000 hours of Community Service 
Jennifer Cash winner of Selfless Giver award 
Daron Tyson winner of Sports award
Included among the leaders recognized during the event were Brooke Vansuch, Alexis Alves, and Adison Alves. Kristian Austin stood out in the area of Community Service, and Daron Tyson excelled in the Sports category. The exceptional Selfless Giver category included Jennifer Cash.
Winners received a $500 cash prize, with the exception being Professional Studio resources provided the winner in one of the Arts categories. Winners included in the Arts were Lauren Stewart and Kaylie Herrera; in Academics, Kamori Armstrong; in Leadership, Brooke Vansuch; in Community Service, Kristian Austin; in Sports, Daron Tyson; and the Selfless Giver award was presented to Jennifer Cash for for her extraordinary commitment to nurturing youth.
The event was highlighted by the presentation of the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award to Yvette Reeves, Executive Director and Founder of Youth Influencing Change Inc., from President Joe Biden. This award recognized her more than 4,000 hours of dedicated community service and her impact on youth mentoring. Her achievement is testimony to the profound impact of committed leadership on the community.
The celebration was well attended, including by local leaders. Among them were Corona Councilmember Wes Speake and Riverside County Supervisor Karen Spiegel, who provided recipients with special certificates in recognition of their efforts.