Neighborhood Assistance Act Window
Date: March 15, 2024 - March 31, 2024
The Neighborhood Assistance Act (NAA) Program provides an opportunity to receive a 50% tax credit on your Delaware income taxes in exchange for your support of a qualified nonprofit organization that serves low-to-moderate income families and impoverished neighborhoods. Leading Youth Through Empowerment is a qualified organization.
The minimum contributions are $2,500 for individuals and $10,000 for businesses. For example, a $5,000 contribution from an individual yields a state income tax credit of $2,500. Additionally, the entire $5,000 is still deductible for federal tax purposes. Donations must be made in January 2024. **Credits are limited, so act early!
Click to button to the right to sign up for a 30-minute Zoom meeting to learn more about the NAA Tax Credit. Meetings will be held on Thursday, January 4th, 2024 at 7:00pm and Thursday, January 18th, 2024 at 7:00pm. Please choose whichever date works best with your schedule.
School Supply Drive
Date: January 1, 2024 - August 11, 2024
Help low-income students collect school supplies for the 2024/2025 school year. LYTE has donated backpacks for scholars and each year we collect school supplies to distribute to our scholars and their families.
You can shop on our Amazon link and contribute by purchasing items on our "Wishlist.” Any items purchased through our link will be delivered to LYTE. MAKE SURE YOU SHIP TO LYTE! It will show up in your Amazon addresses when you select from our wishlist.
Practice Interviews (Internships)
Date: April 30, 2024 from 5:30pm - 8pm
Location: Tower Hill School (2813 W 17th St, Wilmington, DE 19806)
Volunteer to help our scholars develop their interview skills. LYTE will provide you with an interview advice packet and a brief training video. You will meet with students to help them practice for internship interviews.
LYTE Scholars will need to interview when applying for internships. Many scholars will participate in summer programs and summer internships. Participating in practice interviews will help them develop their interview skills and receive live feedback from community leaders and professionals.
Career Expo Fair
Date: TBD
Location: TBD
All LYTE students will have the opportunity to attend a career expo fair. Community leaders and professionals from various career fields will hold workshops for our scholars. Scholars will participate in hands-on activities to help them better understand the type of work that is required in each field.
The career fair expo allows low-income and minority students to get exposure to diverse career paths that they might not normally be exposed to on a day-to-day basis. This helps our students broaden their interests and better understand what major they may want to pursue in college and what will be expected of them.
LYTE Alumni Reunion
Date: June 22, 2024 12pm - 3pm [tentative]
Location: Bellevue State Park (800 Carr Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809) [tentative]
LYTE Alumni are invited to attend an alumni picnic reunion at Bellevue State Park. Sandwiches and snacks will be provided. There will be games, prizes, and a raffle for gift cards.
Middle School Community-Based Project & Step-Up Ceremony
Date: July 18, 2024 [tentative]
Location: Thomas Edison Charter School (2200 N Locust St, Wilmington, DE 19802)
Each summer, small groups of LYTE 8th grade scholars write research papers and deliver oral presentations regarding community issues. Scholars present the results of their projects, complete with media, in a showcase attended by Delaware leaders and professionals.
We believe a crucial element to our scholars’ future success is helping them gain a sense of ownership, voice, and agency during their LYTE experience. We want students to have an increased ability to communicate their opinions clearly and effectively, to listen, and to collaboratively work with their peers and adults. Innovative learning opportunities through LYTE, such as the middle school summer community-based projects, help our scholars develop these skills.
High School Graduation Ceremony
Date: July 25, 2024 [tentative]
Location: Howard High School of Technology (401 E 12th St, Wilmington, DE 19801)
Join us in celebrating our 2024 LYTE high school graduates! Graduating LYTE Scholars will be presented with a LYTE diploma and have their names and colleges announced. LYTE awards will be announced, keynote speakers will give speeches, and we will celebrate our graduating seniors’ successes and accomplishments. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
Fill Backpacks With LYTE Scholars
Date: August 15, 2024
Location: Serviam Girls Academy (900 Washington St, Wilmington, DE 19801)
Volunteer to help LYTE Scholars and their families fill backpacks with school supplies for the upcoming school year. Backpacks are provided by LYTE and all school supplies are provided by individual donors. School supplies donations are accepted from January through August using our Amazon link and purchasing items from our “Wishlist.”
College Fair
Date: TBD
Location: TBD
All LYTE students are invited to attend our college fair. Colleges and universities from all around the country will be in attendance, including some highly selective and prestigious institutions. The college fair will feature representatives and college admissions counselors from both in-state and out-of-state schools. All colleges in attendance give significant amounts of need-based and/or merit-based financial aid. Some colleges will participate in on-the-spot acceptances, such as Delaware State University.
Leading Youth Through Empowerment
1313 N. Market St. Suite 110A
Wilmington, DE 19801