A San Diego High School sophomore is proving that age is no barrier to leadership or impact.
Sixteen year old Minori Groene is the CEO of the PATH Interscholastic Leadership Team, also known as PILT, a local K-12 student run nonprofit focused on supporting people experiencing homelessness. Through food drives, care kits, gift giving and dinner services, PILT helps meet both practical and emotional needs in the community.
During the recent holiday season, Groene organized a donation drop off at the McGill School of Success in South Park, providing gifts to families in low income situations. The effort was coordinated through the Community Outreach Club, a partner organization Groene also founded.
Groene says homelessness is about more than housing. She believes a lack of support is often where the struggle begins and her goal is to help restore dignity and hope. PILT hosts dinner services three times a year, serving about 80 people each time, in addition to distributing food and care kits year round.
Leaders at McGill School of Success say the donations made a meaningful difference for families forced to choose between essentials and extras during the holidays. Community members also praised Groene for inspiring students to give back at such a young age.
In recognition of her work, ABC 10News and Lead San Diego named Minori Groene the Leadership Award winner for January, honoring her commitment to helping the homeless community alongside fellow students and local organizations.
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