SPRINGFIELD — Follow My Steps Foundation announced Young Women Suited for Growth, an inspiring college and career exploration event designed to equip young women with the confidence, resources, and connections needed to shape their future success.

The event will take place on Saturday, April 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bay Path University, and will bring together students, community leaders, and professionals committed to advancing opportunities for young women.

Young Women Suited for Growth provides participants with firsthand exposure to college life, meaningful mentorship opportunities, and interactive sessions focused on leadership development, career exploration, and personal empowerment. Attendees will hear from current college students and guest speakers representing diverse professional backgrounds who will share real-world insights and guidance.

“Our mission is to ensure young women see themselves as future leaders, scholars, and professionals,” said Jayne Astacio Melendez, director of Programming at Follow My Steps Foundation. “This event creates access, inspiration, and tangible tools that help them confidently pursue higher education and career pathways.”

Event highlights include college life exploration experiences, leadership and empowerment sessions, networking with students and community leaders, career pathway discussions, and scholarship and mentorship opportunities.

The Follow My Steps Foundation is also launching a fundraising initiative to provide scholarships that remove financial barriers and allow participating young women to continue their educational journeys.

Registration is limited. Participants may register at www.followmysteps.org.

SPRINGFIELD — Follow My Steps Foundation announced its annual gala, Stepping Into 2026, will be held on Sunday, Dec. 14 at the Basketball Hall of Fame. This signature event will bring together community leaders, partners, supporters, and youth to celebrate the strides made over the past year and to rally support for future expansion of the foundation’s mentorship, career readiness, and financial literacy programs.

At the heart of this year’s gala is the introduction of an enhanced honors program: the Pioneers for Change Award. Designed to recognize exemplary changemakers whose actions resonate with Follow My Steps’ mission, this award will celebrate five individuals who have made a measurable impact while supporting the foundation in 2025.

Nominations for the Pioneers for Change Award are open through Oct. 31. Click here for the online nomination form. Eligibility requirements include demonstrated impact in youth-focused community initiatives aligned with the mission of Follow My Steps and demonstrated support of the foundation during 2025 (through partnership, engagement, or promotion).

An advisory board will review all nominations and recommend five finalists. Final approval of honorees will be made by the board of directors by Nov. 5.

Each honoree will have the opportunity to confer a $500 scholarship to be awarded live on stage to an ‘Explorer’ (a youth participant in foundation programs). Recipients may name the scholarship after themselves or choose another meaningful title. Follow My Steps will fully fund all five youth scholarships this year. Honorees are not expected to contribute, though they are welcome to do so if they wish. In future years, Follow My Steps will continue to fund scholarships annually; however, if an honoree chooses to keep their named scholarship active beyond this year, future funding would be provided by the honoree.

Guests at the Dec. 14 gala will enjoy a catered dinner, live entertainment, and uplifting stories about the youth served by the foundation. The evening is more than a celebration; it marks the launch of a community giving campaign, aiming to raise $10,000 in individual contributions that fuel mentorship, education, and empowerment initiatives throughout the year.

Early bird tickets (through Nov. 14) cost $55 for adults and $27.50 for children. General admission tickets (Nov. 15-30) cost $65 for adults and $32.50 for children. Final admission tickets (Dec. 1-14): cost $75 for adults and $37.50 for children. Click here to purchase tickets.

Businesses and community partners are also invited to join as sponsors of the Stepping Into 2026 Gala. Five tiered sponsorship levels — copper, bronze, silver, gold, and platinum — offer meaningful opportunities to align one’s brand with youth empowerment and community advancement. Each level includes a range of benefits such as brand visibility across digital and print channels, recognition during the event, logo placement, program ads, reserved tickets, and social media promotion.

Follow My Steps Foundation is dedicated to opposing socioeconomic inequities affecting youth in underresourced communities through mentorship, career skills development, and financial education. Its vision is resilient individuals and thriving neighborhoods, one step at a time.