Youth Programs

Proud Sponsor: Let’s Be Kind

The Exchange Club of Newport Harbor is a proud sponsor of Let’s Be Kind—a student-led movement that promotes connection, empathy, and support among students.

This impactful program fosters lasting peer-to-peer relationships through the creation of Kindness Lounges, including one our Club helped establish. More than just a physical space, the Kindness Lounge serves as a safe and welcoming environment where students can engage in meaningful conversations with trusted adults, ensuring they feel seen, heard, and valued.

Let’s Be Kind goes beyond the lounge. It provides students with monthly lessons focused on leadership, empathy, and kindness—equipping them with the tools they need to be positive change-makers in their schools and communities. The program aligns with the Exchange Club’s core mission: uplifting youth and strengthening our community.

We’re also proud to support The Buddy Bench initiative, which—like Let’s Be Kind—creates safe spaces and opportunities for students to connect, build friendships, and support one another.

Many schools throughout the Newport-Mesa Unified School District now celebrate Let’s Be Kind Days, helping to create a culture of inclusion and compassion.

These programs are more than acts of kindness—they’re investments in our future. By promoting empathy, leadership, and kindness, we are helping students build strong values they will carry with them throughout their lives. It’s our way of paying it forward—ensuring that the kindness experienced today becomes a lasting ripple of goodwill in the years to come.

Youth Scholarships

The Exchange Club of Newport Harbor is proud to support local youth through two distinguished annual scholarship programs: the Youth of the Year Award and the Accepting the Challenge of Excellence (ACE) Award. Each program recognizes exceptional high school students who exemplify the values of academic dedication, personal growth, and community involvement. We work in partnership with the following high schools: Back Bay, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Early College, Estancia, and Newport Harbor.

The Youth of the Year Award honors high-achieving high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding academic success, leadership, and a commitment to volunteerism and community service.

Award Details:

Purpose: To celebrate students who are academically accomplished and actively engaged in making a positive difference in their communities.

• Open to graduating seniors from our partner high schools.
• Applicants submit an essay provided by the National Exchange Club.
• Candidate applications are judged by our Review Committee.
• Winners receive a scholarship of $3,000 and are recognized at our annual Youth Awards Luncheon.
• Our Club’s winners, one male and one female from each high school, advance to compete at the district level for additional scholarship opportunities.

Proud Grant Sponsor: Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation (NMSF)

The Exchange Club of Newport Harbor is honored to be a Grant Sponsor for the Newport-Mesa Schools Foundation (NMSF). Through this partnership, we help provide vital funding that empowers teachers to bring innovative, engaging, and impactful learning experiences into their classrooms.

These grants support projects that go beyond the standard curriculum—encouraging creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning. From STEM initiatives and art programs toh literacy development and social-emotional learning, NMSF grants make a meaningful difference in the lives of students across the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

By investing in our educators, we are investing in our youth—the heart of our community. This sponsorship aligns perfectly with the Exchange Club’s mission to strengthen families, uplift youth, and support education.

We are proud to stand with NMSF in creating opportunities that inspire students and support teachers in shaping the future, one classroom at a time.  https://newportmesaschoolsfoundation.com/

This year’s grant recipients, selected for their innovative and engaging classroom projects, include:

• Jim Blackie – Ensign Intermediate
  “Dr. Bunsen, I Presume?”
  This grant fills a critical gap in lab equipment by providing the iconic Bunsen Burner—an essential tool used in science classrooms around the world for over 100 years. The project will help “ignite” student engagement and deepen understanding of scientific concepts through hands-on experimentation.
• Karissa Nguyen – Lincoln Elementary
  “Makey Makey Circuit STEM Kit”
  This project offers a hands-on learning experience that bridges physical materials with digital technology. Through interactive activities, students will gain a stronger grasp of key STEM principles in a fun and innovative way.
• Jung Park – Woodland Elementary
  “Early Explorers”
  Designed to introduce young learners to engineering fundamentals, this project uses engaging STEAM tools and interactive play to promote exploration, creativity, and problem-solving.

Accepting the challenge of excellence (ACE) Award