The Stonehill senior will begin serving as part of the organization's first cohort in early 2026.
Amari Haynes ’26, a criminology and sociology double major from the Bronx, New York, has been selected to serve on the National Grid Foundation’s inaugural Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Comprised of 12 changemakers from Massachusetts and New York, the YAC will convene quarterly to help drive the Foundation’s philanthropic efforts, particularly its programming for youth. Haynes will serve for a two-year term beginning January 2026.
“Being one of the 12 young leaders chosen for this opportunity is truly one of a kind,” she said. “The National Grid Foundation Youth Advisory Council encourages individuals to become leaders dedicated to addressing barriers faced by their communities. I hope to embody the mission of this organization while empowering the next generation to be advocates for change.”
The YAC represents a pioneering step for the National Grid Foundation, providing a platform for youth to influence programs that directly address the needs and aspirations of various groups. Together, Haynes and her fellow members will advise the Foundation on youth programs and provide insight into grantmaking for organizations focused on energy education.
“Their insights will be invaluable in shaping our approach to social impact and ensuring that youth have a meaningful voice in the initiatives that affect them and our local communities,” said Robert Simmons, executive director of the National Grid Foundation.
Haynes brings a wealth of relevant experience to her role on the YAC, having previously interned with the New York City Mayor’s Office of Public Safety. During this experience, she worked on the Every Block Counts initiative by collecting feedback from city residents on improving public safety. She also contributed to a retail theft task force in Manhattan.
The National Grid Foundation, an independent charitable arm of National Grid, enhances quality of life across the energy company’s service territory by supporting STEM and literacy education, as well as by strengthening community wellbeing. The Foundation helps advance National Grid’s Grid for Good social impact community engagement initiative, dedicated to making a positive difference in the communities it serves through three guiding pillars–increasing access to affordable energy, developing the energy workforce and supporting community resilience.
Since launching in December 1998, the Foundation has awarded more than $43 million in grants to hundreds of nonprofit organizations. Beyond serving as a funding source, the Foundation helps transform lives by providing invaluable thought leadership.
