2025 marked the inaugural year for the Young Founders Program, with Maude’s Ventures providing funding to three youth-led programs focused on intergenerational work in the dementia space. With the application period currently open for the second cohort of Young Founders, Maude’s Ventures wanted to take a moment to celebrate the incredible work of one of the 2025 recipients – Our Ode to You.
Maude’s Ventures Young Founders Program
The Young Founders Program was developed in response to unexpected and inspiring grant applications from high school and college students during the 2024 cycle, identifying a need to provide structured support to youth-led and intergenerational programs. Young Founders aims to identify and support emerging innovators – whether in high school, college, or recently graduated – who are addressing the needs of people living with dementia and their caregivers.
In its first year, three incredible youth-led innovations were awarded $2,500 total to support and expand their endeavors. Winners also took part in the inaugural Young Founders workshop, which brought together youth from across the country and featured keynote speeches from leaders in dementia programming and research.
The Young Founders program is currently accepting applications for 2026! This funding cycle will offer not only offer $2,500 across three winners, but will also feature additional opportunities for networking with leaders in dementia care and caregiving, as well as national platforming for these efforts. If you are a high school student, college student, or recent graduate developing or implementing a youth-led innovation in the dementia space; we invite you to apply before August 31, 2026!
Our Ode to You
Our Ode to You was launched as an effort to address the isolation dementia and memory care residents may face in care facilities. Its co-founders developed student-led interactive programming that combines art and live music into flexible, sensory-based activities tailored to the needs of participants. Prior to receiving this funding, Our Ode to You had 3 chapters with over 30 members each in the Phoenix area, operating 9-10 workshops each month with positive receptions from residents, staff, and family members.
“Bringing yourself and your identity to the program is what senior citizens and memory care patients love the most”
– Our Ode to You Volunteer Team
Our Ode to You was selected as the first winner of the inaugural Young Founders year. Members of the Maude’s Ventures Team were especially impressed by the fundraising Our Ode to You had achieved prior to its application, and the growth plan seeking to continue expansion and increase youth involvement in memory care spaces
Since receiving the Young Founders Program award, Our Ode to You has made incredible strides. In the past year alone, they have:
- Hosted 20 workshops across six senior living and memory care facilities (including a new partner site!)
- Trained and onboarded over 30 additional volunteers
- Established monthly programming at partner sites to ensure long term engagement and relationship-building
- Attended the UN 2026 ECOSOC Conference as part of their work as a UN Major Group for Children and Youth organization
- Written publications in 2 journals that are currently pending, continued their advocacy for music therapy, and increased their involvement in research efforts
Our Ode to You stands as such a wonderful example of a youth-led organization affecting meaningful change and engaging across disciplines. Maude’s Ventures is so proud to have been able to award this program, and we’re looking forward to supporting their ongoing expansion into college campuses, research, the music industry, and advocacy.