SPARK THE WAVE is a tax-exempt, non-profit corporation that encourages and empowers youth through educational opportunities and programs, to take the lead in meeting the needs of their communities through service. Put simply: we want to inspire teens to be better volunteers.

SPARK THE WAVE'S strong leadership principles were forged over more than three decades as a youth leadership training initiative formerly known as the Leadership Development Center (LDC) of the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania. In January of 2004 the staff of LDC, along with numerous community leaders and with the support of the Red Cross, decided to form a dedicated organization focused on the principles and mission promoted by the LDC movement

SPARK THE WAVE operates after-school seminars and a summer camp that provides a diverse learning environment in which to educate junior and senior high school students. Our programs encourage these teens to develop their skills in areas such as effective communication, leadership development, service learning, project planning and the awareness of diversity issues. The after school seminars are sponsored by school groups and youth-serving organizations while each summer, Wave Week, a 5-day residential program for students (grades 8-12) will be held on a college campus near Philadelphia.

SPARK THE WAVE introduces youth to service leadership concepts in a unique peer-learning environment. The volunteer staff ranges from 1 to 20 years in experience of presenting youth programming and more than 75 of our camp staff are high school and college students.

Every year thousands of teens perform millions of hours of service. The fact is that few of these youth receive any specialized training that could improve their ability to make a greater impact in the community. It is our belief that the young adults that complete our programs will return to their service groups (school, religious and/or community-based) better prepared to make a greater impact in their community. This impact eventually will reach far beyond the youth participants of the program. As young leaders with the commitment and skills to turn caring into action, these teens will certainly make positive contributions to their community for many years to come.

SPARK THE WAVE is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) organization that is incorporated in Pennsylvania and serves the areas surrounding Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, DC.