Published: 07/14/2026 - 8:00 AM
Boyertown, PA — July 14, 2026 — The Boyertown YMCA is excited to welcome home local high school students Anna John and Isabella Thornton of Boyertown Area Senior High School, who participated in the 2026 YMCA Changemakers Summit June 16–18 in Charlotte, NC.
Anna and Isabella were two of 80 students selected from a national pool of 200 applicants to participate in the event. Now in its fifth year, the YMCA Changemakers Summit offers rising 10th–12th graders the opportunity to propose a project that addresses a critical issue or need in their communities. Four winning teams received $5,000, and four finalist teams received $1,500 to implement their projects in their communities.
Anna and Isabella's proposal, "Leveling the Field: Investing in Female Entrepreneurs," focused on resources for women in business. Their project proposal states: "In business, women are undermined due to a lack of sustainable resources and financial funding. We believe that granting women micro loans will allow them to build their companies locally and increase representation. Our approach uses $5,000 by allocating five $1,000 loans to local women-led small businesses to provide funding for equipment, resources or certifications. We expect these loans to be repaid, which allows us to regenerate this money and constantly support more women entrepreneurs."
Although Anna and Isabella's project was not selected as a finalist, the Boyertown YMCA is very proud of their hard work and dedication to creating impact in the Boyertown community.
"Through programs like YMCA Changemakers, the Y empowers young people to reach their full potential as thoughtful, caring and dedicated community leaders," said Alicia Dinnell, Executive Director, Boyertown YMCA. "I am so incredibly proud of Boyertown's own emerging leaders, Anna and Isabella, for their participation in the summit, and I encourage them to continue their work on their project, which is sure to create lasting impact in our community for many years to come."
The Changemakers Summit is informed by the YMCA's Changemaker Strategy, which aims to prepare young people to be active contributors and stakeholders in decision-making within their communities. The Changemaker Strategy is guided by three principles: beliefs and values, meaningful experiences, and intentional settings.