12/03/2025
Today, I’m highlighting a nonprofit that has been shaping young leaders in Indianapolis for over 40 years — TeenWorks.
Most people don’t know this: TeenWorks didn’t begin under its current name.
Back in 1981, philanthropist Gene B. Glick launched a summer youth employment initiative called Pro 100 with one powerful belief:
👉 If you give young people real work, mentorship, and opportunity… they will rise.
And they did.
What started as a small summer job program for economically disadvantaged teens has now grown into a full 501(c)(3) organization known as TeenWorks — offering:
✅ Summer work experience
✅ Year-round professional development (The Pro Program)
✅ An Alumni Program that supports teens as they enter college or careers
Each summer, hundreds of teens work on community projects across Indy — parks, farms, schools, and nonprofit sites — while also attending weekly sessions on:
• Resume building
• Interview preparation
• Financial literacy
• Career exploration
This combination of real pay, real work, real mentoring, and real development has helped 4,500+ young people build confidence, gain skills, and step into brighter futures.
💡 The big lesson:
Sometimes impact starts with one simple idea… one person deciding to invest in the next generation.
TeenWorks is living proof that when we empower youth, we strengthen entire communities.
Proud to spotlight organizations in our city that are changing futures, one young person at a time.