{"id":36224,"date":"2024-08-29T20:26:50","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T01:26:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/?page_id=36224"},"modified":"2025-03-25T15:07:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T20:07:11","slug":"why-ayf","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/","title":{"rendered":"Why AYF"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"cs-content\" class=\"cs-content\"><div class=\"x-section e36224-e1 mry8-0 mry8-1 mry8-2 mry8-6 mry8-7 mry8-8 x-effect-exit\" data-x-effect=\"{&quot;scroll&quot;:true,&quot;offsetTop&quot;:&quot;10%&quot;,&quot;offsetBottom&quot;:&quot;10%&quot;,&quot;behaviorScroll&quot;:&quot;fire-once&quot;}\"><div class=\"x-row e36224-e2 mry8-e mry8-f mry8-g mry8-i mry8-j\"><div class=\"x-row-inner\"><div class=\"x-col e36224-e3 mry8-o mry8-p mry8-q mry8-r mry8-s mry8-t mry8-u\"><div class=\"x-text x-content e36224-e4 mry8-z mry8-10 mry8-11 mry8-12 mry8-13 mry8-14\">Why AYF<\/div><div class=\"x-text x-content e36224-e5 mry8-10 mry8-14 mry8-15 mry8-16\"><p>100 Years of experience<\/p><\/div><div class=\"x-text x-content e36224-e6 mry8-z mry8-10 mry8-13 mry8-16 mry8-17 mry8-18 mry8-19\"><p>American Youth Foundation programs welcome people to discover their own best selves, the richness of living a balanced life, and the power of creating inclusive, caring communities. Our programs inspire individuals and groups to put their best into action and make a difference in big and small ways each day.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"x-section e36224-e7 mry8-0 mry8-2 mry8-3 mry8-6 mry8-7 mry8-8 x-effect-exit\" data-x-effect=\"{&quot;scroll&quot;:true,&quot;offsetTop&quot;:&quot;10%&quot;,&quot;offsetBottom&quot;:&quot;10%&quot;,&quot;behaviorScroll&quot;:&quot;fire-once&quot;}\"><div class=\"x-row e36224-e8 mry8-e mry8-f mry8-g mry8-i mry8-k\"><div class=\"x-row-inner\"><div class=\"x-col e36224-e9 mry8-o mry8-p mry8-q mry8-r mry8-s mry8-t mry8-u\"><div class=\"x-text x-text-headline e36224-e10 mry8-1c mry8-1d mry8-1e mry8-1f\"><div class=\"x-text-content\"><div class=\"x-text-content-text\"><h2 class=\"x-text-content-text-primary\">Proven program Outcomes<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"x-text x-content e36224-e11 mry8-z mry8-10 mry8-13 mry8-16 mry8-17 mry8-18 mry8-19\"><p>American Youth Foundation programs foster self-discovery through a balanced approach of personal growth, community building, and four interconnected program goals:<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"x-row x-container max width e36224-e12 mry8-e mry8-g mry8-i mry8-l\"><div class=\"x-row-inner\"><div class=\"x-col e36224-e13 mry8-o mry8-p mry8-q mry8-r mry8-s mry8-u\"><div class=\"x-acc e36224-e14 mry8-1i mry8-1j\" id=\"x-acc-e36224-e14\"><div class=\"e36224-e15 x-acc-item\"><button id=\"tab-e36224-e15\" class=\"x-acc-header\" role=\"button\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"panel-e36224-e15\" data-x-toggle=\"collapse\" data-x-toggleable=\"e36224-e15\"><span class=\"x-acc-header-content\"><span class=\"x-acc-header-indicator\"><i class=\"x-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-x-icon-s=\"&#x2b;\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"x-acc-header-text\">1. Discovering and developing your own best self<\/span><\/span><\/button><div id=\"panel-e36224-e15\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"tab-e36224-e15\" data-x-toggleable=\"e36224-e15\" data-x-toggle-collapse=\"1\" class=\"x-collapsed\"><div class=\"x-acc-content\"><div class=\"x-text x-content e36224-e16 mry8-z mry8-10 mry8-13 mry8-16 mry8-18 mry8-19\"><p>AYF program days are filled with new experiences designed to encourage participants to develop a deeper understanding of who they are and what they are capable of achieving \u2013 their own best self.<\/p>\n<p>They will grow in confidence as they learn to celebrate their unique sense of self, while taking advantage of opportunities to put their best self into action.<\/p>\n<p>Participants will:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n \t<li>Value themselves as unique, capable individuals.<\/li>\n \t<li>Grow in self-confidence as they discover more about their capacities.<\/li>\n \t<li>Explore how their values and \u201cBest Self\u201d influence their decision-making.<\/li>\n \t<li>Recognize their agency, articulate their ideas, and act with purpose.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"e36224-e17 x-acc-item\"><button id=\"tab-e36224-e17\" class=\"x-acc-header\" role=\"button\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"panel-e36224-e17\" data-x-toggle=\"collapse\" data-x-toggleable=\"e36224-e17\"><span class=\"x-acc-header-content\"><span class=\"x-acc-header-indicator\"><i class=\"x-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-x-icon-s=\"&#x2b;\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"x-acc-header-text\">2. Growing through the Four Folds<\/span><\/span><\/button><div id=\"panel-e36224-e17\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"tab-e36224-e17\" data-x-toggleable=\"e36224-e17\" data-x-toggle-collapse=\"1\" class=\"x-collapsed\"><div class=\"x-acc-content\"><div class=\"x-text x-content e36224-e18 mry8-z mry8-10 mry8-13 mry8-16 mry8-18 mry8-19\"><p>AYF\u2019s Four Folds is a signature framework through which participants assess their strengths and areas of growth through four complimentary facets of life (mental, physical, social, and reverential).<\/p>\n<p>Our program days provide diverse activities in each \u201cfold\u201d creating opportunities for young people to stretch their minds, bodies, hearts, and spirits.<\/p>\n<p>Participants will:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n \t<li>Reflect on the mental, social, physical, and reverential different facets of their life, identifying strengths and areas for exploration and growth.<\/li>\n \t<li>Practice developing clearly defined goals and taking healthy risks.<\/li>\n \t<li>Gain resilience as they work through the challenges of trying new things.<\/li>\n \t<li>Identify how each day includes opportunities in all four folds.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"e36224-e19 x-acc-item\"><button id=\"tab-e36224-e19\" class=\"x-acc-header\" role=\"button\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"panel-e36224-e19\" data-x-toggle=\"collapse\" data-x-toggleable=\"e36224-e19\"><span class=\"x-acc-header-content\"><span class=\"x-acc-header-indicator\"><i class=\"x-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-x-icon-s=\"&#x2b;\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"x-acc-header-text\">3. Working together to build a community<\/span><\/span><\/button><div id=\"panel-e36224-e19\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"tab-e36224-e19\" data-x-toggleable=\"e36224-e19\" data-x-toggle-collapse=\"1\" class=\"x-collapsed\"><div class=\"x-acc-content\"><div class=\"x-text x-content e36224-e20 mry8-z mry8-10 mry8-13 mry8-16 mry8-18 mry8-19\"><p>When youth come together to create AYF program communities, they gain a greater understanding of their impact on the people around them. They develop the skills for creating and maintaining healthy friendships and gain a greater understanding of their role and value within a group.<\/p>\n<p>Participants create shared expectations for how they will have fun and work together successfully, with safety and kindness at the core. Programs provide opportunities to strengthen relationships, practice acting with integrity in navigating challenges, and share in the responsibility of caring for a larger community.<\/p>\n<p>Participants will:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n \t<li>Develop skills important to creating and maintaining healthy friendships.<\/li>\n \t<li>Practice effectively working within a group to achieve a common goal.<\/li>\n \t<li>Learn positive leadership skills and show support for others.<\/li>\n \t<li>Identify their role in creating a sense of belonging within community.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"e36224-e21 x-acc-item\"><button id=\"tab-e36224-e21\" class=\"x-acc-header\" role=\"button\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"panel-e36224-e21\" data-x-toggle=\"collapse\" data-x-toggleable=\"e36224-e21\"><span class=\"x-acc-header-content\"><span class=\"x-acc-header-indicator\"><i class=\"x-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-x-icon-s=\"&#x2b;\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"x-acc-header-text\">4. Making a positive difference in the world<\/span><\/span><\/button><div id=\"panel-e36224-e21\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"tab-e36224-e21\" data-x-toggleable=\"e36224-e21\" data-x-toggle-collapse=\"1\" class=\"x-collapsed\"><div class=\"x-acc-content\"><div class=\"x-text x-content e36224-e22 mry8-z mry8-10 mry8-13 mry8-16 mry8-18 mry8-19\"><p>In AYF programs, participants are called to reflect on their actions and impact \u2013 both positive and negative \u2013 gaining a greater understanding of the positive difference they can make for others.<\/p>\n<p>Staff members guide in making connections between program and home, identifying how their actions each day have the power to make a positive difference in their communities and the world around them.<\/p>\n<p>Participants will:<\/p>\n\n<ul>\n \t<li>Recognize how their actions and interactions impact others.<\/li>\n \t<li>Take responsibility to act for the good of others and for a sustainable environment.<\/li>\n \t<li>Make connections between lessons learned in program and how they apply to home.<\/li>\n \t<li>Develop a greater understanding of how everyday actions have the power to make a positive difference in their communities and the world around them.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"x-section e36224-e23 mry8-0 mry8-3 mry8-4 mry8-6 mry8-7 mry8-8 x-effect-exit\" data-x-effect=\"{&quot;scroll&quot;:true,&quot;offsetTop&quot;:&quot;10%&quot;,&quot;offsetBottom&quot;:&quot;10%&quot;,&quot;behaviorScroll&quot;:&quot;fire-once&quot;}\"><div class=\"x-row x-container max width e36224-e24 mry8-e mry8-g mry8-i mry8-m\"><div class=\"x-row-inner\"><div class=\"x-col e36224-e25 mry8-o mry8-p mry8-q mry8-r mry8-s mry8-u\"><div class=\"x-text x-text-headline e36224-e26 mry8-1c mry8-1d mry8-1g\"><div class=\"x-text-content\"><div class=\"x-text-content-text\"><h3 class=\"x-text-content-text-primary\">My own self, at my very best, all the time.<\/h3>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"x-text x-content e36224-e27 mry8-z mry8-10 mry8-13 mry8-16 mry8-17 mry8-18 mry8-19\">The American Youth Foundation\u2019s motto, \u201cMy own self, at my very best, all the time,\u201d is the framework for discovery and growth within our programs. We begin by creating communities at Merrowvista and Miniwanca where young people feel welcome to be their own selves and where they are encouraged to discover who they are and what they are capable of. AYF programs provide opportunities for participants to explore what it means to be at their best\u2014 not the best, but their own best selves.<\/div><div class=\"x-acc e36224-e28 mry8-1j mry8-1k\" id=\"x-acc-e36224-e28\"><div class=\"e36224-e29 x-acc-item\"><button id=\"tab-e36224-e29\" class=\"x-acc-header\" role=\"button\" type=\"button\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"panel-e36224-e29\" data-x-toggle=\"collapse\" data-x-toggleable=\"e36224-e29\"><span class=\"x-acc-header-content\"><span class=\"x-acc-header-indicator\"><i class=\"x-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-x-icon-s=\"&#xf149;\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"x-acc-header-text\">more<\/span><\/span><\/button><div id=\"panel-e36224-e29\" role=\"tabpanel\" aria-hidden=\"true\" aria-labelledby=\"tab-e36224-e29\" data-x-toggleable=\"e36224-e29\" data-x-toggle-collapse=\"1\" class=\"x-collapsed\"><div class=\"x-acc-content\"><div class=\"x-text x-content e36224-e30 mry8-z mry8-10 mry8-12 mry8-13 mry8-18 mry8-19 mry8-1a\"><p>Our program activities are intentionally designed to allow young people to put their best selves into action, challenging them to unlock their highest potential and discover their unique gifts that can positively affect the world around them. Once participants have practiced being their own selves at their very best, they are better prepared to bring that awareness to their actions each day\u2014 all the time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll the time\u201d does not mean perfection. Instead it invites participants to be mindful that all they do and say affects themselves, the people around them, and the world around them. It is about the best we can bring to any given moment and recognizing when they are not at their best so they can strive to do better next time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy own self, at my very best, all the time\u201d invites everyone to celebrate our own selves (our own uniqueness and value), to strive to be at our very best (our own best, guided by our beliefs), all the time (inspiring mindfulness and resilience). Our hope is that every person immersed in the AYF experience will find the motto as a source of inspiration throughout their life.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"x-section e36224-e31 mry8-0 mry8-2 mry8-5\"><div class=\"x-row e36224-e32 mry8-g mry8-h mry8-n\"><div class=\"x-row-inner\"><div class=\"x-col e36224-e33 mry8-o mry8-r mry8-s mry8-v mry8-w\"><div class=\"x-text x-text-headline e36224-e34 mry8-1c mry8-1e mry8-1h mry8-6 x-effect-exit\" data-x-effect=\"{&quot;scroll&quot;:true,&quot;offsetTop&quot;:&quot;10%&quot;,&quot;offsetBottom&quot;:&quot;10%&quot;,&quot;behaviorScroll&quot;:&quot;fire-once&quot;,&quot;animationEnter&quot;:&quot;slideInLeft&quot;,&quot;animationExit&quot;:&quot;rollOut&quot;}\"><div class=\"x-text-content\"><div class=\"x-text-content-text\"><h2 class=\"x-text-content-text-primary\">Our Mission<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"x-text x-content e36224-e35 mry8-z mry8-10 mry8-12 mry8-18 mry8-1a mry8-1b mry8-6 mry8-7 mry8-9 x-effect-exit\" data-x-effect=\"{&quot;scroll&quot;:true,&quot;offsetTop&quot;:&quot;10%&quot;,&quot;offsetBottom&quot;:&quot;10%&quot;,&quot;behaviorScroll&quot;:&quot;fire-once&quot;}\">The American Youth Foundation dares people to discover and celebrate the very best in themselves and others, inspires them to explore diverse perspectives and complex challenges, and emboldens them to live courageously, engaging their full capacity.<\/div><a class=\"x-anchor x-anchor-button has-particle e36224-e36 mry8-1l mry8-1m mry8-1n mry8-1o mry8-6 mry8-7 mry8-9 mry8-a mry8-b x-effect-exit\" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"\/about-ayf\/vision-mission-and-values\/\" data-x-effect=\"{&quot;durationBase&quot;:&quot;300ms&quot;,&quot;scroll&quot;:true,&quot;offsetTop&quot;:&quot;10%&quot;,&quot;offsetBottom&quot;:&quot;10%&quot;,&quot;behaviorScroll&quot;:&quot;fire-once&quot;}\"><span class=\"x-particle is-primary\" data-x-particle=\"scale-x inside-b_l\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span style=\"\"><\/span><\/span><div class=\"x-anchor-content\"><div class=\"x-anchor-text\"><span class=\"x-anchor-text-primary\">Learn more about our mission, vision & values<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div><div class=\"x-col e36224-e37 mry8-s mry8-u mry8-x\"><div class=\"x-div e36224-e38 mry8-1s mry8-1t mry8-1u mry8-1v mry8-1w mry8-1x\" data-x-effect-provider=\"colors particles effects\"><div class=\"x-bg\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><div class=\"x-bg-layer-lower-video\"><div  class=\"x-video player bg transparent hide-controls autoplay loop muted playsinline\" data-x-element-mejs=\"{&quot;poster&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\"  data-x-video-options='{\"pause_out_of_view\":false}'><script type=\"text\/template\"><div class=\"x-video-inner video\/mp4  transparent\"><video class=\"x-mejs has-stack-styles\" preload=\"metadata\" autoplay loop muted playsinline><source src=\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/ayf_miniwanca_hero_trimmed.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\"><\/video><\/div><\/script><\/div><\/div><div class=\"x-bg-layer-upper-color\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"x-div e36224-e39 mry8-1s mry8-1u mry8-1y\"><a class=\"x-anchor x-anchor-button has-particle e36224-e40 mry8-1m mry8-1o mry8-1p mry8-1q mry8-a mry8-c\" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"mailto:\" data-x-effect=\"{&quot;durationBase&quot;:&quot;300ms&quot;}\"><span class=\"x-particle is-primary\" data-x-particle=\"scale-x_y inside-b_c\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span style=\"\"><\/span><\/span><div class=\"x-anchor-content\"><div class=\"x-anchor-text\"><span class=\"x-anchor-text-primary\">Watch Our Video<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a><i class=\"x-icon e36224-e41 mry8-25 mry8-a mry8-d\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-x-icon-o=\"&#xf061;\" data-x-effect=\"{&quot;durationBase&quot;:&quot;300ms&quot;}\"><\/i><\/div><div class=\"x-anchor x-anchor-toggle e36224-e42 mry8-1m mry8-1n mry8-1p mry8-1r\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" data-x-toggle=\"1\" data-x-toggleable=\"e36224-e42\" data-x-toggle-overlay=\"1\" aria-controls=\"e36224-e42-modal\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-haspopup=\"true\" aria-label=\"Toggle Modal Content\"><div class=\"x-anchor-content\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"x-div e36224-e44 mry8-1s mry8-1t mry8-1w mry8-1z mry8-20 mry8-21\"><div class=\"x-bg\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><div class=\"x-bg-layer-lower-image\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"x-col e36224-e45 mry8-o mry8-p mry8-s mry8-u mry8-w mry8-y\"><div class=\"x-div e36224-e46 mry8-1s mry8-1t mry8-1u mry8-1z mry8-21 mry8-22 mry8-23\"><div class=\"x-bg\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><div class=\"x-bg-layer-lower-image\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"x-div e36224-e47 mry8-1s mry8-1t mry8-1u mry8-1v mry8-21 mry8-22 mry8-24\"><div class=\"x-bg\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><div class=\"x-bg-layer-lower-image\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why AYF100 Years of experienceAmerican Youth Foundation programs welcome people to discover their own best selves, the richness of living a balanced life, and the power of creating inclusive, caring communities. Our programs inspire individuals and groups to put their best into action and make a difference in big and small ways each day.Proven program Outcomes American Youth Foundation programs &#8230; <\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-blank-4.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-36224","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","no-post-thumbnail"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Why AYF - American Youth Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why AYF - American Youth Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Why AYF100 Years of experienceAmerican Youth Foundation programs welcome people to discover their own best selves, the richness of living a balanced life, and the power of creating inclusive, caring communities. Our programs inspire individuals and groups to put their best into action and make a difference in big and small ways each day.Proven program Outcomes American Youth Foundation programs ... Read More\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"American Youth Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/americanyouthfoundation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-25T20:07:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/\",\"name\":\"Why AYF - American Youth Foundation\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-30T01:26:50+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-25T20:07:11+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Why AYF\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/\",\"name\":\"American Youth Foundation\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"American Youth Foundation\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AYF-Transparent-Logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AYF-Transparent-Logo.png\",\"width\":800,\"height\":744,\"caption\":\"American Youth Foundation\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ayf.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/americanyouthfoundation\/\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Why AYF - American Youth Foundation","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Why AYF - American Youth Foundation","og_description":"Why AYF100 Years of experienceAmerican Youth Foundation programs welcome people to discover their own best selves, the richness of living a balanced life, and the power of creating inclusive, caring communities. Our programs inspire individuals and groups to put their best into action and make a difference in big and small ways each day.Proven program Outcomes American Youth Foundation programs ... Read More","og_url":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/","og_site_name":"American Youth Foundation","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/americanyouthfoundation\/","article_modified_time":"2025-03-25T20:07:11+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/","url":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/","name":"Why AYF - American Youth Foundation","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-08-30T01:26:50+00:00","dateModified":"2025-03-25T20:07:11+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/why-ayf\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Why AYF"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/","name":"American Youth Foundation","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/#organization","name":"American Youth Foundation","url":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AYF-Transparent-Logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/AYF-Transparent-Logo.png","width":800,"height":744,"caption":"American Youth Foundation"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/americanyouthfoundation\/"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36224","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36224"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/36224\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ayf.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36224"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}