Two prominent organizations dedicated to supporting youth in the Hamilton Southeastern School District have merged to form Fishers Youth Initiative (FYI), a new nonprofit aimed at expanding services and strengthening support for young people in the community.

The merger brings together the Youth Mentoring Initiative (YMI), known for its successful student mentoring programs, and the Fishers Youth Assistance Program (FYAP), which has provided early intervention referral services to connect youth and families with essential resources. By combining their efforts, FYI aims to increase its impact and create a more comprehensive network of programs and services.

“Our shared mission has always been to support young people in our community,” said Matt Schlueter, co-chair of the new FYI Board. “After closely partnering on various initiatives in recent years, we saw an opportunity to partner more formally through this new nonprofit organization. We are so excited about the prospects of reaching more youth in our community.”

FYI is set to enhance youth services by expanding existing programs, streamlining access to resources, and fostering collaboration among organizations and individuals committed to supporting children and families. The new nonprofit will continue offering programs previously run by YMI and FYAP, including YMI’s student mentoring program, the Snack Attack initiative, and the Summer Meals Program. Additionally, FYI will maintain its partnership with Early Intervention Advocates from the Hamilton County Youth Assistance Program.

FYI Board co-chair Anderson Schoenrock expressed gratitude for the volunteers, donors, and community partners who have supported both YMI and FYAP over the years. “We look forward to building on our past successes with an eye toward supporting Fishers youth for years to come.”

In the coming weeks, FYI will unveil a new brand and website that will provide details on joint programs and fundraising opportunities. Until then, community members can continue to access resources through the existing YMI and FYAP websites.

To celebrate the launch of Fishers Youth Initiative, a special reception will be held on Monday, March 17, at 8 a.m. at the Fishers Municipal Center Theater. Community members and supporters are invited to attend, with registration requested in advance at this link.

For more information, visit www.ymionline.org or www.fishersyap.org.