INDIANAPOLIS — Lift Up! On Daybreak Morning, Wish TV is highlighting local nonprofits and the ways they impact the community.

Ahmed Young, president and CEO of The Indianapolis Foundation, joined the show to discuss the organization’s legacy and its milestone 110th anniversary.

Young says it has been an incredible year and a half since he took the helm of the organization, which boasts a long track record of serving the community. For 110 years, the foundation has studied the city, identified problems and opportunities, and activated resources and people to find solutions.

The foundation partners with the city of Indianapolis and local nonprofits to support a thriving community. Young explained that the goal is to ensure that regardless of race, place, or identity, residents have support to build wealth, stay connected, and live incredible lives in the city.

The foundation partners with hundreds of nonprofits across Indianapolis and central Indiana to address housing, food insecurity, health, and youth success.

One prominent partner is Dream Alive, a mentoring organization co-founded more than 20 years ago by Indianapolis Colts legend and Ring of Honor inductee Tariq Glenn.

Dream Alive differs from organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters by focusing on consistent, long-term mentoring and experiential learning. The program commits to students for seven years, guiding them from middle school through high school.

Students recently visited the foundation’s office to experience philanthropy firsthand and learn how financial decisions and resource allocation work. Young explained that these real-life experiences help young people build pathways to success.

Citing foundation data, Young noted that students who participate in such experiential learning programs are 136 times more likely to hold leadership roles in the future and five times more likely to make a community impact.