Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon Recap

Youth interns and donors talking during the event

Last Saturday, Accelerate Climate Solutions hosted a volunteer and donor appreciation lunch. We gathered with community members to express our gratitude for all their support for our organization’s youth program, BLAST. The luncheon, a home-cooked meal served up by summer interns, embodied many of our organization’s values: community, sustainability, and teamwork. Accelerate Climate Solutions’ supporters met new and old friends alike at our office in a converted home in central Naperville. To spark conversation, each guest was provided a guide on how to talk about climate change, which included tips, such as, start by discussing the weather and connect over shared values.

ACS volunteers, donors, and supporters at the luncheon

Catherine Clarkin, executive director, spoke about the critical role that our supporters play in providing opportunities for young people to develop climate and environmental initiatives. From donors, to mentors, judges, board members, and volunteers, each individual’s dedication to making a difference and shaping youth leaders deserves to be recognized. 

“There is a powerful force unleashed when young people resolve to make a change.”

Jane Goodall

Ultimately, regardless of why you support youth leaders, the truth is that youth voices alone are still not enough. Whether you care about a particular sea creature, have family in a country that is currently experiencing the devastating effects of climate change, or simply want to leave future generations a healthier planet, the only way we will fix this is together. Each individual, no matter their age, has unique strengths, skills, and knowledge that can make a difference. However, the biggest difference we can make comes when we realize that our individual power becomes so much stronger when we unite. 

Abhinav Arun, Vallabh Arun, Smita Arun (ACS Board Member), and Cathy Clarkin (Executive Director of ACS)

Among our many wonderful guests were Abhinav and Vallabh Arun, former youth program students, who are a testament to this fact. Back in the summer of 2021, Abhinav, a high school student at the time and now a recent graduate of University of Southern California, volunteered with Catherine as part of the Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force (NEST). He created a video of high school students demanding an end to Naperville’s coal contract. Out of that work, we started the NEST Youth team, which his brother, Vallabh, currently a student at University of Illinois, subsequently led. From there, Accelerate Climate Solutions, the BLAST competition, and the summer intern program all were born. Catherine noted, “What a delight to see two of the people who helped provide the spark for the work we are doing now.”

2026 BLAST Judges

Each year, Accelerate Climate Solutions offers more young students a supportive space to turn their ideas into reality. Through BLAST, students have developed their own climate solutions, strengthened their leadership skills, and learned how to turn their ideas into meaningful change within their communities. As a youth intern

myself, thank you so much to everyone who has and continues to support this organization and its efforts to support student voices like mine. It was a pleasure to meet so many amazing people who believe in the ability of my generation to make a difference. I hope that anyone who shares that faith, finds it within themselves too, and uses it to join others, across generations, as we all work together to make a change.

Once again, thank you volunteers, donors, and all supporters!

We truly wouldn’t be able to make such a big impact without your help.