FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 1, 2008 CONTACT: Kyle Freas Youth Together 972-608-4668 Kyle@youthtogether.biz   -- PLANO YOUTH HONORED AT NATIONAL SUMMIT   Kyle Freas, of Plano, Texas is selected as a Youth Venture National Ambassador on July 17, 2008. Recognized for founding an organization to create positive change and as a leader, Kyle Freas was named a Youth Venture National Ambassador at the National Youth Venture Summit in Washington D.C held from July 17-July 20 at American University. Kyle Freas, age 19, launched an organization Youth Together with the support of Youth Venture in August 2003.  Youth Together’s goal is to engage young people in community service to help abused, homeless and ill children in Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Nebraska, New York, California and New Mexico . Youth Together is a 501c3 non-profit organization that works with elementary and middle school student councils, Students Thinking of People / Peer Assistance and Leadership programs to help homeless, abused, and critically ill children as well as homeless animals. Youth Together offers eleven different projects in which these student organizations can participate. Kyle Freas joined 200 other young changemakers and leaders at the Summit to learn from each other, hear experts in the field, and learn to grow and expand his Venture to benefit the community to create sustainable lasting community impact.  Sessions ranged from starting a venture to converting existing organizations to 501c3 status.     “We are thrilled to welcome these young people.” said Gretchen Zucker, Executive Director of Youth Venture.  “By identifying problems and finding solutions through the creation of their Venture teams they are defining a new generation of leadership right now.” As one of eighteen national youth ambassadors for Youth Venture, Kyle will serve as role model to other young people who are thinking of launching a Venture and serve as a spokesperson for the idea that young people can identify problems and create their own powerful and lasting solutions.  “Youth Together is working with the help of Youth Venture to provide the tools to make the students of today the community service leaders of tomorrow”, said Kyle. " It is my hope that we can convince all students of the importance of helping others." The National Youth Venture Summit was presented by Best Buy and Starbucks and supported by Allianz Foundation.   About Youth Venture Youth Venture® was founded by well known social entrepreneur and Ashoka founder Bill Drayton and leads an international community of young people who are powerful now, changemakers now.  Youth Venture inspires and invests in teams of young people to create and launch their own sustainable, community-benefiting Ventures.  Youth Venture then connects them into a global movement of young changemakers who are together redefining the youth years as a time of leadership and positive social change. This is the foundation of an Everyone a Changemaker™ world – the key factor for success in every part of society.  Youth Venture currently operates in 14 countries and online at www.genv.net