Cougar House was founded in 2022 by Annalise Leck, then a freshman in high school, driven by her personal desire to serve her community. In her search for volunteer opportunities, Annalise discovered a significant disconnect between high school students and nonprofit organizations. She encountered numerous obstacles, including nonprofits that did not have opportunities for young volunteers, and the lack of effective communication between charities and young volunteers.
This realization inspired her to bridge this gap and create a platform that would connect high school students with accessible volunteer opportunities.
The idea for Cougar House began to take shape in the spring of Annalise's freshman year. The cornerstone of this process was crafting the mission statement, which encapsulated her vision: to connect individuals with accessible service opportunities, simplify community engagement, and foster a culture of widespread service.
Initially, Cougar House started with a single bulletin board in the hallway of Annalise's high school, where she posted flyers with information about various volunteer opportunities. This straightforward approach quickly became popular among her peers, and as interest grew beyond her school, Annalise expanded Cougar House to have a wider reach. Over the next three years, teens across the globe would express similar desire to volunteer and inspire their peers to serve, leading to the establishment of the Cougar House chapter system, the growth of the organization's mission, and the continuous improvement of the volunteer database.
Today, as the world's first and largest teen volunteer opportunity clearinghouse, Cougar House continues to inspire teenagers everywhere to volunteer their time and talents to make the world a better place.
Cougar House’s mission is rooted in the belief that all high school students should have access to meaningful volunteer opportunities. By connecting students with local nonprofits, Cougar House aims to foster a culture of widespread service among young people. The organization simplifies the process of community engagement, making it easy for students to find and participate in volunteer activities that align with their interests and availability.
Our Mission: To connect individuals with accessible service opportunities, simplify community engagement, and to foster a culture of widespread service.
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