YoungHeart Innovators

Built on one promise: we show up.

YoungHeart Innovators started with a few volunteers, a kitchen, and a commitment to be on the same corners every week. We've kept it.

Our story

Nedjeen Baptiste founded YoungHeart Innovators in 2024 after years of advising small business owners and seeing how many families in Palm Beach County were one bad month from the street. She also saw something else: young people who wanted to help but had never been asked.

So the organization does both. Community Feeding feeds people today. YoungHeart Circles teaches teens the money and work skills that keep families stable, and puts them to work serving their neighbors so those skills come with a conscience.

In our first grant year, supported by the Quantum Foundation, we served more than 1,400 people and 1,755 hot meals, stretching a $5,000 award into $6,254 of food through in-kind gifts and volunteer labor.

Nedjeen Baptiste at her deskNedjeen Baptiste, founder

Mission

To restore dignity and hope in underserved communities by feeding neighbors without shelter, mentoring young people toward economic stability, and teaching the next generation the power of giving back.

What we believe

  • Consistency is a form of respect. Every week, no gaps.
  • Young people learn generosity by practicing it, not hearing about it.
  • Money skills are life skills. Teach them early.
  • Small and honest beats big and vague.

How we're run

YoungHeart is volunteer-led. The founder and board serve without pay, and there is no paid staff. We keep overhead low so donations go to food, supplies, and the teen program. Books are kept by a tax professional and reviewed by the board.

Board of directors

Nedjeen Baptiste
Nedjeen BaptistePresident & Chairwoman, Founder. Tax strategist, business consultant, and grant writer; founder of Start-Up Business Consulting LLC. Former Small Business Specialist at JPMorgan Chase. B.S., Johnson & Wales University.
Tonya Inmon
Tonya InmonSecretary and co-founding trustee. Tonya spent more than 20 years at JPMorgan Chase, where she and Nedjeen worked together, and she helped name YoungHeart Innovators before the first meal was served. She cooks and serves at our feeding runs and mentors young people, with a focus on confidence and self-esteem.
Hernso Celestin
Hernso CelestinTreasurer and founding trustee. Hernso owns and runs his own business and is active in his church. He is hands-on at every feeding run: cooking, packing, and making sure every meal is ready to go out the door.

All three trustees have served since the organization's founding in October 2024 and serve without pay. Download the 2026 board roster (PDF).

Transparency

Funders and donors should be able to check us out in two minutes. Here's everything you need.

  • Legal nameYoungHeart Innovators, Inc.
  • EIN33-1744419
  • IRS 501(c)(3) public charityEffective Oct 28, 2024 · 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
  • Florida charity registrationCH78702
  • State of incorporationFlorida
  • Service areaPalm Beach County, FL

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

Documents

Need a W-9, our bylaws, or the latest Form 990-N? Email us and we'll send it the same business day.

Request documents

Funders

Quantum Foundation (2025–2026 grant cycle). Registered with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.