The Best and The Brightest of 2023
Lily
Messing
Age 17 | Junior
The Gregory School
Tucson
The Gregory School
Tucson
Lily Messing is the founder of 100+ Teens Who Care, a giving circle made up of high school students dedicated to making authentic, meaningful changes in their community. From providing essential supplies to homeless youth to supporting mental health services for children and funding housing for those transitioning out of the foster care system, Messing’s organization is helping young people make an impact.
“Teens have the power to change the world,” said Messing. “My whole mission is to show teens you don’t have to be an adult to make a difference.”
Messing’s passion for helping others has deep roots. Her family started a nonprofit in honor of her uncle, who passed away from sudden cardiac arrest just before she was born. However, it wasn’t until she attended an event for 100+ Women Who Care Tucson that she felt compelled to start her own organization.
Fueled by the increasing need and isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Messing launched 100+ Teens Who Care in Tucson, not only to inspire young people to give back but also to help them socialize and connect with others. The group meets quarterly, and each student gives $25 at each meeting. The organization chooses a local charity to receive the combined donation. In its first year, the group gained 200 members and donated more than $20,000 to local nonprofits. She also partnered with local philanthropists and businesses to provide scholarships for teens who want to join the group but cannot afford the quarterly donation.
“Doing good and having fun are not mutually exclusive,” said Messing. “You can do both!”
Since that first meeting in Tucson, 100+ Teens Who Care has now expanded to 18 other chapters in cities around the world. Messing has developed a variety of templates and resources and meets with each chapter every other week to help and support their efforts. She is also focused on the organization’s sustainability and has certain recruiting practices in place to make sure students of all grade levels are involved in each chapter.
Lily plans to pursue college after high school and dreams of running a large nonprofit one day.
“Teens have the power to change the world,” said Messing. “My whole mission is to show teens you don’t have to be an adult to make a difference.”
Messing’s passion for helping others has deep roots. Her family started a nonprofit in honor of her uncle, who passed away from sudden cardiac arrest just before she was born. However, it wasn’t until she attended an event for 100+ Women Who Care Tucson that she felt compelled to start her own organization.
Fueled by the increasing need and isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Messing launched 100+ Teens Who Care in Tucson, not only to inspire young people to give back but also to help them socialize and connect with others. The group meets quarterly, and each student gives $25 at each meeting. The organization chooses a local charity to receive the combined donation. In its first year, the group gained 200 members and donated more than $20,000 to local nonprofits. She also partnered with local philanthropists and businesses to provide scholarships for teens who want to join the group but cannot afford the quarterly donation.
“Doing good and having fun are not mutually exclusive,” said Messing. “You can do both!”
Since that first meeting in Tucson, 100+ Teens Who Care has now expanded to 18 other chapters in cities around the world. Messing has developed a variety of templates and resources and meets with each chapter every other week to help and support their efforts. She is also focused on the organization’s sustainability and has certain recruiting practices in place to make sure students of all grade levels are involved in each chapter.
Lily plans to pursue college after high school and dreams of running a large nonprofit one day.
