There is a considerable youth movement happening at United Way organizations up and down the region — and that’s a welcome sign.

Until just a few years ago, United Way groups were getting more and more dependent on two groups of supporters — large corporate employers and wealthy individuals, typically retirees who often were the top executives of the large employers.

But in an encouraging development, the United Way organizations of Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties have recently launched Young Leader organizations to encourage a new generation of entrepreneurs to support fundamental social services in their communities.

The Ventura County group, which is nearing 100 in number, already is planning its second annual Youth Empowerment Summit on April 24 at Oxnard College.

The Santa Barbara group, currently getting under way, has its initial organizational meeting on April 6 at Arnoldi’s Café in Santa Barbara.

We’re pleased to see that some of our oldest philanthropic organizations are growing the next crop of new leaders.

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