About — SAVE Fort Wayne Promise Club

Our Mission

Equipping young people to lead change

We equip young people with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to lead positive change throughout Fort Wayne — because age should never be a barrier to making a difference.

Youth-led, always

Our National Youth Advisory Board oversees every club, so decisions about what young people need come from young people themselves.

Rooted in belonging

We raise awareness of risk factors like bullying and social isolation, and actively build kindness, respect, and belonging in their place.

Built for any school

A SAVE Promise Club can stand alone or embed into an existing group — student council, a leadership class, or a kindness club.

'89

In memory of Alex Orange

Alex Orange, a 17-year-old football player from West Charlotte, NC, was known as someone who looked out for others.

In April 1989, Alex joined 200 classmates at a party. When a carload of young men from a rival school arrived armed and looking for trouble, Alex stepped forward and told them this was no place for violence. The situation escalated, shots were fired, and Alex lost his life that day.

The next week, his classmates returned to class mourning another young life lost to gun violence — and vowed to work for change in his honor.

That vow became Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE). In 2017, SAVE joined forces with Sandy Hook Promise to form the SAVE Promise Club, dedicated to educating and empowering young people to prevent violence nationwide. Our Fort Wayne chapter carries that same promise forward today.

Our Foundation

The four E's, in practice

Educate

Peer-to-peer learning on building a welcoming school climate through activities, events, and kindness projects.

Empower

Building the knowledge and skills members need to serve their community and school well.

Engage

Hands-on involvement in violence-prevention efforts inside school and across the wider community.

Encourage

Modeling positive peer influence that spreads violence-prevention efforts school-wide.

SAVE Fort Wayne members in a club meeting

Youth Leadership Development

Why we center young people

Young people have experiences and perspectives that can't be ignored. Many are concerned with violence, bullying, depression, anxiety, and hopelessness they've witnessed or experienced firsthand — and many are struggling themselves. Sandy Hook Promise works to create and empower young leaders through a range of youth-led initiatives, and SAVE Fort Wayne is our local expression of that work.

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Youth SAVE Fort Wayne

Teens aged 13–17 can apply to join a community of student leaders — attending our Activist Academy summer retreat, connecting with nationally recognized experts, and shaping SAVE programming for every student in Fort Wayne.

Applications currently closed

Leadership begins with service.