Acorn2Oak

08/13/2026

Your idea could make a difference—let Acorn2Oak help make it happen!

Do you know a young person with a passion for making an impact? The Acorn2Oak Youth Grant Program is accepting applications for its next round of youth grants!

Oakland County residents ages 8–18 can apply for grants of up to $1,000 to support projects that focus on:
✨ Business & Entrepreneurship
📚 Educational Achievement
🎨 Extracurricular Investment
🤝 Community Impact

Whether it's launching a small business, creating a community project, expanding a learning opportunity, or pursuing a meaningful passion, Acorn2Oak is here to help young leaders turn their ideas into action.

📅 Application Deadline: September 15, 2026

Don't miss this opportunity to invest in the next generation of changemakers. Apply today and help plant the seeds for tomorrow's leaders! https://www.leadershipoakland.com/acorn2oak-youth-grant-program/

08/11/2026

💙 From Struggle to Strength: Bringing Hope to Others 💙

When Hannah Conti was just 13 years old, she began what she describes as the hardest journey of her life: recovering from an eating disorder. Years of treatment, determination, and healing helped her rediscover her joy and reclaim her future. Today, at 17, she is transforming that experience into hope for others.

As an Acorn2Oak Youth Grant recipient, Hannah launched Hope-ing Hands, a project designed to bring comfort, courage, and support to patients receiving treatment for eating disorders at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Corewell Health Royal Oak's pediatric ward.

Through Hope-ing Hands, Hannah assembled and delivered care kits filled with coping tools, grounding resources, and encouragement to help young patients navigate the challenges of recovery. Inspired by the coping strategies that helped her through treatment, Hannah hopes these kits remind patients that they are not alone and that healing is possible.

"Nobody deserves to fight alone," Hannah says. By turning her own experience into action, she is helping others find hope, peace, and the support they need on their recovery journey.

Thank you, Hannah, for your courage, compassion, and commitment to helping others heal.

To find out more about Acorn2Oak https://www.leadershipoakland.com/acorn2oak-youth-grant-program/

06/10/2026

Last Chance! Remember to apply for this round of Acorn2Oak Grants by June 15th. If you know of a young community-minded entrepreneur, ages 8-18, please see how Oakland County and Leadership Oakland can support them! Have them join the 2025 grant recipients as an Acorn2Oak participant!
https://www.leadershipoakland.com/acorn2oak-youth-grant-program/
Next application opportunity will be June, 16 - September 15, 2026.

05/21/2026

05/11/2026

What an inspiring evening celebrating the 2025 Acorn2Oak Grant Recipients!

Leadership Oakland, along with Oakland County, was proud to host the Acorn2Oak Reception, recognizing an incredible group of young entrepreneurs and innovators from across Oakland County. The evening featured product showcases, meaningful conversations, and a celebration of the creativity and determination these young leaders bring to their communities.

We were honored to have Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter address the group and share words of encouragement as we celebrated the impact of investing in youth-driven ideas and future leadership.

Acorn2Oak provides mini-grants of up to $1,000 to Oakland County residents ages 8–18, helping turn ideas into action across four key areas:
• Business and organizational development
• Community impact
• Educational achievement
• Extracurricular investment

Through this program, young people are transforming their creativity into real accomplishments while building confidence, skills, and community connection.

A special congratulations to the grant recipients who showcased their products and ventures during the reception:
• Kennedy Merckx & Jenna Bowman – Kandles and More
• Josephina Marx – Kandi Creations
• Gabrielle Marx – Woodworking Shop
• Leah May – Ether Sticks
• Shaelyn Simms – Juneteenth Coloring Book Printing
• Alexis Desmier Germany – Dear Desmier
• Matthew Elliott – 3D Printing Business

Thank you to everyone who joined us in supporting and celebrating the next generation of entrepreneurs, creators, and changemakers.

04/08/2026

At Leadership Oakland, we know that big ideas often begin with small, creative sparks — and through our partnership with Oakland County, Michigan Government, the Acorn2Oak Youth Grant Program continues to nurture those ideas into meaningful impact.

Acorn2Oak provides mini-grants of up to $1,000 to Oakland County residents ages 8–18, supporting their goals in four key areas:
• Business & Organizational Development
• Educational Achievement
• Extracurricular Investment
• Community Impact

This program empowers young leaders to turn their passions into action while building skills that will serve them for years to come.

Today, we’re excited to spotlight Acorn2Oak Youth Grant recipient Anissa Jackson, founder of Stitching Fairy Designs.

Anissa launched her business last year with the help of a previous grant, starting with handmade scrunchies and quickly expanding her product line to include sewn bookmarks and unique fabric and wood earrings. Her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit continue to grow as she looks to take her business to the next level.

With this new grant opportunity, Anissa not only planned to expand her inventory with new materials like fabric, thread, and ribbon—but also wanted to give back in a meaningful way. Inspired by her love of reading, Anissa has sewn a custom bookmark for every student at her school, spreading both creativity and encouragement to fellow readers! Way to go Anissa!

Anissa’s story is a perfect example of what Acorn2Oak is all about: empowering young entrepreneurs to grow their businesses while making a positive impact in their communities.

We are proud to support leaders like Anissa as they continue to dream big, create boldly, and give back.

If you know a young leader ready to bring their ideas to life, learn more about the program here: https://www.leadershipoakland.com/acorn2oak-youth-grant-program/

04/03/2026

At Leadership Oakland, we believe the leaders of tomorrow are already exploring their passions today — and through our partnership with Oakland County, Michigan Government, the Acorn2Oak Youth Grant Program helps turn those passions into possibilities.

Acorn2Oak provides mini-grants of up to $1,000 to Oakland County residents ages 8–18, supporting their growth in four key areas:
• Business & Organizational Development
• Educational Achievement
• Extracurricular Investment
• Community Impact

By investing in young people, this program helps build confidence, skills, and a vision for the future.

Today, we’re proud to spotlight Acorn2Oak Youth Grant recipient Luca Jackson.

This past summer, Luca attended a video game design camp at iCode Troy—an experience that sparked both excitement and ambition. After discovering a passion for creating and understanding video games, Luca is eager to continue learning and expanding his skills in this rapidly evolving field.

With support from the Acorn2Oak program, Luca hopes to further his studies at iCode Troy, gaining deeper knowledge in technology and game design. He recognizes that technology is always changing and is motivated to grow alongside it—building skills that could lead to a successful future career. See some of his work here!

Luca’s curiosity, drive, and forward-thinking mindset reflect exactly what Acorn2Oak is designed to support: young individuals who are excited to learn, explore, and shape their futures.

We’re honored to support Luca as he continues his journey in technology and innovation.

If you know a young leader ready to take the next step in their growth, learn more about the program here: https://www.leadershipoakland.com/acorn2oak-youth-grant-program/