Teens Taking Action

Chamber Honors Outstanding Small Businesses

adviser — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:39:02 +0000

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Outstanding area businesses earned honors Wednesday.

The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce handed out its annual small business awards during a luncheon at Washburn University.Midland Care Connection won the Non-Profit Award of Distinction. The award for Minority and Women-Owned Business went to Jones Advisory Group. Midwest Coating was named Capital City Business of Distinction. Zach Haney of Carnival Guy Party Rentals was named Emerging Entreprenur of Distinction.

All winners were grateful, but especially Haney, who’s just 17-years old and a high school junior. He says it was a little nerve wracking to be in front of a group that included leaders of some long-time Topeka companies, but he says the experience will help him.

Haney’s business stems from the volunteer group he founded, Teens Taking Action. Under his leadership, the group has organized a carnival for children staying at the Topeka Rescue Mission. Haney says he learned through the experience that Topeka didn’t have a business catering to carnival event planning, and his business was born.

Winners were selected from three nominees in each category. Other nominees included: TK Magazine, Dog Day Afternoon, HCCI, Topeka Civic Theatre, Ice and Olives, Peterson Publications, La Familia and Yeldrab Gallery in NOTO.

The awards are presented by the Chamber and GO Topeka’s Entrepreneurial and Minority Business Development.

Watch the video here

Zach Haney on the Dr.Stem Show

adviser — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 02:26:58 +0000

Click here to listen to the Dr.Stem show with there guest our founder Zach Haney.

Zach Haney is a role model in becoming financially literate. He is the Founder of a nonprofit Community Service Organization called Teens Taking Action, Inc. Based in Topeka, KS, his organization has been serving hundreds of people through community service projects including the annual Rescue Mission Carnival, Clothing & Food Drives, Organization Partnerships, and more. Teens Since the founding it has been adopted by the YMCA and continues to grow in the community. Zach is CEO of Carnival Guy Party Rentals, which offers hundreds of fun, unique services including party planning, inflatable rides and midway games. He is the project manager for many small businesses including some local the Topeka, KS area, where he has developed branding logos, websites, slogans and other materials. Zach is a member of the Junior Advisory Board of Educational Credit Union of Topeka, KS.

Drive Now Text Later

adviser — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:14:05 +0000

Top Volunteer Teen Scholarship 2013

adviser — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:57:23 +0000

It’s nearly graduation and Teens Taking Action, Inc. is happy to
be offering a $500 scholarship for the 2013-14 school years. Anyone who is
graduating high school and planning to attend college is eligible for the
scholarship.

Note: You do not have had to volunteer with us on any projects. We
will give the scholarship based on the answers on the application we receive.
The application can be seen below; all should be completed and turned into Rob
Banks at the Topeka Public Library. The mailing address is listed in the application.
If you need additional information please contact us at info@teenstakingaction.org.

Best of luck and thank you for making a difference.

Click this to download the application: TTA Scholarship Application 2013

Teens clothing drive at Shawnee Heights

adviser — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:40:56 +0000

Topeka, KS.

Teens Taking Action, Inc. is conducting a stay warm clothing drive this Winter, but specifically for teenagers in the Topeka community. The drive is being held at Shawnee Heights High School. Anyone looking to donate will need to drop the clothing off in the bin located within the lunch room. Our goal is to collect at least one pallet of gently used clothing. Some items that can be donated are of the following.

- Jackets/Hoodies

- Jeans/Shorts

- Shirts/Hats/Scarfs

- even gifts, books, dvds.

These items will be taken to the Topeka Rescue Mission and Let’s Help. This is a unique way for teens at Shawnee Heights to give back in way they may not have done before. If you need additional information please contact us.

Rescue mission carnival draws crowd, praise

adviser — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 01:54:02 +0000

By Corey Jones

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Three years ago Zach Haney conceived of a way in which he could contribute to the community. He was only a freshman at Shawnee Heights High School in search of a way to contribute to Topeka that no one yet had done.

On Saturday evening, his simple idea had blossomed into an event that anticipated nearly 400 participants, including the governor of Kansas.

A festive atmosphere enveloped Veterans Park as the third annual carnival for the Topeka Rescue Mission featured many games, a fire truck, hot dogs, snow cones and four large inflatables for kids to jump, climb and play on.

Mark DeGroff, director of communications for the rescue mission, said the carnival is a means by which families that are homeless can enjoy a free, relaxing evening together. A carnival isn’t an expense those families would be able to afford on their own, he said.

The event is put on entirely through donations of time, money and equipment.

“It’s just a blessing for the families of the Hope Center,” DeGroff said.

The man behind the effort is Haney. Three years ago as a freshman at Shawnee Heights he wanted to initiate a volunteer effort targeted at meeting a need in the community that hadn’t yet been filled.

Enter the rescue mission carnival.

Now a junior, he has watched his baby grow in a relatively short period of time. And not only that, he founded and serves as executive director of Teens Taking Action, Inc., a nonprofit in Topeka that attempts to do one community project a month.

But the flagship event for the group is the rescue mission carnival, which has grown from one moon bounce and a 100 hot dogs to a full-fledged carnival complete with a magic show, live disc jockey and 1,000 hot dogs. Dozens of high schoolers jumped in to help as volunteers.

Haney recalls the planning and organization for the first one hurriedly took place in a month. Now his organization begins plans for it a year in advance.

“It’s incredible to think it started so small,” Haney said.

Gov. Sam Brownback made an appearance at the event. He called Haney “a great hero” for having a vision at such a young age and following through to make it reality.

The governor said he has seen young people changes lives and mold the future, which is exactly what Haney is doing.

“This is a model of young leadership,” Brownback said.

Our clothing swap will be here soon

adviser — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 17:10:08 +0000

Check out this video of an interview from Kansas First News talking aobut our clothing swap which will be here this coming Saturday at the SW YMCA from 4-7p.m. Click here to watch the video.

The back to school clothing swap

adviser — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 02:25:29 +0000

September 8th, from 4-7p.m. TTA will be holding a Back to School clothing swap, open to all high-school and young college students.

The event will take place at the SW YMCA located at 3635 Southwest Chelsea; Topeka, KS 66614. The actual drive will start early for some high-schools including Shawnee Heights where you will be able to bring your clothes early and receive your swap tickets. Once at the Y you will come to the teen room located next to the indoor workout area.

We are looking for volunteers for this event so please contact us at volunteer@teenstakingaction.org if interested.

Go to our facebook page for more information and share the photo, while bringing your friends.

Zach Haney – Founder

adviser — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 16:59:42 +0000

Zach Haney began volunteering at a young age. He decided to start Teens Taking Action, Inc. in the Summer going into high school. The group started to gain momentum and the projects started to get larger. “It has been a unique experience for myself and the thousands of others who have been touched by the work we are doing.” The overall organization could not be possible without the help of others. Often times it falls of the person who started or is in charge but the truth is there are tons of people working behind the scenes helping out and my deepest gratitude goes out to them. Thank you for learning more about our organization and what we stand for.

God Bless.

Rescue mission children go to the circus

adviser — Sat, 04 Aug 2012 16:42:55 +0000

On August 10th, 2012 all of the children from the Topeka Rescue Mission were able to go see the circus with their families. Not only did they see the circus but also got to eat lunch with the elephants. One employee from Feld Entertainment made a comment that she had to step away for a moment because of being overwhelmed with all of the appreciation and thanks she was receiving from those who were coming from the mission.

The event allowed the children and the adults to be kids again and share something most would take for granted. We look forward to the many more projects we will conduct with the mission and Feld Entertainment.