The mission of the Heart of America Foundation® (HOA) Ambassadors is to motivate, inspire, and teach students to make a difference in their communities. HOA Ambassadors are top youth leaders who have extensive backgrounds in service and are dynamic speakers. Their presentations to schools and other community groups motivate students to serve their communities and reach their full potential. This diverse group of individuals, most of who have been regionally or nationally recognized for their service, call on their years of volunteer experience to share meaningful presentations with youth of all ages.

The Ambassador’s highest priority is meeting the needs of students through exciting and interactive presentations on topics that focus on leadership and character building such as believing in yourself, incorporating service into student life; upholding positive values; embracing diversity; and achievement and doing your best, among others.

Ambassador presentations span the school year—from Black History Month to Women’s History Month. Ambassadors address a variety of events including career days, service project kick-off events, recognition and award ceremonies, and literacy and reading promotion programs.

The Heart of America Foundation® has Ambassadors across the nation. Since its inception, these Ambassadors have spoken to tens of thousands of students in schools and community groups across the country, including some 10,000 students in one day on the first anniversary of the tragedy at Columbine High School. HOA’s Ambassadors range in age from 14–26 and represent the diversity found in this nation’s student population.

To nominate a student to be considered for the HOA Ambassador program or to request an Ambassador for your school or youth group, please email Colleen Noland at ambassadors@heartofamerica.org. All nominees will be notified of their nomination and may be contacted for further information. Nominees should have an extensive service background, public speaking experience, ability to work with diverse groups of children, teens and adults, and past recognition of service work (such as honors, awards, scholarships, grants, etc.).

Spotlight on a HOA Ambassador: Amber Coffman At the age of eight, Amber Coffman began helping the homeless alongside her mother. By the time she was 10, she had founded Happy Helpers for the Homeless to help Baltimore’s disadvantaged population. She organized her friends in her family’s apartment each Saturday to make brown-bag lunches that she and her mother delivered to some 100 people who were living on the streets. Today, Amber is a recent college graduate who continues to serve as director of her organization, which has helped over 30,000 people. Every week 600 bag lunches are prepared and delivered to the homeless, along with clothes and basic necessities. Happy Helpers has proved to be such a successful model that the program has been implemented in 49 states and internationally. She is currently serving on the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. Amber is a seasoned presenter who has addressed the East Coast Religious Education Conference, National Youth Service Day, and the Youth Service America Super Conference. In addition, she has spoken before audiences at the National Press Club, Library of Congress, Peace Corps Headquarters, National Youth Leadership Conference, Volunteer Maryland, Voice of America, National Homelessness Event, as well as numerous colleges, schools, churches, and service organizations. Amber’s work has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and The Today Show as well as national publications such as People, Seventeen, Reader’s Digest and Parade. At least five different books highlight Amber’s story including Courage Is Contagious, Heaven on Earth, Voices from the Heart, and A Kid’s Guide to Social Action, and The Heart of America: Ten Core Values That Make Our Country Great. Well-versed in many content areas, Amber never fails to win her audiences with her inspiring presentations. Read testimonials about Ambassador presentations Request an Ambassador