Young people are ambassadors for what Lancaster County Community Foundation (LCCF) stands for.

The next major event in LCCF's yearlong celebration of its 100th anniversary will focus on the future and empowering youths. It's a great way to start the next hundred years.

"Young people are the future," said Val Schade, who's been LCCF's communications manager for three years. "We believe if we embolden children and young adults, we are all impacted. We're taking an opportunity to look back, while looking ahead. Thanks to the past 100 years that saw opportunities for several generations, we are a community brimming with promise. We think it's our turn to make history and change the next 100 years."

LCCF's evening of looking ahead is being called Elevating the Next Generation. It's being staged in multiple rooms of Millersville University's student center, 21 S. George St., Millersville, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Open to the public and free to the attend, the event is geared toward young people from middle school all the way through college age.

"We're excited about this event," said Schade. "The goal is to invite and inspire the Lancaster County community to think about how important the next generation is. It's youth-centered and youth-designed, but it's not only for youth. It's meant to be energetic and casual."

LCCF's Elevating the Next Generation event will feature food trucks, a gaming truck with over 100 games, a wellness room with interactive and mindful activities and a performance by the Crispus Attucks Community Center's drill team and band squad, the Infamous Unstoppables. In addition, the event will include a session on food sustainability, displays of student artwork and poetry readings.

Also, the next round of recipients of LCCF's Shaping Tomorrow awards and scholarships will be announced that evening.

"We're hoping for a large turnout," said Schade. "We recognize that if the event is open to young people that they're going to be accompanied by family. It's youth and family friendly."

Elevating the Next Generation is the third of four events LCCF is conducting to commemorate its founding in 1924. The first two were staged at Rock Lititz in March and at Buchanan Park in April, and the fourth, titled Protecting Our Planet, will be held at the Farm at Eagles Ridge on Thursday, Oct. 17.

"Lancaster County Community Foundation stewards the county endowment, and we harness the power of community and local philanthropy to make Lancaster a better place to live," said Schade. "We are here because of the work and hope and vision of people who came before us. Our mission is to work for the people who are coming after us, for generations to come."

Over the last century, LCCF has donated more than $60 million to local causes. LCCF's signature event, ExtraGive, has generated more than $100 million in donations for local organizations.

"Lancaster has always been a county of change-makers and hard workers," said Schade. "The endowment has always been shaped by community members with that in mind. The beautiful thing about the endowment is it can be flexible and that it can be used to meet needs in the moment."

For additional information about the Lancaster County Community Foundation, go to http://www.lancfound.org.