This Philly youth services nonprofit founder drives Uber to keep her life skills programs free for families

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The founder of a local youth-services nonprofit is appealing to the wider community for support in expanding her programming.

Sharman Pitts is up early in the morning five days a week.

“Just out here driving. And I meet people along the way,” she said.

“But at the same time it allows me to meet people who may give these young people opportunities as well. You never know who you’re going to meet in a car.”

Pitts founded The Kennedy Project in 2018 to help parents and kids fill educational gaps by teaching life skills, providing access to arts and culture, and creating community service opportunities.

“What it is is mentoring, empowerment and parenting accountability program for young adults 12-20,” she said.

“What we basically do is take them to plays — just, different things to open their minds to culture. We feed the homeless.”

Right now, she pays for it by hitting the road every day … as an Uber driver. There’s no cost to the families she helps. And she pays for it one fare at a time. But she says that income doesn’t go far.

“All of these things come out of my pocket and it’s important to have the community’s help because that would allow me to help more children.”

She says she wants to grow the Project to include more kids, but she needs the community to help her do it.

“Just one interaction can change a young person’s life.”