Mattel Youth Ambassadors

Make a difference in your community while gaining valuable leadership skills and insight into the medical field!

The Mattel Youth Ambassadors are a dynamic group comprised of high school students ages 16-18 who support the Mattel Children’s Hospital and patient experience programs. You will gain valuable leadership skills while giving back to the community. Our Youth Ambassadors are ambitious and interested in improving the health and well-being of others, while learning about the healthcare environment, and medical career options. Meet fellow students who share your ambitions, and have fun along the way!

This virtual program is comprised of regular meetings, virtual activities, and service to the hospital. There is a fundraising goal, art projects and participation in monthly meetings throughout the year.  Our dynamic meetings offer leadership skills, physician round table discussions to explore the medical field, and opportunities to expand knowledge of the healthcare environment.

Program application opens May 1st, and extends through June 6th, 2025. Orientation and initial member meeting begins in early July, with weekly meetings on Wednesdays at 3:30pm during summer and transitions to monthly during the school year. Program concludes with an awards recognition ceremony in June 2026. 

• Open to high school students ages 16-18 (Must be 16 by Sept 1st)
• Must be able to attend weekly meetings; (see calendar) Two excused absences permitted within program time-frame
• Requires an individual fundraising goal of $1250.00 to be completed by April 30, 2026, in order to receive an awards package
• Student must adhere to fundraising guidelines. Information regarding these guidelines will be covered at orientation
• Must be able to attend virtual meetings on Wednesdays from 3:30pm - 4:30pm

Timeline and Calendar

• Application is open from May 1st - June 6th, 2025
• Acceptance notifications will be sent via e-mail by June 16, 2025

• Fundraising Deadline is April 30, 2026
• Award Recognition Ceremony will be held in June 2026 (TBD)

Fundraising Guidelines

Fundraising for Mattel Youth Ambassadors must not begin before formal acceptance into the program. Students are solely responsible for achieving fundraising goal after submission of fundraising proposal to program managers. Fundraising efforts are individual. However, students may raise funds by crowdfunding and through donations from a birthday, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, or holiday event. Other individual fundraising ideas may also be proposed by the students.

Fundraisers cannot be located on hospital or clinic premises.

Fundraising goal must be completed by April 30, 2026. 

Program On-boarding

The on-boarding period takes place after formal acceptance into the program. Further information will be provided.

If you have any questions, please email cmccarthy@mednet.ucla.edu