UPLIFT Youth Foundation

UPLIFT Youth Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2014 by Erica Austin and Camilla Bruno, created from their personal experiences with loss, isolation, and the need for accessible mental health tools for youth. What began as a single summer series at a Boys and Girls Club has grown into a comprehensive youth wellness organization serving more than 5,100 youth annually across 50+ schools and community partners in Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, in partnership with UCLA School of Public Health.

UPLIFT delivers three core programs that equip youth with vital wellness skills and leadership opportunities. Wellness Assemblies are school-wide experiences reaching up to 200 students at a time, introducing practical wellness tools and creating opportunities for open, stigma-reducing conversations around mental health. The Foundation Wellness Series is an 8 to 15 week small-group program focused on emotional regulation, resilience, stress management, and healthy coping skills through mindful movement, meditation, breathwork, and social-emotional learning. The Mindful Leader Certification is a 30-week workforce development program where students develop their own wellness foundation and gain the skills to teach and facilitate wellness practices for others, earning a certification in youth leadership. In 2025-26, 97% of participants reported improved mental wellness, and 100% gained new mental health tools they continue to apply in their daily lives.