MHG Charitable Foundation Successfully Hosts “From Idea to Impact” Mentor Seminar and Youth Pitch Contest

HACIENDA HEIGHTS, CA — On Sunday, March 15, 2026, the MHG Charitable Foundation proudly hosted its quarterly Mentor Seminar, “From Idea to Impact,” at the beautiful Hsi Lai Temple. Bringing together students, parents, mentors, and community leaders, the event successfully launched our 2026 initiatives and provided a powerful platform for young innovators to showcase their visions for the future.

The seminar beautifully captured MHG’s mission of combining scholarship, mentorship, and companionship, providing attendees with both spiritual grounding and practical financial literacy.

Cultivating Inner Strength and Financial Literacy

Founder Kitty Lo opened the event by emphasizing the importance of mentorship and investment thinking, urging students to build confidence and financial literacy early in their journeys.

To help students navigate the heavy pressures of academics and career planning, Venerable Master Huidong, Abbot of Hsi Lai Temple, delivered an inspiring opening talk on “Releasing Stress and Cultivating Inner Growth”. He reminded the audience that true excellence is not just about grades; by learning to focus the mind and dedicating oneself to serving others, students can build inner resilience and better withstand life’s setbacks.

Equipping students with real-world skills, CPA James K. Wang followed with a practical keynote on “The First Step to Starting a Business”. He walked the audience through the fundamentals of establishing business entities (such as DBAs, LLCs, and Corporations) and explained the differences between W-2 and 1099 income. Wang stressed that in the AI era, turning an idea into reality requires a strong grasp of finance, systems, and resource integration.

Launching the 2026 Scholarship and Student-Project Grants

MHG Director George Chou officially introduced the two parallel tracks for 2026 student empowerment: the Companion Scholarship Program and the newly launched Student-Project Grants.

• 2026 Companion Scholarships: Building on the incredible success of 2025, MHG is once again offering 100 scholarships ranging from $800 to $2,000 for students in grades 8–12 facing financial or personal hardships. Applications are currently under a rolling review until May 15, 2026
• Student-Project Grants: Designed to help students learn how to build, this new track follows a structured progression of Idea → Structure → Execution → Impact. It aims to cultivate a start-up mindset and prepare students for larger national competitions

Youth Ideas Shine in the Live Pitch Session

The highlight of the afternoon was the Student Pitch Session, where eight brilliant high school students took the stage to present their one-page project proposals. Tasked with delivering a 3-minute pitch followed by live Q&A from the judges, the students impressed the audience with their poise and innovative solutions to pressing community issues.

The diverse projects included:

• Yunah Choi (Bronze Award): A resource library and support system for vulnerable youth leaving detention facilities.
• Mariah Prenatt: “Access To Initiative,” providing SAT/ACT prep and career panels to underprivileged students.
• Isabel Wang: An AI Mentor Matching Program connecting students with professionals based on background and career goals.
• Jasmine Walia (Silver Award): “NohoHacks,” expanding computer science access through beginner-friendly learnathons and hackathons.
• Betty Chen: “100 Interviews. 100 Voices,” a youth civic research initiative documenting underheard community perspectives.
• Kimaya Henderson: A peer-driven study resource platform for AP students.
• Michelle Guo: A community cleanup initiative utilizing reward stands to protect local parks and lakes.
• Tina Deng (Gold Award): “LabLink,” a platform bridging the gap between underfunded researchers and motivated high school STEM volunteers