When Larry Cervarich picked up a local newspaper in 2006, he didn’t know that moment would change the course of his life — and the lives of thousands of youth across Arizona.

“I read an article about youth experiencing homelessness in the West Valley View,” he recalled. “I set it down, but a week later I picked it up again. Something in me said, ‘You’ve got to do something.’”

Larry had business experience — from running a bakery to catering across Portland and Washington — but nonprofits were a new world. Still, he was ready to take the first step. A friend from Rotary gave him a nudge he’d never forget:

“What are you doing here? GO do something,” the friend said. Larry laughs recalling it now, but that moment sparked what would become Homeless Youth Connection (HYC).

What started with one man, a Rotary Club, and a car wash that raised $500 has now grown into an organization dedicated to helping youth stay in school, graduate, and build bright futures.

Lessons from the Youth

For Larry, the greatest lessons have come directly from the youth he’s met.

“I’ve seen so many stories of the hurt they’ve gone through, and yet they still go to school every day.  I didn’t realize at the time that school was their lifeline. It’s their social world, their connection to hope. Otherwise, they’d be alone. At first, I was focused on getting youth through high school, but I quickly learned they wanted to go beyond — to college, careers, and stable homes.”

That understanding fueled his drive to build HYC, step by step. At first, he walked into an Avondale high school, where a counselor doubted his intentions. She wasn’t sure he was serious about helping, but she shared stories about the youth she worked with and the challenges they faced. Soon, his church and local community members filled an entire lobby with donations—over $4,000 worth. True to his word, he returned to the school and followed through on his commitment, surprising the counselor.

“I’ll never forget the school counselor’s face,” Larry said. “She told me, ‘I thought you were just another person who wanted a story.’ But I promised her, ‘We’ll be back. This isn’t a one-time thing.’”

A Life Guided by Passion

That passion has guided him through many chapters of life. Beyond HYC, Larry has founded other nonprofits that reflect his heart for service — Meals of Joy, started in 2014 to bring meals to senior citizens, and more recently, Just Ask Outreach, extending his mission to even more members of the community.

“You really need passion and love to help people,” Larry said. “I could probably write a book about all the twists and turns,” he joked. “But the first page would just say: RUN. Because unless you have passion, you won’t make it in the nonprofit world.”

And passion is exactly what has carried him. Larry has seen youth walk through heartbreak and abuse, but also into healing and success. He remembers one youth in particular, who opened his shirt to reveal cigarette burns from an abusive parent.

“He could have given up. But with HYC’s support, he graduated, built a career, started a family. That’s the kind of transformation that keeps me going.”

Celebrating Larry

Fifteen years later, Larry remains the heart of the mission. Even at 86, Larry still brings humor and warmth to everything he does. He jokes about being teased for “never retiring,” and when asked about birthday treats, he lights up:

“Carrot cake. It has to be moist. Albertsons or Costco might just do it best — I think it must be the cream cheese frosting.”

Larry also treasures the gifts that can’t be wrapped.

“My dad was the biggest gift of my life. As old as I am, I still get teary-eyed wishing he was here today. We had the best bond.”

Looking ahead, Larry is excited for moments both personal and professional. In a few weeks, he’ll visit his son, Marc, in Tacoma — a birthday celebration he’s eagerly anticipating. Beyond that, he looks forward to seeing the continued growth and impact of the nonprofits he has poured his heart into.

With the holidays approaching, Larry hopes the youth HYC serves feel seen, celebrated, and supported.

“At Christmas time, you don’t want to be alone. You want to be around a tree, with family, with love,” he said. “That’s what so many of these youth are missing.”

It’s this hope that drives HYC’s Holiday Magic each year — ensuring no youth is forgotten during the season. By providing a holiday meal or adopting a youth, our community can bring joy and connection to those who need it most.

Larry’s journey is a reminder that change often begins with a single step — a choice to act, and a willingness to serve. From reading a newspaper to founding HYC, he shows what’s possible when passion meets action. Today, thousands of youth have brighter futures because he chose to “go do something.”

“You know there’s something that needs to get done but you have got to do it,” he said. “Sure, you might trip, but you get back up and do it.”

It’s that humble, joyful heart that makes celebrating Larry’s birthday a celebration for us all.

In honor of Larry’s birthday, join us in spreading joy to HYC youth this holiday season — whether with a gift card, adopting a youth, or a simple act of support. Together, we can create the kind of joy and love Larry has spent his life sharing.