How a Youth-Run Nonprofit is Helping Homeless Students Across the Country Achieve ‘Well-th’ Through Education

EEqual is a youth-run 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to overcoming student homelessness by raising awareness, providing direct resources and increasing access to higher education. Hightower Chairman and CEO Bob Oros recently joined the EEqual executive board, where he will help to guide the organization’s strategy and expand networking opportunities.

When Matine Khalighi was in middle school, he took a community service class that changed his life. The class inspired Khalighi and a friend to start an initiative to help homeless people in their community gain access to basic supplies and resources. Over the next few years, their project grew, and by the time Khalighi was a senior in high school, they were throwing benefit galas and distributing thousands of products with the help of several fellow classmates and friends.

“At that point, we realized that we had an opportunity to expand,” said Khalighi. “We decided to focus in on students experiencing homelessness, went back to the drawing board, and came back with EEqual.”

Today, Khalighi is a freshman at Harvard University, and EEqual is just getting started. Run entirely online by youth ranging from sophomores in high school to sophomores in college, the nonprofit is dedicated to helping students experiencing homelessness by providing them direct resources such as scholarships, mentorships and career advice, and breaking the stigma through social awareness and advocacy campaigns.

Currently, EEqual has raised more than $30,000 in scholarships for students experiencing homelessness and the organization’s social media campaigns have reached more than 3.5 million people. Khalighi has grown the team to 11 core members and started a Professional Partners Board, which is made up of a diverse range of CEOs, educators, influencers and content creators from around the country who help the EEqual team develop strategy, network and find more students to help.

The newest member of the EEqual Professional Partners Board? Hightower Chairman and CEO Bob Oros, who decided to join after Khalighi reached out to him on LinkedIn.

“When I took the time to dig into EEqual and its mission, I found it to be inspiring and on-point,” said Oros. “I look at the good fortune that my children are able to experience, and it means a lot to be involved with an organization that is helping kids who were dealt a different lot in life. So many young people experience hardship through no fault of their own, and what EEqual is doing to break the cycle of poverty for students who are experiencing homelessness is really in line with both my personal values, and Hightower’s mission of helping people achieve ‘well-th’ in every aspect of their lives.”

Along with the eight other members of the Board, Oros will be an invaluable asset to the EEqual team as they evolve, grow and expand over the years.

“I saw an opportunity to help this young organization scale its operations, and really make a difference in the world,” he said. “It spoke to me and made me want to give as much of my time and growth expertise to the cause as I possibly can.”

To learn more about EEqual, donate or get involved with the mission, check out their YouTube channel and visit https://eequal.org/.