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CHASE HARTMAN
Co-Founder, CEO
Chase Hartman of Tampa, Florida, is a community changemaker and youth leader dedicated to finding solutions to some of the country's toughest challenges.
Eighteen-year-old Chase co-founded a non-profit called Eco Brothers and an award-winning book distribution project called “read.repeat.”. Focusing his efforts on improving literacy rates, he’s collected and distributed more than 220,000 books and impacted the lives of more than 65,000 students in Hillsborough County, Florida. Chase champions the need for more books-with-diversity and dual language books in local Title-1 schools and has worked to raise more than $150,000 to improve literacy and run environmental projects in his state.
Chase enjoys the challenges of leadership opportunities and served as Senior Patrol Leader in Boy Scout Troop 46, where he also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. For the service project required for this respected rank, he designed and planted a butterfly garden at his former elementary school and purchased butterfly habitats for each classroom to learn more about the importance of the declining monarch butterfly. He’s attended leadership workshops through Boy Scouts with the National Youth Leadership Training and also at American University with the National Student Leadership Conference.
An honor student, Chase attended the American Legion Boys State Conference and received the Samsung Scholarship. Additionally, he has been regoanized as a 2024 Coca Cola Scholar, Beta Club Scholar, and National Honor Society Scholarship National Finalist. He is a member of the National Honor Society and National Society of High School Scholars and is Co-President of Student Government at his high school. Chase’s academic and community service efforts have been recognized by the Dr. Ben Carson Scholar Fund, which has awarded him the position of Carson Scholar. Chase is a Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey Team Community Hero of Tomorrow recipient, Florida’s Prudential Spirit of the Community Honoree, Points of Light Youth Advisory Council member, and was also recognized by the EPA as a President’s Environmental Youth Award winner.
Meet our Youth Board
As mentors to all volunteers and council members of Eco Brothers, our Youth Board is essential to ensuring our organization can grow and challenge our leaders!
Lauren Hill
Tampa, FL
Youth Board member since 2021
Currently majoring in Data Science at the University of Florida. She earned the Presidential Volunteer Service Award twice for serving over 250 hours in her community. Also received the 3E Academic Foundation Education Grant. Lauren plans to stay involved in helping her community through advocacy for children’s literacy.
Sophie Farnan
Tampa, FL
Youth Board member since 2021
Hi! I’m Sophie Farnan, a longtime Junior Board Member for Eco Brothers, Inc! My current goal with Eco Brothers is to develop an initiative aimed at providing formal wear and accessories to low-income high school students for homecoming and prom. I am also the director of internal affairs for my student government’s executive board, and the vice president of membership for the National Beta Club. I love spending time outdoors, including running on the cross country and track teams at my school, and I am a writer for the local magazine in my area, the Westchase WOW!
Evan Farnan
Tampa, FL
Youth Board member since 2021
Hi everyone! My name is Evan, and I am a longtime Junior Board Member who will double major in mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Florida as an honors student. My leadership experience includes being the Calculus Team Leader for Mu Alpha Theta as well as President of the Sickles High School Orchestra Program, where I was awarded the Fred Gebhardt Leadership Award and Scholarship. I was also an NHS officer and organized a 5K run for my school which raised $3,000 in less than 30 days. Running is a passion of mine, as I have run varsity track and cross country for four years. I have been named a National Merit Scholar, Benaquisto Scholar, Florida Academic Scholar, Florida Merit Scholarship Award Winner, 2024 Tribune Scholar and a URSP Honors Research Award Winner from the University of Florida. My volunteer experience led to me receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award and I look forward to continuing my volunteer work with Eco Brothers!
Anushka Sashidhar
West Bloomfield, MI
Youth Board member since 2024
Anushka is a freshman at the University of Michigan pursuing a double degree in Neuroscience and Philosophy on premed track. She was president of her school's Key Club, is an Eagle Scout, received the PVSA Gold Award three times, and was recognised in Michigan with the Youth Governor Award for excellent service. Anushka continues to be dedicated to solving issues related to healthcare and education disparities in her local community. She is currently working on a project to create therapeutic art boxes for pediatric patients at local hospitals. Anushka loves to travel and read and will continue to compete on a collegiate equestrian team!
Meet our Youth Council Members
As of August 2024, we have welcomed 75+ Youth Council members from 19 U.S. states and 9 countries around the globe! These youth, ages 13-23, are dedicated to expanding our efforts in their local areas. Interested in joining? Click the button below to access our application!
