From Backpacks to Billionaires: How Sanders Hand is Empowering Youth and Changing Lives

Jan 172 min read

Updated: Jan 22

Sanders Hand began in 2017 as a simple idea in a college dorm room: handing out backpacks to kids in need. Over time, that vision grew. After college, the Sebastian Sanders worked in corporate leadership roles at Pepsi and Frito Lay, gaining skills in strategy, discipline, and leadership, but the passion to create a lasting impact remained. In 2021, Sanders Hand launched the Young Billionaires Club (YBC), a program teaching financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership to youth. By 2023, the founder left corporate life to focus fully on the nonprofit, opening the YBC Thrift Store, which combines retail, financial education, and job training. What started with backpacks is now a movement empowering communities and changing lives.

About Sebastian

By age 27, Sebastian achieved major milestones in nonprofits and entrepreneurship, speaking to 20,000+ students globally and inspiring youth to lead. Founded in 2017, Sanders Hand has impacted over 5,000 students through initiatives like the Young Billionaires Club (YBC) and YBC Thrift Store, merging financial education with job training. Expanding to Ghana, the nonprofit bridges tech gaps for youth.

About The Non-Profit

Sanders Hand is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering at-risk youth aged 12-25, helping them achieve financial independence and build brighter futures. Through its flagship program, the Young Billionaires Club (YBC), Sanders Hand offers financial education, entrepreneurship training, and vital resources to equip young people with the skills they need for success.

As a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) recognized by the Texas Education Agency, YBC partners with schools and districts, including Houston ISD, Northside ISD, Fort Bend ISD, and the Harris County Department of Education, to provide impactful programs.

The YBC Thrift Store, located at 12579 Richmond Ave, Suite 600, Houston, TX, serves as an innovative educational hub. Customers access digital financial literacy lessons while YBC students gain hands-on job training in retail operations and business management.

Sanders Hand also addresses income inequality and economic immobility through Universal Basic Income (UBI) initiatives, combining immediate support with long-term educational tools to foster leadership and drive systemic change.

Looking ahead, Sanders Hand plans to launch the YBC Online Campus, expanding access to financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs globally. Additionally, they are franchising the YBC Thrift Store model, aiming to replicate its success in multiple locations and reach even more communities.

Advice From Sebastian

“Don’t look for change, be the change. The world is full of challenges and obstacles, but rather than waiting for someone else to fix things, take ownership and become the solution.

Understand that the journey of entrepreneurship is long and hard, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Have faith in the process, stay consistent, and keep pushing forward, even when things seem tough. Your persistence will pave the way to greatness.”