We walked Old Town Square, stood at the Astronomical Clock, and felt the weight of Wenceslas Square, where a nation once refused to be silent.
Václav Havel said it best:
Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.
Support the Arete Youth Academy through your donor-advised fund or by including us in your will or estate plan.
To recommend a grant through your DAF (e.g., Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard), direct it to:
Agora Productions, Inc.
EIN: 20-8516833
Please note “Arete Youth Academy” in the designation.
To make a planned gift, you can help ensure that future generations benefit from an education grounded in peace, dialogue, and global citizenship.
We’re happy to work with you and your advisor to make the process simple and meaningful.
Contact: AreteGiving@AgoraProductions.org
Many employers match donations made to Agora Productions, Inc.—the nonprofit home of Arete Youth Academy. It’s a simple way to amplify your impact and support transformative education for emerging global leaders. Just enter your company name in the popup window to the right and follow the steps to submit your match request.
If your company or institution is interested in supporting AYA in other ways, such as partnerships, grants, visibility opportunities, co-branded materials, or speaking engagements with our founders or advisors, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact us at AreteGiving@AgoraProductions.org to explore meaningful collaboration.
We welcome donations by check, bank transfer (ACH), wire, or appreciated securities.
To donate by check:
Please make checks payable to:
Agora Productions, Inc.
Memo: Arete Youth Academy (or “Bill Taylor Scholarship Fund” if applicable)
Mail to:
Arete Youth Academy
c/o Agora Productions, Inc.
P.O. Box 452688
Los Angeles, CA 90045
To donate by bank transfer (ACH):
For larger or recurring donations, ACH is a secure and cost-effective option.
Simply select “Bank” as your payment method on our donation page and follow the step-by-step process.
To donate by stock, wire, or securities transfer:
We gladly accept gifts of appreciated assets.
Please contact us directly for transfer instructions:
AreteGiving@AgoraProductions.org
Click here to visit our Arete Youth Academy Fundraising Page on Facebook.
Hit “Share” to share it with your friends on Facebook to multiply your donation and help us reach more supporters.
Bill Taylor was the visionary founder of the original Arete West program, which ran from 1979 to 2017. Over the course of 40 years, he personally led students on 20 transformative journeys across the globe, inspiring hundreds of young people to pursue wisdom, leadership, and compassionate service. His encouragement helped spark the creation of the Arete Youth Academy, which carries forward his mission to empower youth through education. This scholarship fund ensures his legacy continues to shape future generations.
To designate your gift:
1. Visit our donation page.
2. Enter your donation amount and choose the “Give in honor or in memory of someone” option.
3. In the “Honoree’s Name” field, type “Bill Taylor Scholarship Fund”
Gifts to the Bill Taylor Scholarship Fund will be used to provide tuition support for one or more participants in each cohort—extending Bill’s spirit of mentorship and service to future generations.
We’ll send a personalized message to your honoree or their family, letting them know how their influence continues to empower youth through Arete.
In Greece, students will walk in the footsteps of the world’s first philosophers—tracing the origins of inquiry, democracy, and the examined life. Standing in the Agora, where Socrates engaged young Athenians in fearless dialogue about virtue and truth, participants will reflect on how authentic conversation remains the heartbeat of human progress. Visits to the Parthenon, the Acropolis Museum, and the ruins of Aristotle’s Lyceum will anchor discussions on the birth of reason and the moral responsibilities of free thought. Key readings will include selections from Plato’s Apology and Republic, Pericles’ Funeral Oration, and Constantine Cavafy’s timeless poem Ithaka, urging travelers to cherish the inner journey as much as the destination. Students will also explore Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, reflecting on his vision of “eudaimonia”—a flourishing life achieved through virtue and self-mastery—and its relevance to modern global citizenship.