John “Rico” Riccardi serves as a development assistant at Young America’s Foundation’s national headquarters.
Rico’s involvement with YAF began as a student at Gettysburg College. His first activism event was the 9/11: Never Forget Project, which inspired him to take a more direct role in his YAF chapter.
As chairman, he organized several projects, including his favorite, the Pro-Life timeline. He also had the honor of hosting YAF campus lectures featuring Seth Dillon, Alex Epstein, Dr. Ryan T. Anderson, and Trent Horn. Rico is proud of the significant impact and the attention the events garnered. He also values the composure of the Gettysburg YAF members in facing opposition, including protests organized by the college’s administration.Rico graduated from Gettysburg College in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. He is originally from Maine, but he and his family moved to North Carolina in 2022.
In his free time, he enjoys fishing, baseball, and reading, especially books about the Catholic Faith. Rico served as a 2023 William and Berniece Grewcock Intern Scholar at YAF’s national headquarters. He is excited to return to YAF and looks forward to meeting the supporters who play a crucial role in advancing the Conservative movement.