Students Learn First Hand About Philanthropy

High school students from Geauga County made some smart decisions in giving grants to nonprofit agencies this year, as the Youth Fund Distribution Committee (YFDC) awarded $20,000 to eight different youth-serving organizations. The YFDC, part of United Way Services of Geauga County, is made up of students from each high school in Geauga County who meet monthly to try to solve community problems through philanthropy.

One organization that received a grant from the YFDC was Friends of CASA for Kids of Geauga County, which provides funding for children who have been victims of abuse and neglect. Jonathan Slain, President of the Board of Friends of CASA for Kids, thought the students did a very thorough job determining if their organization got funding or not.

“I was very impressed with the knowledge and inquisitiveness of this group of students. They not only asked questions, but they asked tough questions and the right questions. It was refreshing to see what great stewards of the United Way’s funds they were. We were thrilled to learn that we received funding.”

Other organizations that received funding were: Huddle Connection, Chagrin Falls Park Community Center, Chardon Community Day Care, Littlest Heroes, Fieldstone Farms Therapeutic Riding Center, and WomenSafe.

The goals of the YFDC, which meets monthly from October through May, are to: provide youth with hands on experience in solving community problems, expand and enhance leadership skills, connect youth to experiences and people outside the confines of their own community, and prepare a new generation of Geauga leaders.

The YFDC is currently recruiting 10th and 11th graders for the 2012-13 school year. Students must attend school or live in Geauga County. Information and applications can be found online. Questions? Please contact Joann Randall, jrandall@uws.org or (440) 285-2261 ext. 225.

Geauga News
Author: Geauga News