Students Welcome New and Returning Council Members from Five Jefferson County High Schools for Yearlong Leadership Program
WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation recently named its 2024-2025 Youth Philanthropy Council class, welcoming eight new and 10 returning students to the leadership program.
The Youth Philanthropy Council is an advisory committee of the Northern New York Community Foundation. Chartered in 2010, the program promotes positive youth development and engages young people in meaningful activities that build their skills while deepening their understanding of community needs and educating them about community philanthropy and its impact on Northern New York. Council members grow to become informed critical thinkers and philanthropic leaders as they engage in lessons that may never be taught in a traditional classroom.
“This program is an incredibly valuable and powerful tool to help equip students with leadership skills that will serve them and our communities well, now and in the future,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “We feel a deep responsibility to grow this program and welcome the community’s help to maximize the impact and reach of this work by becoming involved in supporting it in any way possible.”
This year’s Council includes 18 representatives from General Brown, Immaculate Heart Central, Lyme, South Jefferson, and Watertown High School. Council members are in their sophomore, junior, or senior class. They are:
- Kiera Covey, General Brown Junior/Senior High junior, first-year member
- Hannah Eldridge, Watertown High senior, second-year member
- Rosamond Hunt, Lyme Central senior, second-year member
- Lillian Jareo, Watertown High senior, first-year member
- Mia Kelly, Watertown High senior, third-year member
- Vincent Knapp, Watertown High senior, second-year member
- Colden Marks, General Brown Junior/Senior High senior, second-year member
- Mia Mouaikel, South Jefferson Central, senior, first-year member
- Bennett Pistner, Watertown High senior, second-year member
- William Steward, South Jefferson Central, junior, first-year member
- Anastaja Smith, Watertown High senior, second-year member
- Ella Smith, Watertown High senior, third-year member
- Finley Swartz, Watertown High senior, second-year member
- Julia Tontarski, Immaculate Heart Central, sophomore, first-year member
- Trey Urf, Watertown High sophomore, first-year member
- Sienna Virga, Watertown High senior, second-year member
- April Wang, Watertown High junior, first-year member
- Alexandria Zajac, Immaculate Heart Central, sophomore, first-year member
During its last meeting of the school year in June, students elected members to the Council’s Executive Committee. Watertown High School senior Hannah Eldridge will serve as the Council Chair; Watertown High School senior Ella Smith will serve as Vice Chair; and Watertown High senior Sienna Virga was elected to serve as Secretary.
“I am very pleased and honored to serve as this year’s Youth Philanthropy Council Chair. Seeing YPC’s work collide with my personal life through community collaboration has opened my eyes,” said Hannah Eldridge, Watertown High senior. “I have found a deep passion for what we do on the Council and cannot wait to strengthen my skills in leadership while continuing to help the community this year.”
Executive Committee members work alongside program advisors to set meaningful agendas and program goals while facilitating grantmaking efforts that include managing $20,000 in competitive grant funding available to tri-county nonprofits and $5,000 in mission-based grant awards.
“I am honored to be selected to serve as Youth Philanthropy Council Vice Chair this year. Since day one of joining the Council, I have wanted a leadership position on the Executive Committee. It is something I have strived for throughout my past two years on the Council,” said Ella Smith, Watertown High senior. “I look forward to expanding my horizons as a leader and making impactful decisions to help further grow our community while fostering the values of the Northern New York Community Foundation.”
“I am deeply honored to be appointed as secretary of the Council,” said Sienna Virga, Watertown High senior. I look forward to working collaboratively with everyone, navigating challenges, and making meaningful contributions to the community.”
Each of the three students now serving in leadership roles are in their second pr third year of service on the Council.
The Council also named committee chairs. Anastaja Smith, Watertown High senior, will chair the Communications Committee; Bennett Pistner, Watertown High senior, will chair the Service Committee; and Colden Marks, General Brown Junior/Senior High senior, will chair the Grants Committee.
Since its inception in 2010, the Youth Philanthropy Council has awarded 145 grants totaling $255,070 in support to nonprofit organizations that serve residents of Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
In the past 14 years, nearly 160 students representing eight Northern New York high schools have been appointed to serve on the Youth Philanthropy Council.
The Youth Philanthropy Council and its grant program are made possible by gifts from donors who make contributions to the Friends of the Foundation Annual Community Betterment Fund and generous support from Watertown Savings Bank, RBC Wealth Management Watertown, the Renzi Family Charitable Foundation, the Mart Liinve Family Charitable Fund, and the Timerman Family Fund.
A team of staff and volunteer advisors mentor students through the yearlong program. Advisors are Emily Sprague, senior advisor, and Northern New York Community Foundation Board Vice Chair; Kraig Everard, Community Foundation director of stewardship and programs; and Leslie Renzi, volunteer advisor.
About the Northern New York Community Foundation
Since 1929, the Northern New York Community Foundation has invested in improving and enriching the quality of life for all in communities across Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
Through partnerships with businesses and organizations, charitable foundations, and generous families and individual donors, the Community Foundation awards grants and scholarships from an endowment and collection of funds that benefit the region. Its commitment to donors helps individuals achieve their charitable objectives now and for generations to come by preserving and honoring legacies of community philanthropy while inspiring others.
The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.
