Students Welcome New and Returning Council Members from Six Jefferson County High Schools for Yearlong Leadership Program
WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation recently named its 2025-2026 Youth Philanthropy Council class, welcoming 12 new and five returning students to the leadership program.
The Youth Philanthropy Council is a Community Foundation advisory committee that was chartered in 2010 to promote positive youth development and engage young people in meaningful activities that build their skills. Throughout the yearlong program, students deepen their understanding of community needs while learning about community philanthropy and its impact across 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.
“When Council members graduate, they frequently say the Council is one of the most transformational experiences of their high school career. Above all, it is a powerful, multi-dimensional leadership program that instills lifelong lessons in civic responsibility and engagement,” said Rande S. Richardson, Community Foundation executive director. “Our donors are making valuable investments in our youth and helping ensure that our community’s future is in good hands.”
This year’s Council includes 17 representatives from Carthage, General Brown, Immaculate Heart Central, Lyme, South Jefferson, and Watertown High School. Council members are in their junior, or senior class.
They are:
- Valerie Akins, Carthage Central, junior, first-year member
- Caitlin Daugherty, Watertown High, junior, first-year member
- Gaige Doroha, Watertown High, junior, first-year member
- Hudson Guldenpfennig, Watertown High, junior, first-year member
- Maxwell Hunt, Lyme Central, junior, first-year member
- Nola Johnson, Watertown High, junior, first-year member
- Oliver King, South Jefferson Central, junior, first-year member
- Isabel Mendez, General Brown Central, junior, first-year member
- Annabelle Renzi, South Jefferson Central, junior, first-year member
- William Steward, South Jefferson Central, senior, second-year member
- Lucy Swartz, Watertown High, junior, first-year member
- Julia Tontarski, Immaculate Heart Central, junior, second-year member
- Lydia Tremont, South Jefferson Central, junior, first-year member
- Trey Urf, Watertown High, junior, second-year member
- April Wang, Watertown High, senior, second-year member
- Frances Weir, Watertown High, junior, first-year member
- Alexandria Zajac, Immaculate Heart Central, junior, second-year member
Students elected members to this year’s Council Executive Committee during the last meeting of the school year in June. Watertown High School senior April Wang will serve as the Council Chair; Watertown High School junior Trey Urf will serve as Vice Chair; and Immaculate Heart Central junior Julia Tontarski was elected to serve as Council Secretary.
“I am very honored to be selected to serve as this year’s Youth Philanthropy Council Chair. I am pleased to collaborate with my fellow Council members and advisors to continue to make a meaningful, lasting impact,” said April Wang, Watertown High senior. “My experience on the Council last year has deepened my understanding of our Northern New York community and its needs, and I am excited to lead by sharing that insight.”
Executive Committee members work alongside program advisors to set meaningful agendas and program goals while facilitating grantmaking efforts that include managing $25,000 in competitive grant funding available to tri-county nonprofits and $5,000 in mission-based grant awards.
“I am incredibly honored to have been entrusted the role of Vice Chair of the Youth Philanthropy Council. Hearing the passionate members of our community has opened a whole new world for me,” said Trey Urf, Watertown High junior. “I intend to proceed with a level of professionalism and communication that has been present in past years and even build upon it.”
“I’m extremely honored to serve as Secretary of the Youth Philanthropy Council this year. I am eager to witness the immense growth of every Council member from the perspective of a mentor,” said Julia Tontarski, Immaculate Heart Central junior. “I anticipate a great year with new experiences and challenges that will help us learn to navigate making the best decisions for our community.”
Each of the three students now serving in leadership roles are in their second year of Council service.
The Council also named committee chairs. Julia Tontarski will chair the Communications Committee; William Steward will chair the Grants Committee; and Alexandra Zajac will chair the Service Committee.
Since its inception in 2010, the Youth Philanthropy Council has awarded 155 grants totaling $285,070 in support to nonprofit organizations that serve residents of Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
In the past 15 years, nearly 170 students representing nine 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 Community Betterment Annual Fund and generous support from Watertown Savings Bank, RBC Wealth Management Watertown, the Renzi Family Charitable Foundation, the Mart Liinve 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; Leslie Renzi, volunteer advisor; and Emily Pfeil, Community Foundation philanthropy associate.
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.
