\u00a0\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 <\/span><\/b>Each year, the Council reviews requests from tri-county nonprofit organizations to fund projects or initiatives that positively impact the quality of life in Jefferson, Lewis, or St. Lawrence counties. In addition to researching and recommending grants, Council members visit several nonprofit organizations and learn about community investment and leadership, nonprofit sustainability, and grantee stewardship.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 <\/span><\/b>The Council received 25 funding proposals during the 2023-2024 program year with seven agencies invited to present requests to the full Council. Members delivered grant recommendations to the Community Foundation Board of Directors during its recent quarterly meeting and the Board unanimously approved the full slate of grants.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 <\/span><\/b>\u201cThe students involved in this program consistently demonstrate an awareness of the importance of supporting our region broadly as it relates to quality of life, which is the community foundation model. They represent their schools, their families, and their community extremely well in their stewardship of donor resources,\u201d said Rande S. Richardson<\/b>, Community Foundation executive director. \u201cThe leadership skills they are developing through this experience will remain with them as they seek ways to make a difference throughout their lifetimes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 <\/span><\/b>Council Chair Olivia Urf<\/b>, a second-year member and 2024 Watertown High School graduate, said the Council \u201chad many deserving applications this year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 <\/span><\/b>\u201cThrough an intricate and careful selection process, the Council assessed which organizations would benefit our community most effectively with funding from the Youth Philanthropy Council,\u201d Ms. Urf said. \u201cI am proud of the work this Council has done to maximize its impact upon our community.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 <\/span><\/b>The following Youth Philanthropy Council grants were approved:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Council Grants Committee Chair Ella Smith<\/b>, a second-year member and rising Watertown High School senior, said she and her peers \u201cselected six organizations with the most confidence that each project will have a lasting impact and meet the needs in the communities they serve.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>\u201cThis part of the grantmaking process contributes a great amount of knowledge from all members on the Council about the variety of needs in our community,\u201d Ms. Smith said. \u201cOur Council worked together to make impactful decisions with our funding and feel fulfilled with the grants selected this year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The Youth Philanthropy Council was chartered in 2010 to promote positive youth development and engage young people in meaningful activities that build their skills while educating them about community philanthropy and its impact on Northern New York. Council members grow to become problem solvers as they engage in lessons that may never be taught in a classroom.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>A team of volunteers and Community Foundation staff manage the program, including Senior Advisor Emily Sprague<\/b>, a retired Watertown City School District teacher who also serves as Vice Chair of the Community Foundation Board of Directors. Mrs. Sprague has volunteered to lead the program since its inception. Advisor Leslie Renzi<\/b> is a volunteer who has helped mentor Council students for the past four years. Mrs. Renzi\u2019s son, Jude, is a Council alumnus. Kraig Everard<\/b>, Community Foundation Director of Stewardship and Programs, serves as the staff advisor for the program. Mr. Everard joined the Foundation team in 2020.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The Council\u2019s grant program is made possible through support from gifts made to the Friends of the Foundation Annual Community Betterment Fund<\/b> and Watertown Savings Bank<\/b>, Renzi Family Charitable Foundation<\/b>, RBC Wealth Management<\/b>, the Mart Liinve Family Charitable Fund<\/b>.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>Since its inception, the Community Foundation\u2019s Youth Philanthropy Council has awarded 145 grants totaling $255,070 in support to nonprofit organizations that serve tri-county residents, and nearly 160 students from eight different North Country high schools have served as Council members.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>This year\u2019s Council includes 17 representatives from General Brown High School<\/b>, Lyme High School<\/b>, South Jefferson High School<\/b>, and Watertown High School<\/b>. Each Council member is in his or her <\/span>sophomore, junior, or senior class. Representatives from each school district are: General Brown High School:<\/b> McKenna Lee<\/b>, senior; Olivia Wisner<\/b>, senior and 2023-24 Council Vice Chair; and Colden Marks<\/b>, junior. Lyme High School:<\/b> Rosamond Hunt<\/b>, junior. South Jefferson High School:<\/b> Jack Mangan<\/b>, senior; Watertown High School:<\/b> Justin Draught<\/b>, junior; Hannah Eldridge<\/b>, junior; Mia Kelly<\/b>, junior and <\/span>Communications Committee Chair; Vincent Knapp<\/b>, junior; Harper Lane<\/b>, junior; Bennett Pistner<\/b>, junior; Anastaja Smith<\/b>, junior; Ella Smith<\/b>, junior and Grants Committee Chair; Finley Swartz<\/b>, junior; Olivia Urf<\/b>, senior and 2023-24 Council Chair; Sienna Virga<\/b>, junior; and Maya Voss<\/b>, senior and 2023-24 Council Secretary.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The Council reconvenes at the start of the new school year in September. It will accept 2024-2025 funding proposals in the fall. Information about how nonprofits may apply will be announced at that time.<\/p>\n About the Northern New York Community Foundation<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>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.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>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.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>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.<\/span><\/p>\n Students Field 25 Requests for Funding Support from Diverse Slate of Tri-County Nonprofits \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 WATERTOWN \u2014 Six North Country nonprofit organizations will share $20,000 in grant support to support a wide range of community programs and projects, thanks to the Youth Philanthropy Council of the Northern New York Community Foundation. \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 Each year, …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["type-post","category-recent-news","entry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6635"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6635\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\\\"\\\"](\\\"https:\/\/nnycf.org\/new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/YPC_Class_23_24_060524-1024x684.jpg\\\")
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