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Youth Philanthropy Fund and Youth Philanthropy
Boards
The Delaware Community Foundation's Youth Philanthropy
Boards, one in each of Delaware's three counties, are composed of
students from public, independent and diocesan high schools
throughout the state. Each year these young board members study
youth issues in their neighborhoods and schools and learn about
community service and grantmaking.
In
1999, retired Delaware educator Phyllis Wynn established the
Youth Philanthropy Fund because she wanted to encourage New
Castle County youth to become more involved in philanthropic
ventures. In the mid-2000s, the Delaware Community Foundation took
over the administration of the fund and established additional
boards in Kent and Sussex Counties. Students are selected to serve
one- or two-year terms by their principal or guidance counselor.
The Youth
Philanthropy Boards or YPBs for each county function as
though they were a nonprofit organization's board of directors.
YPB members do research about their community's needs and really
learn about the nonprofit organizations throughout the First State.
As active board members, they plan their meetings, develop their
grantmaking focus and process and conduct site visits with the
nonprofits seeking their grants. They learn the value of teamwork
and develop leadership skills.
Last year our three YPBs distributed $35,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations
serving young people.
For 2009, the
YPB for Kent
County
awarded three
grants totaling $10,000 to programs that benefit youth in Kent
County. YPB for Kent County supported organizations
that provide interactive mentoring and/or tutoring programs for
students in grades 5 through 8 that demonstrate a positive effect.
Additional consideration was given to programs that focus on
drug and alcohol prevention. For information about YPB for Kent
County's grants,
click here.
The YPB for New Castle County awarded
seven grants totaling $15,000 to programs that benefit youth in
New Castle County. YPB for New Castle County awarded grants
to programs that support children in middle school through
high school that have engaged or are engaging in risky or negative
behaviors such as becoming pregnant, abusing drugs or alcohol or dropping out
of high school. For information about YPB for New Castle County's
grants,
click here.
In
Sussex County, the YPB
awarded five grants totaling $10,000 to programs that benefit youth in
Delaware's southernmost county. YPB for Sussex County
supported
programs from schools, clubs and civic or community organizations
that will provide mentoring to students, grades 9 through 12. The
programs focus on promoting a productive lifestyle by
encouraging students to stay in school and equipping them for
college or their future in the work force. Extra consideration was given to programs that provide money management guidance,
budgeting and savings, and/or the prevention of substance abuse. For
information about YPB for Sussex County's grants,
click here.
Grants are awarded for each of the three
YPBs each spring. For more information about the Foundation's
New Castle County Youth Philanthropy Board, please contact
Beth Bouchelle, Director of Grants by calling
302.504.5239 or email
bbouchelle@delcf.org. To learn about the Kent and Sussex
County Youth Philanthropy Boards, please contact Hugh Leahy,
Senior Vice President for Southern Delaware by calling 302.856.4393
or email
hleahy@delcf.org.
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