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Kent YPB Presents $10,000 in Grants to Nonprofits

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DOVER, Del. — The Kent County Youth Philanthropy Board (YPB) of the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) awarded $10,000 to three Kent County nonprofit organizations at a grants ceremony on April 15 at the Duncan Center in Dover.

Christy Pennington of Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth accepts a Youth Philanthropy Board grant from Smyrna High School seniors Serac McClenton (center) and Andrew Morrison.
Christy Pennington of Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth accepts a Youth Philanthropy Board grant from Smyrna High School senior Serac McClenton (center) and Caesar Rodney junior Andrew Stant.

The DCF’s Kent County YPB is composed of 16 students from seven Kent County public, independent and diocesan high schools. Since September, YPB members have been studying youth issues in their neighborhoods and schools, learning about community service and grantmaking, and visiting nonprofit organizations.

This year’s Kent County YPB chose to focus on organizations that provide support and counseling to victims of abuse and/or rape/sexual assault living in Kent County. The students selected the following grantees:

Delaware Guidance Services for Children & Youth – $5,000 to provide an additional 200 individual treatment sessions for teen survivors with mental health issues.

Survivors of Abuse in Recovery – $3,000 to provide an extra 22 sessions for Kent teens and their families victimized by sexual assault/abuse.

People’s Place II, Inc. – $2,000 to provide transportation assistance for 20 survivors in the form of gas gift cards, vehicle repairs, tires, insurance and bus passes to allow these victims to maintain their independence.

The Delaware Community Foundation sponsors a Youth Philanthropy Board in each Delaware county to encourage high school students to become more involved in philanthropy. Each board of high school students is allotted a pool of money to give as charitable grants. The students learn about philanthropy and effective grantmaking, study youth issues in their neighborhoods and schools, solicit grant proposals, conduct site visits, and award grants to those they determine to be most deserving.

Retired Delaware educator Phyllis Wynn established the Youth Philanthropy Fund in 1999 because she wanted to encourage youth to become more involved in philanthropic ventures. Students who serve on the YPB are nominated by their principal or guidance counselor.

“The Youth Philanthropy Board program does more than give kids the chance to make a difference,” said Bill Allan, DCF senior vice president for Southern Delaware. “It gets them out into the community to experience firsthand the impact their work has on people’s lives.”

2014-15 KENT COUNTY YOUTH PHILANTHROPY BOARD

First row, left to right:

2014-15 Kent County Youth Philanthropy Board
2014-15 Kent County Youth Philanthropy Board

Serac McClenton, Senior, Smyrna High School
Andrew Morrison, Senior, Smyrna High School
Stephanie Lynn, Junior, Lake Forest High School
Liam O’Connor, Junior, Caesar Rodney High School
Andrew Stant, Junior, Caesar Rodney High School
Gabrielle Bennetti, Senior, Dover High School
Maura Gast, Junior, Dover High School
Jordan Resh, Junior, Dover High School

Back row, left to right:
Colleen O’Brien, Senior, Polytech High School
Maria McGloin, Senior, St. Thomas More Academy
Kelsey Huffman, Senior, St. Thomas More Academy
Lauren Fleming, Senior, Lake Forest High School
Haley Lloyd, Senior, Smyrna High School
Marius Sander, Senior, St. Thomas More Academy
Jon Maurer, Senior, Caesar Rodney High School
Cody Bartholomew, Senior, St. Thomas More Academy