Twenty Kent County high school seniors and juniors will experience the joys and challenges of being philanthropists this year through the Delaware Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Board (YPB). 

Back Row – Stephanie Lynn, Charlie Stephan, Therese Sadusky, Cassidy Bennetti, Liam O’Connor, Maura Gast, Brielle Hermstedt, Jason Kalaygian, Justin Nash
Middle Row – Kaitlyn Pokorny, Meghan Yerkes, Joanna Petrosky, Katie Richardson, Jordan Resh
Front Row – Christie Little, Otis Winding, Dyshere Logan, Jeff Kidner, Jack Kidner
Not pictured – Andrew Stant

Like its counterparts in New Castle and Sussex County, the Kent County YPB includes students from public, private and parochial schools. The DCF gives the Kent County students $10,000 to award to local charities. The students work together to choose a focus area, solicit and review grant applications, conduct site visits, and decide how to distribute the money to have the greatest impact. 

Grant applications will be available at delcf.org/grants in November and due in January. 

“The DCF sponsors the Youth Philanthropy Boards every year to engage Delaware’s next generation of philanthropists and nonprofit leaders,” said Rebecca Elzey, DCF Senior Vice President for Central Delaware. “The students see the needs in their communities and work hard to find ways to prioritize and address those needs. It makes a tremendous impact on the students.” 

2015-16 Kent County YPB

Student                        Grade                             School

Cassidy Bennetti                           Junior            Dover High School

Maura Gast                                   Senior           Dover High School

Brielle Hermstedt                          Junior            Milford High School

Jason Kalaygian                           Senior           Milford High School

Jeff Kidner                                   Junior            Red Lion Christian Academy

Jack Kidner                                  Junior            Red Lion Christian Academy

Christie Little                                 Junior            Lake Forest High School

Dyshere Logan                             Junior            Caesar Rodney High School

Stephanie Lynn                             Senior           Lake Forest High School

Justin Nash                                  Junior            Smyrna High School

Liam O’Connor                              Senior           Caesar Rodney High School

Joanna Petrosky                           Senior           St. Thomas More Academy

Kaitlyn Pokorny                            Junior            Calvary Christian Academy

Jordan Resh                                 Senior           Dover High School

Katie Richardson                          Senior           Polytech High School

Therese Sadusky                          Junior            St. Thomas More Academy

Andrew Stant                                Senior           Caesar Rodney High School

Henry Stephan                              Junior            Polytech High School

Otis Winding                                 Junior            Calvary Christian Academy

Meghan Yearkes                           Junior            Smyrna High School

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