The Guilford High School Interact Club Youth Advisory Group (YAG), an initiative of the Guilford Foundation to promote youth philanthropy, recently awarded four grants totaling $4,300 to local organizations:

• $800 to the Guilford Free Library to purchase a core teen graphic novel collection and two children’s reference books series on countries of the world.
• $1,000 to Guilford Parks & Recreation to support the Town’s annual 4^th of July fireworks display.
• $1,000 to Guilford Social Services for the Back to School Program, which provides children from low-income families entering grades K-12 the opportunity to start the school year with new shores, backpacks, lunch boxes and new school supplies.
• $1,500 to Women & Family Life Center to support a new program called “Teen Speak,” which will be a series of events designed to create community awareness about three interrelated topics: media and girls self-image, bullying, and teen dating violence.

YAG is an initiative of the Guilford Foundation whose intent is to foster philanthropy among high school students. Members of YAG raise funds throughout the year through events such as popcorn sales, coupon books, and direct appeal, and then the group solicits grant applications for projects from organizations that serve Guilford residents. The YAG members review the grant applications and select those projects that meet their rigorous funding standards and present their recommendations to the Guilford Foundation Board of Directors for ratification. The Guilford Foundation matches the funds raised through YAG to provide one half of the grant award for the grants.

The initiative, started in 2010, has been a major success in accomplishing its two missions: 1) to engage Guilford’s youth in the world of philanthropy, including fund raising, assessments of local needs, and grant writing; and 2) increasing the support provided to local organizations through new sources. Any Guilford High School student interested in participating in YAG must be a member of the GHS Interact Club and should contact the Laura Samperi in the GHS Guidance Office, Allen Jacob ([email protected]) of Guilford Rotary Club, or Liza Petra ([email protected]) at the Guilford Foundation.