- On day two of the installation of the MOREart! mosaic project, volunteers from the community attach a flower to the wall.

Ashley McNeil (center) and Joy Cunningham (right) work on the MOREart! mosaic wall at Roxbury Farm and Garden Center in Fredericksburg. The project was funded partially through Youth in Philanthropy. On day two of the installation of the MOREart! mosaic project, volunteers from the community attach a flower to the wall.

A group of local high school students participated in a program called Youth in Philanthropy this year, and awarded more than $30,000 in grants to groups in the Fredericksburg community

Date published: 8/19/2007

by elizabeth krietsch

Nabeel Gillani is a 16-year-old Spotsylvania County teen who has come to the realization over the past few years that he has the power to make a difference in the world through philanthropy and volunteer work.

Gillani and 30 other teenagers from around the region belong to a group called Youth in Philanthropy, which awards grants to youth-led and youth-driven programs in the area.

Youth in Philanthropy is sponsored by the Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region, and has awarded more than $30,000 in grants since it started in 2005.

"It's all about being able to show them what the nonprofit does for our community," said Teri McNally, executive director of the Community Foundation. "Now they understand the circle of nonprofits it takes to make a community run."

The group awards grants during two cycles each year, one running from September to December and the other extending from January through May. They meet 10 to 12 times each grant-making cycle.

The youth board typically has $5,000 to work with during each cycle, but a grant from MediCorp gave them $10,000 to work with last spring.

The students quickly learn that grant-giving is no simple process. They review grant applications and conduct interviews before breaking into teams to weigh the pros and cons of each applicant. They then compare their budget with the needs of each applicant to figure out how much to give each group.

The final step involves seeking final approval for their grant-making decisions by presenting their choices to the Community Foundation board.

While that board has final say, McNally likes to give as much responsibility to the youths as possible so they experience the true grant-awarding process.

"You want to give ownership to the kids," she said. "You want to be able to say, 'You are the decision-maker here.'"

Gillani said the youth group's members have learned a lot over the past few years and significantly improved their criteria for awarding grants.

"The group has definitely grown in numbers, but also in maturity and experience," he said.

Recent grant recipients include the MOREart! Downtown Community Mosaic Mural Project, and the Thurman Brisben Center's Youth Enrichment Program, which was designed to create a space for children who live in the shelter to dance, learn art and socialize.

Each of these grants was for $1,000, but the grants are often more or less depending on what the youth board deems necessary.

"The kids always disagree, but then they always compromise," McNally said.

She thinks the program is important for teaching the kids to be more aware of what is going on in the world.

"Not only do they learn about the grant-making process, they learn about what's happening in our community as far as who is in need," she said. "They learn about how to help other people."

There are two grant cycles for Youth in Philanthropy; the first one starts next month, and another in January. The application deadline for the next grant cycle is Sept. 21. The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region's Executive Director Teri McNally said projects must be youth-led and -implemented. McNally said past grant winners have served the elderly, mentored younger students and led a teen hospice program, among other activities. Visit cfrrr.org and click on "Youth in Philanthropy" for an application or call 540/ 373-9292 for more information. --Corey Byers

Date published: 8/19/2007

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