Kids donate to local youth groups

Thursday, February 26, 2009
Grace Aker serves Nicolas Fermin and Humberto Barreto at Almost Home Tuesday evening. Aker is part of the Putnam County Youth Philanthropy committee. They were raising money for their endowment, which is used to give grants to youth groups.

Knowing how to work the crowd was helpful for the eight student waiters and waitresses working at Almost Home Tuesday night. All are committee members of the Putnam County Youth Philanthropy group and they were raising money for their charitable fund.

From 5 to 9 p.m., this group waited tables, donating all their tips to raise money to give grants to other students in the community.

Waiting tables at Almost Home has become an annual fund-raising event and this is the third year for committee members to offer their services to hungry customers.

Logan Grzesiek, Grace Aker, Tabitha Arnold, Josh Hirt, Amber Jones, Jenna Lewis, Hillary Schroeder and Kaleigh Sparks are part of an elite pack of students nominated by their schools to serve as guardians and distributors of $4,000 in grant money.

Two students from each of the county schools are nominated to this committee by their schools.

"There is one junior and one senior from each school. The idea is for the senior to help and teach the junior. Then the next year the junior moves up to a senior and a new junior comes on board," said Nelda Shoemaker, Executive Assistant at PCF.

The group gives grants of up to $500 per group. They have supported projects that included Boy Scouts planting trees, the building of fire grills in the park, donating books to a local grade schools and giving flowers to nursing homes.

"We've already given out over five grants this year, mostly to scout organizations," said Lewis.

In the past they have given funds to build a handicap ramp at Hope Haven and donated prizes for a local fitness walk and have sponsored many other projects with their grant money.

"They are trying to reach a level of sustainability for their fund with the Foundation so the money never erodes," said Shoemaker.

The committee this year received $4,000 from the Foundation. This amount, like many other grants, has been reduced due to the economy. In the past they received $5,000.

The Putnam County Community Foundation accepts requests for groups of Putnam County youth conducting charitable work, including school and church groups, scouting organizations, 4-H clubs and any other youth group.

Grants can range in size from $50 to $500. Grant applications are due to the Community Foundation office by Tuesday, April 1, and can be downloaded from www.pcfoundation.org

To date, over $5 million in grants and scholarships have been awarded through the Community Foundation to enrich the quality of life and strengthen community for this and future generations.

Anyone interested in more information about the Youth Philanthropy committee or its grants can contact the Putnam County Foundation at 653-4978 or email info@pcfoundation.org

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