Posted on May 15, 2006

Foundation Youths Award $51,992 in Grants

The members of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Youth Grant Committee (YGC) will award their annual grants and present checks to area nonprofits on Tuesday, May 16 at 7 p.m. at the BOB in downtown Grand Rapids. The committee, comprised of 32 high school students from Kent Couny’s public, private and homeschools reviews grant applications and makes decisions on funding programs that benefit young people. Grants this year total $51,992 and were shared among 14 organizations.

  • St. John's Home, Discovery Program. To support two phases of a complete drug abuse treatment program for teens. $7,000.
  • Wedgwood Christian Services, Lighthouse Academy. To provide an alternative education opportunity to students who have dropped out, been suspended or expelled from public/private schools in Kent County. $7,000.
  • Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities Inc., Summer Arts Day Camp. To sponsor a summer arts camp for youth in the Grandville Avenue Neighborhood, which will provide them with an opportunity to celebrate their culture, enrich their lives, develop skills, build relationships and build community. $5,000.
  • Planned Parenthood Centers of West Michigan, Healthy Relationships. To reduce unintended pregnancy and transmission/acquisition of sexually transmitted infections among high risk adolescents by providing preventative care. $5,000.
  • YWCA, YWCA Girls Inc. Program. To increase the number of girls involved in Girls Inc. programs, reduce girls' vulnerability to violence through education and giving them the skills they need to be secure, safe, and successful. $5,000.
  • Girl Scouts of Michigan Trails, Grand Rapids Community Troop. To develop an inner-city Troop consisting of up to 70 girls that will help them build healthy self-esteem. $4,865
  • Grand Rapids Track Club, Summer Youth Track & Field Program. To provide scholarships for under-privileged youth and to cover expenses of the after school program which is offered to area youth centers free of charge. $4,000.
  • American Red Cross of West Central Michigan, Preparedness and Response Teams (PART). To train older teens in disaster preparedness and partner them with mentors for participation in disaster response and preparedness efforts. $3,852.
  • Gerald R. Ford Council Boy Scouts, Roving Scout Camp. To provide a summer Scouting program at Grand Rapids parks and schools for up to 400 at-risk youth. $2,500.
  • United Methodist Community House, Horse Camp Experience. To provide a horsemanship skills camp experience to approximately 50 youth during the summer. $2,500.
  • Grand Rapids Wheelchair Sports Foundation, Junior Wheelchair Tennis Program. To expand the program through the purchase tennis equipment and additional coaching time. $2,000.
  • Kent Education Center - Beltline High School, Empowering Teens Against Violence. To teach teens learn non-violent ways of dealing with real life situations through anger management presentations and facilitated discussion. $1,500.
  • Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth. To refurbish and replace equipment in the activity centers at the Seidman and Steil Youth Centers. $1,275.
  • CA Frost Environmental Science Academy. To purchase materials and tools for a Science Tech elective class. $500.

The Youth Grant Committee was established in 1994 as part of a statewide grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.