Grand Rapids, Michigan. July 2, 2010 – Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Youth Grant Committee (YGC) is hosting an Open House Tuesday, August 3, 6:30-8:00 pm, at Grand Rapids Community Foundation, 185 Oakes SW. Current youth grant committee members will be on hand to welcome prospective members, discuss the YCG and answer any questions. Membership applications will be available.

Students interested in applying should be incoming freshman, sophomores, or juniors attending any Grand Rapids-area high school, and available to attend meetings on the second Tuesday of each month in the evening. (Transportation help is available). The Community Foundation is particularly interested in recruiting additional students who will be attending Union, Central, Creston, or Ottawa Hills High Schools in Grand Rapids.

The YGC meets one evening a month during the school year to identify issues that are important to teens, to learn about programs in the community that deal with those issues, and to make funding recommendations for about $50,000 in grants to those programs that committee members feel will most benefit youth. Volunteerism and youth leadership are also important program components.

“There are many benefits of being on the Committee,” says Cris Kooyer, YGC advisor and program officer at the Community Foundation. “Students meet people from other schools, gain leadership and decision-making skills, and learn about youth needs in your community, all while earning community service hours and enhancing your resume for college. It’s also fun and involves lots of pizza.”

About the Youth Grant Committee:
The Youth Grant Committee provides funding for programs that address youth needs while teaching youth about leadership, philanthropy and responsibility.  It is a standing committee of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation and in 15 years it has awarded over $850,000 to programs that benefit youth.