Washington County Youth Foundation Gears up for Another Year

The Washington County Youth Foundation is off to a great start for the 2008-2009 school year.  “We are up to 21 members this year,” commented Martin Chastain, President of the Youth Foundation.  “We have a lot of activities planned for this year.  I think it will be a great year.”

The Washington County Youth Foundation has three primary focus areas: Community Service, Asset Development/Peer Education and Grantmaking.  “Our community service calendar is packed this year,” stated Katie Hawkins, Vice President for the group.  “We have several activities planned and I think our group will enjoy the work.  It is really rewarding to help others and the community.”

The Youth Foundation is offering a grant cycle this fall for youth-directed community service projects.  Youth groups that perform community service projects for the benefit of Washington County and need a little financial help to make the project happen are recipients of these grants.  In the past, the Youth Foundation has awarded grants to East Washington Kids Club for Boxes of Love/Angels of Love, Salem High School Science Club for Stamp a Sewer/Save a Fish and Salem Middle School NJHS for Thanksgiving Baskets.

The community service activities of the Washington County Youth Foundation will have a wide variety this year.  For the third year, the Youth Foundation is planning to assist with the Christmas Assistance Program.  “I enjoy that the most,” explained Hawkins.  “I think we made a real difference last year and helped a lot of kids have a better Christmas.”  Other activities will include a clean-up day at the Community Learning Center, sending Boxes of Hope to underprivileged children in Angola, Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program, and serving at the Taste of Salem. 

The Youth Foundation will offer the Minis for Pennies project to the upper elementary students in all three schools.  “With the Minis for Pennies project, we try to teach the younger kids that they can make a difference.  We try to help them understand that even though they are young, they can have a positive impact on our community,” stated Chastain. 

The Washington County Youth Foundation consists of up to 21 sophomores, juniors and seniors from all three area high schools.  Applications for membership are accepted in the spring of each year.  For more information about the Youth Foundation you can contact Judy Johnson at the Washington County Community Foundation, 883-7334.  Her email is director@wccf.biz. 

Washington County Community Foundation is a nonprofit public charity established in 1993 to serve donors, award grants, and provide leadership to improve Washington County forever