Youth in Philanthropy Students Grant $10,000 to Local Nonprofits Greater Waltham ARC and the Key Program, Children’s Charter

High school students involved with Youth in Philanthropy (YIP), a program offered by the Foundation for MetroWest that provides middle and high school students with philanthropic opportunities, concluded their session by granting $5,000 to the Greater Waltham ARC and $5,000 to the Key Program at the Children’s Charter Trauma Clinic. Held May 30 at The Grange Hall in Sudbury, the presentation enabled the students to share their overall experience with parents, teachers, grant recipients and community members.

YIP is a unique extracurricular educational program designed for middle and high school students who are interested in learning more about running a nonprofit, how donations are used and the needs that exist in their own community. For the last 18 weeks, 14 students from 10 schools in grades 9-11 participated in the YIP program offered at the school. The students researched local nonprofits, reviewed their grant applications and had the opportunity to conduct site visits to five nonprofits before selecting the Greater Waltham ARC and the Key Program, Children’s Charter.

The Key Program at the Children’s Charter Trauma Clinic helps troubled youth and their families build positive life skills in order to pursue productive and rewarding lives. The program employs quality, culturally-sensitive care in the least restrictive environment possible in order to promote safety and meet individual treatment needs of youth and families. The organization is committed to providing quality supervision and training to staff members and creating life-long supporters of the human services field. The YIP grant will support the creation of a new program that will provide outpatient, group therapy for children and adolescents in MetroWest who are exhibiting sexually concerning behaviors.

“I was so impressed with the kids [from Youth in Philanthropy],” said Stephanie Howard, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist and Co-Director of the Domestic Violence Team at the Children’s Charter Division of the Key Program. “To talk about sexual abuse of kids is difficult for adults, let alone kids themselves. They handled it beautifully, were mature and asked really thoughtful and reflective questions.”

Founded in 1956, the Greater Waltham ARC utilizes a person-centered planning approach in order to serve children, adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. The organization provides programs, services and supports that foster independence, inclusion and self-advocacy, and is committed to influencing attitudes and perceptions through advocacy and legislation so that individuals can choose and achieve their life goals. The YIP grant will support the organization’s School to Work Transitions program, designed to transition students with developmental disabilities and learning challenges from high school to work and adult life.

In addition to the Sudbury YIP students from Acton, Ashland, Holliston, Hudson, Maynard, Sudbury, Wellesley, Weston and Westwood, student groups involved in YIP programs across the region are making a positive impact on the MetroWest community. Read more about the YIP program and their efforts here.