Local Students Graduate from Youth in Philanthropy Program

February 7, 2018 (Natick, MA) — The Foundation for MetroWest’s Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) program, which provides middle and high school students with educational and philanthropic opportunities, has announced that 54 students have graduated from three YIP programs: Hopkinton Youth in Philanthropy, Natick Youth in Philanthropy, and Sudbury Youth in Philanthropy. Throughout the semester-long program, high school students decided to grant a total of $30,000 to six local organizations. Over 150 people were in attendance for the ceremony, as students, parents, and program alumni watched the grant presentations and graduation ceremony at Staples Headquarters in Framingham. These programs would not be possible without the support of the following community partners: Hopkinton CC Charitable Foundation and The Sudbury Foundation.

Attendees heard from an alumna of the program, Elizabeth Holmes, Director of Corporate Services at R.W. Holmes Realty. She challenged the students “to remain committed to giving back after you graduate from Youth in Philanthropy. Small acts of philanthropy add up to large impact. Just because you are young, doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference in your community.”

YIP is a unique extracurricular educational program designed for middle and high school students who are interested in learning about philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. Students learn leadership skills, review grant applications, conduct site visits, and eventually designate grant funding to organizations of their choosing. Each year, over 200 students participate in YIP, and grant amounts up to $5,000 to local youth-serving organizations.

Registration is opening soon for the summer program, Youth in Philanthropy Summer Institute. For more information, please visit yipmetrowest.org.

Hopkinton Youth in Philanthropy is a program of the Foundation for MetroWest funded in part by the Hopkinton Country Club Charitable Foundation (HCCCF). The 20 students in the class granted to:

• Jeff’s Place: $5,000 to support the expansion of their Kid’s Crew program for families with younger children ages 3 - 8 who are currently on the wait list.
• Hope and Comfort: $5,000 to support the collection and distribution of personal hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, and deodorant) to youth in need through MetroWest food pantries and organizations that provide basic aid and emergency relief, meeting a critical hygiene need that SNAP benefits do not cover.

Natick Youth in Philanthropy is open to students from across MetroWest and is held each fall at the Foundation for MetroWest in Natick. The 20 students in the class granted to:

• Waypoint Adventure: $5,000 to support the Leaders In Training program, which engages young adults with disabilities, aged 16 to 25. Through participation in a year-long program, students participate in a variety of roles: self-leader, peer leader, and active follower with the goal of acquiring new skills and an appreciation of nature.
• Horizons at Dedham Country Day: $5,000 to support weekly field trips for Grades 1 - 5. Each year new destinations are added to the roster of over 40 field trips. Students visit companies, parks, and cultural attractions, literally broadening their horizons.

Sudbury Youth in Philanthropy is a program of the Foundation for MetroWest in partnership with the Sudbury Foundation. The 14 students in the class granted to:

• Rise Above Foundation: $5,000 to support 55 local youth in foster care by providing access to extracurricular activities. The organization will provide youth the funding they have no other way of getting in order to join the soccer team, take clarinet lessons, attend summer camp, complete drivers education courses and more.
• More than Words: $5,000 to support youth at the Waltham site during their dedicated “You” job youth development time. Youth have weekly youth development shifts where they work toward future goals, and developing both hard and soft skills that position them to take charge of and transform their lives.

About Youth in Philanthropy

Since 1997, the Foundation for MetroWest’s Youth in Philanthropy program has been inspiring youth to give back and to truly become invested in the MetroWest community. Key to the future success of our region, we are proud to offer one of the largest youth philanthropy education programs in the country that has educated more than 1,250 teens who have granted $1.1 M to over 140 youth development organizations in our backyard.

About Hopkinton Youth in Philanthropy

Hopkinton Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) is a program of the Foundation for MetroWest funded in part by the Hopkinton Country Club Charitable Foundation (HCCCF). HCCCF is a 501(c)(3) organization which because of the generosity of corporate and private donations, funds local youth development and economic assistance programs for those with the greatest needs. Learn more about HCCCF by visiting www.hopkintoncccf.org.

About Sudbury Youth in Philanthropy

Sudbury Youth in Philanthropy provides high school students the knowledge and resources to become community leaders by learning the importance of community philanthropy through service and grantmaking. YIP-Sudbury is a program offered by the Foundation for MetroWest in partnership with the Sudbury Foundation. Find out more and how to apply at yipmetrowest.org.

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