The Luzerne Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee: Now Accepting Applications

The Luzerne Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee: Now Accepting Applications

The Luzerne Foundation is now accepting applications from incoming high school 10th and 11th graders for the Youth Advisory Committee 2024-2025 Session.

The Luzerne Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee, more commonly known as “YAC”, is a program designed to introduce local high school students to philanthropy and community development. The program provides hands-on experience that benefits both the participating students and local charities.

Students work in the community to raise money, build endowment funds, and make grants to non-profit organizations improving our community. YAC is an opportunity to prepare young people to be active, lifelong community citizens. YAC awards grants to support programs in the Luzerne County Area. Grants are reviewed by YAC members and awarded in late spring, at the end of each school year.

In addition to fundraising, students solicit applications from local nonprofits. The first 20 applicants are invited to give a 3-minute “pitch” at the annual YAC Forum in December, for the chance to receive grant funding. YAC members are then tasked with narrowing down their list of prospects to 6-8 nonprofits. After they conduct all of their site visits to get an in-depth look at the operations of each organization, YAC members deliberate and select 3-4 organizations to be awarded grants.

This past year, the committee focused on organizations that provide services to those affected by poverty. In January of 2024, YAC partnered with the United Way of Wyoming Valley to host a Poverty Simulation. This event encourages participants to rethink the challenges that millions of low-income individuals face daily, and identify areas of change that can directly impact the effects of poverty on individuals, families, and communities.

Through hard work and persistence, this year’s YAC class was able to award $22,000 dollars to four incredible organizations:

• Mama Bird: Diaper & Period Product Bank

• United Way of Wyoming Valley: See To Succeed

• Volunteers of America: Give Hope

• Sleep in Heavenly Peace: Luzerne County Chapter

YAC would not be possible without the community support, the work of the nonprofits, and the dedication of community leaders who share their time, talent, and treasure to leave a lasting impression on the YAC Students.

We are also grateful to all of The Luzerne County High School Guidance Counselors who assist The Luzerne Foundation in recruiting new YAC Students each year. We have approximately 12 openings for the 2024-2025 YAC Season. Visit www.luzfdn.org to apply or check with your high school guidance counselor. The application deadline is July 13, 2024.

Should you wish to support The Luzerne Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee, please feel free to donate by visiting www.luzfdn.org . If you are passionate about a cause near to your heart and want to make a difference here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, please call us at the Luzerne Foundation.

Do you want to make our community better? So do we. Let’s do it together.

Because of you and for you, we are … Here for good.