Distinguished philanthropist, the late Helen Jewett, established an endowment at the Community Foundation via her Last Will and Testament to carry out a twofold purpose. The first goal is to help young people learn about their neighbors in need. A second aim is to provide a permanent source of income that allows youth to help alleviate those needs.
Said Jewett in her directives to the Foundation: "Awareness is the first step. I think it is important for citizens of every age to become aware of their community's needs. To learn more about want and suffering - and to discover how each one of us can help."
Thanks to Helen, a Youth Advisory Council comprised of area high school students receives mentoring each year from YVCF staff on how to review and score grant applications, make site visits to nonprofit agencies and to recommend recipients of grants totaling $50,000. These grants are awarded each year in Helen's name - in perpetuity. Helen intended that this program guide students to a lifelong path of caring and sharing.
Last year's grants were announced on Novermber 10, 2009. Grant recipients included:
Catholic Family Housing Services $20,000
Funding to purchase outdoor playground equipment for children at Buena Nueva, a housing project for low-income families in Buena.
Salvation Army $5,000
Funds to replace worn-out equipment used at the Summer Day Camp program at Milroy Park.
Union Gospel Mission $25,000
A grant to fix-up a multi-purpose athletic court adjacent to the Madison House Youth Center, and funding for equipment to create a tennis-mentoring program for inner-city kids.