Youth Leaders and Philanthropists End Their Year on a High Note

Teens from throughout northeastern Minnesota have wrapped up another outstanding year demonstrating their leadership, volunteerism, energy, and community spirit. The KIDS PLUS Youth in Philanthropy Program and the Duluth and Superior KIDS PLUS Youth Leadership Academies rounded out 2008-09 with year-end grantmaking, service projects, and recognition banquets.

Youth Leadership Academy Volunteer Service Projects Join Teens With Older Adults in Long Term Care

 

As part of the Northland Foundation’s KIDS PLUS family of programs, the Youth Leadership Academy’s goal is to help develop young leaders who will serve their communities now and in the future. Youth and adult mentors participate in a year-long series of interactive sessions to sharpen leadership, communication, and team-building skills, culminating in the planning and implementation of a community service project. May 16th was designated service project day for both the Duluth and Superior 2008-09 Academies.

Superior youth chose a "Hearts of Gold" theme for their project at Golden Living Center, a long-term care facility in Superior.

These 28 young leaders and mentors spent the day engaging with and learning from residents. With help from mentors, the ninth graders built three raised, wheelchair-accessible flower beds on the patio; led arts and crafts activities and games; enjoyed lunch with residents; performed music; and ended the day with a scrapbooking party.

2008-2009 Youth Leadership Sponsors
Duluth and Superior
Walter & Valerie Broughton, Merrill Lynch & Co., and the Merrill Lynch Foundation • SMDC Health System • National Bank of Commerce • Fryberger, Buchanan, Smith & Fredrick P.A. • M & I Bank
Duluth
Republic Bank • Wells Fargo • Innovative Pine Technologies • McGladrey & Pullen • North Shore Bank of Commerce • Northstar Aerospace • Oneida Realty • Harbortown Rotary
Superior
Genesis Attachments • Amsoil • Enbridge • Superior Jaycees • Superior Water, Light & Power • Murphy Oil • Midwest Energy ResourcesThe 26 Duluth Youth Leadership Academy members created a "Stars, Stripes, and Seniors" theme for their work with residents at Duluth’s Chris Jensen Health & Rehabilitation Center. Some of the events these enterprising young people planned and carried out included a therapy dog visit, crafts, decorating the dining rooms, bringing residents to visit the facility’s rummage sale, scrapbooking, table volleyball and kickball, bingo, and other games. A sweet ending to their day: a fun ice cream social.

Since 1998, nearly 900 young people in 11 communities around the region have discovered they can make a difference. The 2008-09 program provided valuable, lifelong leadership training to 54 ninth graders in the Superior and Duluth Academies combined. This Northland Foundation program receives funding support from area businesses, individuals, and service organizations.

Youth in Philanthropy Board Celebrates Year of Learning, Connecting, and Grantmaking

The 2008-09 Youth in Philanthropy Board celebrated their year with a banquet in late April. This very thoughtful and dedicated team of young people awarded 34 grants totaling more than $28,000 to deserving projects in the Arrowhead Region.

Youth board members and adult advisors represent communities from throughout northeastern Minnesota. Board members learn firsthand about philanthropy and the grant process through real-life experience.

The group of 17 eighth through twelfth graders reviews grant requests on a quarterly basis and makes the decisions, with guidance from adult advisors, about which grant applications to fund and how much. Grant awards may be as much as $1,000 each to fund projects that involve youth.

"Involvement in Youth in Philanthropy offers young people a unique chance to understand project budgets, the grant application process, and grantmaking," said Lynn Haglin, Northland Foundation Vice President and KIDS PLUS Director. "It empowers them to be more civic-minded citizens both now and as adults."

Youth in Philanthropy is made possible with support from the Minnesota Power Foundation.