Teen philanthropy group awards $16,000 in grants to battle addiction
Four programs that assist children and teens struggling with addiction will receive $16,000 in grants thanks to the efforts of the Youth Advisory Committee of Berks County Community Foundation.
Started in 1998, the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) teaches teenagers about philanthropy and helps them understand issues that affect the community. Each year, YAC members from local schools witness the impact of charitable giving by raising funds, evaluating organizations that tackle important issues and deciding which groups will be awarded grants from the Youth and Philanthropy Fund of Berks County Community Foundation.
The Community Foundation’s board recently agreed with the recommendations of the YAC members and approved awarding:
$8,000 will go to Caron Treatment Centers for a Peer Leadership Summit to bring together student leaders from high schools across Berks County. YAC members believe this program’s message will empower student leaders by arming them with facts and consistent messaging about addiction prevention. $5,500 will go to Herd by a Horse for its program called “Connecting Youth and Families through Equine Therapy.” The program provides a forum for youth in juvenile probation programs or those struggling with addiction issues to explore their emotions, work with their family members and increase their abilities to communicate their needs to others.
$1,500 will go to Kutztown Community Partnership/Kutztown Strong, which aims to decrease the rates of tobacco and drug use among youth in the Kutztown area. The program intends to invite neighboring school districts to participate.
$1,000 will go to Set Point Tennis for its clinic on crime and substance abuse. Set Point Tennis invites speakers to address at-risk youth, providing real-life examples of what can happen if they continue to abuse drugs and alcohol or engage in violent behavior.
Since 1998, YAC has distributed more than $280,000 in grants.
This year’s YAC class had 30 members representing schools from around Berks County, from Twin Valley in the south to Hamburg in the north, from Tulpehocken in the west, to Brandywine Heights in the east.