The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Youth learn about philanthropy
Helping community, poverty starts early
A group of young Lorain County residents learned how working together to provide a little help can go a long way in their community.
More than 30 students came out March 18 for the first Youth Summit sponsored by the Community Foundation of Lorain County.
“We really just want to introduce them, and also equip them, with the things that we’re going to be talking about, to encourage them to try and make a positive change within their schools or their communities, because we’re all Lorain County,” said Libby Skolnik, 18, president of the Youth Fund advisory committee. Skolnik also is a senior at Firelands High School.
The Community Foundation of Lorain County in 1998 was the first community foundation in Ohio to create a youth fund to teach young people about philanthropy, their county and making a difference, said Brian Frederick, Foundation president and chief executive officer.
The goal for the summit was to teach the students about the
youth fund because the advisory committee would love to have participation from all the schools in Lorain County, Skolnik said. Five schools have members on the board and nine had students at the summit, but there are 15 schools in the county, she said.
“So we’re getting closer, and hopefully this will broaden our horizons for the Youth Fund,” Skolnik said.
More than 30 students attended, representing the high schools of Avon; Avon Lake; Elyria; Elyria Catholic; Firelands; Lorain High School; Midview; Oberlin; and Wellington. Elyria Middle School and Lorain Early College students also participated.
They heard from Skolnik and Youth Fund Vice President Gretchen Norton, of Lake Ridge Academy; Secretary and Communications Coordinator, Grace Broome, of Wellington High School; and board members Melanie Carr, of Avon Lake High School; Katie McNulty of Avon Lake High School; and Zoe Bickel of Oberlin High School. The other members are Taylor Sackett and Kyler Yusko of Keystone High School.
They provided an overview of philanthropy, leadership and collaboration.
It is called the Youth Fund, but the board members told their peers about making adult decisions.
The fund has $120,000 that generates interest and investment income that goes for grants and scholarships, Frederick said.
“We have all this money we can grant for a positive change in our community,” Skolnik said. The Community Foundation also has staff to work with adults who want contribute, Skolnik said.
“You don’t have to be rich. We’re students, and we’re in philanthropy,” Skolnik said. “You can give as little or as much as you can, and the effect and the impact that you’re trying to make is the real point.”
Angela Lee, scholarship coordinator for the Foundation, served as master of ceremonies at the event, held in the Spitzer Conference Center of Lorain County Community College.
After the introduction, the students spent time in an exercise to simulate living in poverty.
When they arrived, the students were grouped into “families” with information packets about their roles, income, work opportunities or lack of opportunities, transportation and other factors.
The ground rules were explained by Julie Cruz Blair, director of operations and development for Leadership Lorain County.
There was limited time for the groups to size up their family situations.
“Are you guys ready to go?” said Cruz Blair. The general consensus was “no.”
“There’s no pause in life, guys, so you’ve got, like, two more minutes,” Cruz Blair said. The group was to manage their family affairs over four, 15-minute periods, representing one month.
The youths encountered factors such as hospital bills, selling personal items for money and facing “jail” time for neglecting children. They were to talk about it afterward – and likely reconsider what it’s like for their own parents and families stretching their money as far as they can, Cruz Blair said.
“It’s an enlightening event,” Cruz Blair said.