Young philanthropists request $15K in funding

The Coatesville Area Youth Philanthropy Program of the Brandywine Health Foundation announced the requests.

COATESVILLE >> The Coatesville Area Youth Philanthropy Program (CAYPP) of the Brandywine Health Foundation announced they are requesting proposals from organizations that provide suicide prevention programming for adolescents in the greater Coatesville area.

Eighteen Coatesville area youth, young men and women between the ages of 14-18, who were accepted into this youth philanthropy program, identified and determined youth suicide prevention as a significant area of need in their community. The CAYPP members have met regularly during the fall and winter to learn how philanthropy works and researched and discussed a myriad of possible philanthropic goals to improve their community before deciding to fund programs that address suicide.

“As young people in the modern day of social media, we are so connected through social networking, yet so alone in true human interaction,” said Kayla Recchuiti, Coatesville Area Senior High School (CASH) junior and second year CAYPP member. “It is time to create change for youth, so we can support one another, through difficult times.”

Later this spring, after a review of proposals and site visits, CAYPP members will award $15,000 in grants in the range of $5,000-$10,000 to eligible organizations. CAYPP is seeking organizations that are able to engage community members in a sustainable manner, produce measurable outputs and outcomes, and collaborate well with other local agencies, including but not limited to the Coatesville Area School District. The greater Coatesville community is defined as the nine municipalities in the Coatesville Area School District: the City of Coatesville, the Townships of Caln, East Fallowfield, Sadsbury, Valley, West Brandywine, and West Caln, and the Boroughs of Modena and South Coatesville.

“We are looking for programs that really engage youth and provide supports year around not just in response to a tragic event,” said Meghan Scott, CASH student and three-year CAYPP member.

The grant application is available online at https://brandywinefoundation.org/current-priorities/coatesville-areyouth-philanthropy-program/grant-application/. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 20 at 5 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Citadel, the Marshall-Reynolds Foundation and the Genuardi Family Foundation generously support the Coatesville Area Youth Philanthropy Program. CAYPP not only distributes grant dollars to pressing community issues, but inspires youth to be philanthropists, explore careers in the non-profit sector and develop their leadership skills.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Eighteen Coatesville area teenagers who were accepted into the youth philanthropy program, identified and determined youth suicide prevention as a significant area of need in their community. They are seeking proposals to help fund their cause.