Four non-profit groups from North Whidbey Island are the lucky recipients of Youth in Philanthropy grants from students at Coupeville school district’s Cedar Program.
The students in David Pfeiffer’s Youth in Philanthropy program have spent the school year earning $500 to be eligible for a matching $10,000 grant from the Glaser Foundation in Seattle.
The group has spent the last month soliciting applications from non-profit organizations from north Whidbey Island who could use the money.
Pfeiffer said the students received 11 applications totalling requests for $35,000. They then developed a set of critieria with which to winnow the selection. After that they used “guts, intuitive feelings and values,” Pfeiffer said, in making their final selection. But it wasn’t easy.
“It was in incredible challenge,” Pfeiffer said. “The last meeting took two and a half hours.”
As students Cher Edelen and Katie Jones presented the over-sized check for $3,000 to Central Whidbey Youth Center representatives Larry Tennant and Patte Shanholtzer, Edelen said, “We felt this group had a role in the community that impacts it a great deal.”
CWYC runs several after-school programs for middle school youth in Coupeville, including After the Facts and Late Night Central.
The organization plans on using the money for program supplies.
Carla Means and Shawna Keyes presented a check to Living Hope Foursquare Church, who will use the $1,900 to help fund a youth center being built at the church.
“The project seems so huge, to have kids look at it and value it says ‘yes, do it,’” church representative Sylvia Arnold said.
Donnelly O’Dell and Alex Jones were the presenters of a check for $3,200 to Oak Harbor Senior Center’s Daybreak Adult Care and Respite Center.
“Young people are very important to the seniors,” Oak Harbor Senior Center director Howard Thomas said. “They look to you to give them life. Your gift helps them live a happier life.”
Sherron O’Dell and Staci Schmeltz presented the final check to Gifts from the Heart foodbank, for $1,900 to Beth Kelly.
They noted the food bank helps many area children, and hoped the money would be enough for about a month’s worth of distribution by the all-volunteer staff.
Bill Carlstrom of the Glaser Foundation made the morning trip from Seattle to congratulate the class for their efforts.
“I firmly believe in youth and what they can do,” Carlstrom said. “By becoming involved in the community you become better citizens.”
