Teen Trust Awards $16,500 to Black Hawk County Nonprofits at Grant Awards Celebration

CFNEIA

April 7, 2024

Members of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa’s (CFNEIA) youth philanthropy program, Teen Trust, hosted a grant awards celebration at CFNEIA on April 7. The 19 trustees from Black Hawk County high schools awarded $16,500 to eight local nonprofits at the event.

The nonprofits that received a grant, along with the project name and grant award amount, include:

• Bringing Your Families to Christ Ministries, general operations, $1,500
• City of Janesville, Free Books for Summer Readers, $1,000
• Friends of the Family, Care Kits for Street Outreach for Persons Experiencing Homelessness, $2,000
• Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity, Student Home Building Opportunity, $2,400
• Jesup Community School District, Hope Squad Curriculum: School-Based, Peer-to-Peer Suicide Prevention, $3,000
• Little Knights Leaning Center, La Porte City Capital Building Fund, $2,500
• Riverview Center, LGBTQIA+ Sexual Assault/Abuse Survivors Outreach and Intervention, $2,100
• The Job Foundation, Financial Mentoring Stewardship, $2,000

The grant funds are available to 501(c)3 agencies addressing community needs in Black Hawk County and are within criteria that the trustees determine as priorities. The trustees work as a team to decide which organizations to assist through financial aid and/or volunteerism by using a grant application system, site visits and training seminars. This program illuminates the role in which students can be vital community contributors now, through hands-on education in giving back, as well as valuable leaders in the future. This group of students is led by a student director, a local college student who empowers and challenges high school students to address, identify and seek solutions to community needs while building a sense of social responsibility.

The 2023-2024 Trustees listed by high school are (*indicates officers): Addy Breddin, Jade Brimm, Addie Carlson, Cameryn Davis, Leila Dizdarevic, Mary Flikkema*, Annalise Gilbert, Sydney Grant*, Laila Harris, Eliza Kirschenmann, Pranav Kota*, Kaylee McSweeney, Sejla Mehmedovic, Carter Moses, Nadia Patel, Diya Pradeep, Sophie Showalter*, Rachyl Stuelke and Daisy Williams. Grace Gerleman, a University of Northern Iowa student, has served as the Teen Trust student director for the last year.

“I can attest to the work the teens did during the deliberation meetings,” said Angie Widner, vice president of community impact with the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. “Many had extensive notes from their evaluation process, and they brought incredible discernment to the selection process. I have been repeatedly impressed by them.”

The Teen Trust program is currently accepting applications through April 26th for high school students to serve on Teen Trust for the 2024-2025 season. More information and the online applications can be found at www.cfneia.org/teentrust.

“The Teen Trust program positions youth to be good stewards of their community and develop leadership and other lifelong skills. I encourage anyone interested in learning more about the opportunity to apply to be part of the program next year,” said Widner.

Questions regarding the Teen Trust program can be directed to Angie Widner, Teen Trust program director, at awidner@cfneia.org or 319-243-1355.