Teen Trust Youth Philanthropy Program Grants Over $15,000
CFNEIA
April 19, 2021
Members of Teen Trust, a youth philanthropy program of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, awarded $15,704.60 in grants to seven nonprofits serving Black Hawk County.
The nonprofits that received a grant, along with the project name and grant award amount, include:
- Cedar Valley Angels, Program Growth, $2,100
- Friends of the Family, Victim Services, $2,500
- Lutheran Services in Iowa, Black Hawk County Healthy Opportunities for Parents to Experience Success (HOPES), $1,734.56
- Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Community Garden, $2,500
- Riverview Center, Sexual Assault Crisis Response Toolkit, $2,100
- The Job Foundation, Financial Stewardship Mentoring Program, $2,601.84
- YWCA of Black Hawk County, Individualized Program Supplies, $2,168.20
The grant funds are available to 501(c)3 agencies addressing community needs in Black Hawk County and are within criteria that the 21 students from local high schools determine as priorities. Using a grant application system, site visits and training seminars, the trustees work as a team to decide which organizations to assist through financial aid and/or volunteerism. The group of teens is led by a student director, a local college student who organizes and guides the students' activities. Bekah Bass, a senior at the University of Northern Iowa, served as the Teen Trust student director for the third year in a row.
2020-2021 Teen Trust members include (*indicates officers): Malina Amjadi, Vikash Ayyappan, Maren Denison, Eli Flikkema, Abbey Guernsey, Ian Lewis*, Ahmad Madlock and Randy Zhang from Cedar Falls High School; Sasha Hyacinth and Emma Reiter from Columbus Catholic High School; Delaney Youngblut from Don Bosco High School; Belle Olson and Tristen Prouse* from Union High School; Meia Ledesma* from Valley Lutheran High School; Sierra Meeks, Ajda Rekic, Vivian Slack, Landon Stafsholt, Hanna Stainbrook, Zonish Tahir* and Jorden Wallican from Waterloo West High School.
“It’s exciting to see the students take what that have learned all year about philanthropy and the needs of their local communities and make informed decisions about where grant dollars can make an impact,” said Bekah Bass, Teen Trust student director.
The Teen Trust program is now accepting applications for high school students to serve on Teen Trust for the 2021-2022 season. Any incoming sophomore, junior or senior for the 2021-2022 school year who attends high school in Black Hawk County is eligible to apply to the Teen Trust program. The application is available online at cfneia.org/teentrust. Applications must be submitted by Friday, April 30.
Questions regarding the Teen Trust program can be directed to Tom Wickersham at twickersham@cfneia.org or 319-243-1356.
