High School Students Invited to Join Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council

[Image description: Seven YAC members with Michael's Place Development Director, Connie Wintzinger on the right.]

The Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation invites local high school-age students (private, public, or homeschool) across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties to join one of its Youth Advisory Councils (YAC).

The Community Foundation’s YAC program involves young people as leaders and grantmakers, with participants acting as advisors to the Foundation’s Youth Endowment. YAC students within their county groups annually review Youth Endowment grant applications and recommend grant awards.

“Our YAC program offers students the chance to be decision makers for youth issues, needs, and opportunities,” said Gina Thornbury, YAC Advisor and Program and Grants Manager. “It also helps them build leadership skills, earn community service hours, learn about local philanthropy, and give back to their community.”

The Youth Endowment was one of the first endowments created at the Community Foundation and was established through a matching grant opportunity from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. To date, with the leadership of YAC students, the Foundation’s Youth Endowment has supported about $1.9 million in grants for youth causes across our region.

Interested high school-age students can complete a New Member Application on the Community Foundation’s website: www.gtrcf.org/about/youth-advisory-council-program. Students can also reach out to YAC Advisor, Gina Thornbury with questions at 231-935-4066 or gthornbury@gtrcf.org.