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NCCo Young Philanthropists Award $15,500 to Nonprofits

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WILMINGTON, Del. — The New Castle County County Youth Philanthropy Board (YPB) of the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) awarded $15,500 to seven New Castle County nonprofit organizations at a grants ceremony on April 26 at the University & Whist Club.

The DCF’s New Castle County County YPB is composed of 24 New Castle County students from public, independent and diocesan high schools. Since September, YPB members have been studying youth issues in their neighborhoods and schools, learning about community service and grantmaking, and visiting nonprofit organizations.

This year’s New Castle County County YPB chose to focus on programs that assist veterans transition back to civilian life; and programs that help at-risk students in grades 9-12 prepare for life for post-high school. Special consideration was given to programs with a mentoring component.

This year’s recipients are:

Communities in Schools of Wilmington                                                    $1,000

This grant will provide funding for the workplace mentoring program, Professionals Helping Adolescents Succeed in Education (PHASE). 

Connections, CSP                                                                                        $2,500

This grant will support the Veterans Connect to Success program, which will empower veterans and their families to access benefits, search for jobs, do their banking and develop other skills. 

Delaware Adolescent Program, Inc.                                                           $2,500

This grant will support DAPI’s summer credit recovery program that is part of the Pathways to College program for pregnant and parenting teen girls. 

Delaware Futures                                                                                         $2,500

This grant will support Delaware Futures’ mission of helping at-risk students in Wilmington complete high school and prepare for college.

Jobs for Delaware Graduates                                                                     $2,000

The JDG program works with at-risk students in 25 high schools statewide to help them succeed in school and in life. This grant will pay for program supplies in each of these schools.

Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington                                              $2,500

This grant will support the Graduate Support Program, which engages staff to work with Nativity alumni who are in high school.

Urban Promise Wilmington                                                                         $2,500

This grant will support the Street Leader Job Training Program, which puts at-risk students into positive leadership roles.

The Delaware Community Foundation sponsors a Youth Philanthropy Board in each Delaware county to encourage high school students to become more involved in philanthropy. Each board of high school students is allotted a pool of money to give as charitable grants. The students learn about philanthropy and effective grantmaking, study youth issues in their neighborhoods and schools, solicit grant proposals, conduct site visits, and award grants to those they determine to be most deserving.

Retired Delaware educator Phyllis Wynn established the Youth Philanthropy Fund in 1999 because she wanted to encourage youth to become more involved in philanthropic ventures. Students who serve on the YPB are nominated by their principal or guidance counselor.

“The Youth Philanthropy Board program does more than give kids the chance to make a difference,” DCF President & CEO Stuart Comstock-Gay said. “It gets them out into the community to experience firsthand the impact their work has on people’s lives.”

2015-16 New Castle County YPB

Student Grade               School
Jake Barks junior St. Elizabeth High School
Marguerite Beane senior Padua Academy
Scott Bernetich sophomore Charter School of Wilmington
Jacob Campbell junior William Penn High School
Alina Caulfield senior Sanford School
Gabriella daPonte senior Red Lion Christian Academy
Samantha Drummond senior Wilmington Christian School
Patrick Lyons senior Salesianum School
Megan McCormick junior Newark Charter School
Collin Megee senior Cab Calloway School of the Arts
Lange Scanlan senior Tower Hill School
Shefali Waghray senior Mount Pleasant High School
Richiah Fayson junior Newark High School
Kaitlin Friswell senior Howard High School of Technology
Cameron Hines senior St. Andrew’s School
Katherine Hosey senior Ursuline Academy
Nicole Kennedy sophomore Conrad Schools of Science
Jason Kramer senior Tatnall School
David Walczak senior Tall Oaks Classical School
Connor Ward senior St. George’s Tech
Joseph White junior St. Mark’s High School
Laura Williams senior Archmere Academy
Jasmine Winslow senior Delaware Military Academy
Tim Weihang Zhang senior A.I. du Pont High School

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