NCC Youth Philanthropy Board Presents $15,000 in Grants
The DCF’s New Castle County YPB is composed of 25 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 YPB chose to focus on programs that assist families or friends in the healing process after they’ve experienced the loss of a loved one through substance abuse, suicide or other tragic circumstances or offer suicide prevention and/or awareness programs for youth.
This year’s recipients are:
Delaware Guidance Services for Children & Youth — $2,000
This grant will support the DGS Outpatient Counseling Program, which helps youth who may be suffering from depression and anxiety which puts them at high risk for experiencing suicidal ideation.
Delaware Hospice — $3,000
This grant will provide funding for the New Hope program for grieving children and teens, ages 6-17.
Mental Health Association in Delaware — $1,000
This grant will support school-based programs to educate students, teachers, administrators, and parents about the signs and risk of suicide and help them understand the need for evaluation and treatment.
Supporting Kidds — $3,500
This grant will support Healing Pathways, Supporting Kidds’ bereavement program for children ages 5 to 18 and their caregivers. The age-appropriate small group format lets grieving children connect with same-aged peers experiencing similar losses.
UrbanPromise Wilmington — $3,000
This grant will support the StreetLeader Job Training Program, which puts at-risk students into positive leadership roles.
Wraparound Delaware — $2,500
This grant will support six creative grief workshops for families with children between the ages of 12 and 17 who have lost a loved one to substance abuse, suicide, gun violence or any other tragic circumstance.
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.”
2017-18 New Castle County YPB
| Student | Grade | School |
| Rebecca Alexander | senior | Newark High School |
| Siawaa Antwi | junior | Freire Wilmington Charter School |
| Madison Berkey | junior | Red Lion Christian Academy |
| Scott Bernetich | senior | Charter School of Wilmington |
| Luke Campbell | junior | Wilmington Christian School |
| Julianna Cann | senior | Padua Academy |
| Rachel Carlton | senior | Caravel Academy |
| Elisa Davila | senior | St. Andrew’s School |
| Lon’yea Ellis | senior | Delaware Design Lab |
| Peter Kardash | junior | Salesianum School |
| Nicole Kennedy | senior | Conrad Schools of Science |
| Jane Lyons | junior | Ursuline Academy |
| Thomas McGraw | junior | Tall Oaks Classical School |
| Emma Miller | senior | Cab Calloway School of the Arts |
| Lance Ralsten | junior | St. Mark’s High School |
| Sofia Rose | senior | John Dickinson High School |
| Alivia Scott | senior | Appoquinimink High School |
| Alyxandria Sisofo | senior | St. George’s Vo-Tech High School |
| Cameron Smith | sophomore | Sanford School |
| Colin Smith | junior | Delaware Military Academy |
| Cassi Sullivan | senior | Tower Hill School |
| Ifunanya Ugorji | senior | Howard High School of Technology |
| Anya Verucci | junior | Newark Charter High School |
| Paige Ward | senior | Hodgson Vo-Tech High School |
| Kayla Woods | senior | Tatnall School |