Youth in Philanthropy Groups Award Grants

July 1, 2020

Youth in Philanthropy (YIP) is a philanthropic-oriented education program offered by the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation. The purpose of the program is for youth to understand the meaning of philanthropy, learn about the local nonprofit world and take part in the grantmaking process. Through this program, students are empowered to make a positive impact in their communities now and in the future.

YIP groups, consisting of approximately 15 high school students from 11 school districts in our region (Benton, Berwick, Central Columbia, Columbia-Montour Area Vo-Tech, Danville, Midd-West, Millville, Northwest, Selinsgrove, Shikellamy, and Warrior Run) completed their annual grant round at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. This year’s grant round was adjusted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Christine Orlando, senior program officer at the Foundation, explained, “Due to social distancing guidelines, the students met virtually to review and discuss their grant recommendations. Then, grant awards were mailed recently to the nonprofit organizations in support of the valuable services they provide youth across our region.”

This year’s grants were funded by generous community support from the following donors: Anonymous; Berwick Health and Wellness Fund; Jeremy Betz; The Booth Family Fund (Danville Foundation); Central Columbia Educational Foundation, Inc.; Central Susquehanna Community Foundation; Danville Business Alliance Promotions; Danville Superintendent’s Educational Initiative Awards Fund (Danville Foundation); Michelle Ebner; Patricia H. and Richard E. Garman Fund (Selinsgrove Foundation); Alan and Danielle Hack; John M. and Jacqueline Kurelja; J.P. Mascaro and Sons and White Pines Landfill; Nancy Mathna; Robert J. and Kathleen A. McWilliams; Millville Community Foundation, Inc.; John J. and Nancy J. Marr; Neighbors Helping Neighbors Fund (Danville Foundation); Julie Petrin; Robinson Donor Advised Fund (Selinsgrove Foundation); The Seebold Family Fund (Danville Foundation); Service 1st Federal Credit Union; Sunbury Area Community Foundation Unrestricted Fund; Sunbury Area Health Fund (Sunbury Foundation); Bonnie M. and James Trump; Warrior Run Education Foundation – Defender Fund.

This year, 63 grants totaling $53,500 were awarded from Youth in Philanthropy groups. See below for lists of grant recipients from each participating school. For more information on the YIP program, visit csgiving.org. The YIP program is coordinated by Christine Orlando, CSCF senior program officer.

Benton YIP Grants

  • Benton Area School District – SPARK, $1,580
  • Benton Area School District – Benton Athletic Department Community Connections, $1,200
  • Benton Area School District – Buddy Bags for Understanding, $800
  • Northern Columbia Community & Cultural Center – N4Cs Community Emergency Relief Fund, $1,000
  • The Children’s Museum, Inc. – Enrichment Programs for Benton Area Students, $420

Berwick YIP Grants

  • Berwick Area School District – YIP, $2,400
  • Berwick Area YMCA – Cardboard Construction Initiative, $800
  • Berwick Theater and Center for Community Arts – Berwick Theater Marquee Enhancement, $600
  • For the Cause – Youth Mental Health and Education Expansion Program, $800
  • The Children’s Museum, Inc. – The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum Comes to Berwick!, $400

Central Columbia YIP Grants

  • For the Cause – Youth Mental Health and Education Expansion Program, $1,000
  • Friends of the Columbia County Traveling Library – A Place for Us: Columbia County Library Clubs for Middle School and High School Students, $800
  • Harmony Arts Foundation – The Harmony Cafe, $800
  • Orangeville Public Library – Summer Reading 2020, $800
  • Single Mothers Individually Living Empowered, Inc. – Children’s Activities for Reading, $800
  • United Way of Columbia and Montour County – Healthy Fit Club, $800

Columbia-Montour Area Vo-Tech YIP Grants

  • Central PA Business & Education Association – Leadership and Career Awareness Program Development/Expansion, $500
  • Columbia County Commissioners for Columbia County Family Centers – Big Buddy Program, $1,250
  • Columbia Montour Area Vocational Technical School – School Wide PBIS Plan (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), $1,250
  • DJ Choices, Inc. – Prevention thru Education, $1,000
  • For the Cause – Youth Mental Health and Education Expansion Program, $500
  • The Children’s Museum, Inc. – Learn to Solder at Maker Faire, $500

Danville YIP Grants

  • Danville Area Community Center – Keeping Kids Connected, $600
  • Danville Child Development Center – Engaging Opportunities for Summer School Age Children, $600
  • Eos Therapeutic Riding Center – Veterinary and Medical Support, $500
  • Evangelical Community Hospital – Primary School Education: Coping with Stress and Empathy, $500
  • Geisinger Clinic Nurse-Family Partnership – Building Block Project, $300
  • Montour Area Recreation Commission – MARC 2020 Park Projects, $600
  • North Branch Young Life – 2020 Danville Capernaum Project, $600
  • The Good Samaritan Mission – Kid’s Bed Program, $800
  • The Good Samaritan Mission – Many Hands Helping Others, $500

Midd-West YIP Grants

  • Foundation for Free Enterprise Education – Pennsylvania Free enterprise Week 2020, $1,000
  • Generoo Organization – Generoo Summer Theatre Camp, $1,000
  • Greater Susquehanna Valley YMCA – STRIDE Team at Middleburg Elementary School, $1,000
  • Middlecreek Area Community Center – MACC Kid’s Night / Teen Night Special Programming, $1,000
  • Paxtonville United Methodist Church – The Five Sevon O, $1,000

Millville YIP Grants

  • AGAPE – Weekend Food Backpack Program, $1,000
  • Central PA Business & Education Association – Leadership and Career Programs Development/Expansion, $500
  • Eos Therapeutic Riding Center – Veterinarian and Medication Expenses, $500
  • Friends of the Columbia County Traveling Library – Learning Through Literature: Preventing Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Abuse through Fiction, $500
  • Geisinger Health System Foundation – Geisinger Caring Cart: Millville Request, $500
  • Harmony Arts Foundation – Panel Discussion: What Do You Want To Do With Your Life?, $500
  • Millville Area School District – Annual Millville Life Skills Picnic, $500
  • Nicholas Wolff Foundation, Inc. – KidsKash YIP 2020, $1,000

Northwest YIP Grants

  • For the Cause – Youth Mental Health and Education Expansion Program, $1,500
  • Geisinger Health System Foundation – Geisinger Caring Cart: Northwest Request, $500
  • Nicholas Wolff Foundation, Inc. – KidsKash YIP 2020, $1,000
  • Northwest Area School District – Health Fair, $500
  • Northwest Area School District – Life Skills, $1,000
  • Northwest Area School District – Trauma and Mental Health Support, $500

Selinsgrove YIP Grants

  • Camp Koala – Teen Grief Camp, $900
  • Nicholas Wolff Foundation, Inc. – KidsKash YIP 2020, $900
  • Random Canyon Riding Program – SureHands HandiMove Lift System, $900
  • Regional Engagement Center (REC) – Free Drop-In Program, $900
  • Selinsgrove Area Recreation, Inc. – Outdoor Yoga, $500
  • Snyder County Coalition for Kids – Meals for Seals, $900

Shikellamy YIP Grants

  • Eos Therapeutic Riding Center – Veterinary and MEdical Support, $1,000
  • Ronald McDonald House of Danville – Camp Dost, $2,000
  • Susquehanna Valley Law Enforcement Camp Cadet – Camp Cadet, $2,000

Warrior Run YIP Grants

  • Camp Koala – Teen Grief Camp, $1,000
  • Father’s Hope – Hope for Back to School, $300
  • Transitions of PA – New Beginnings Backpack Project, $1,000
  • Warrior Run School District – National Honor Scoiety Special Education Field Day, $1,200