Many believe that our hope for the future lies in the next generation. Local youth hold the potential to create positive change i our communities, and many donors and nonprofits across the region are doing their part to ignite a path for these bright leaders.
Some donors are committed to meeting basic needs, giving our youth a solid foundation to live, play, learn, and dream. The Hedrick Family took this approach with their donor advised fund, awarding a 2024 grant to the Snyder County Coalition for Kids to provide additional meals for Selinsgrove and Middleburg elementary students who participate in the free and reduced meal program during the school year.
Other donors use scholarships as an impactful way to help local students pursue their passions. Patricia and Richard Garman chose to establish a scholarship fund at the Foundation to forever invest in the next generation of changemakers. Clementine Asmuth-Day, one of the Garm Scholarship recipients in 2025, expressed her future dreams and gratitude for the Garman's support.
"Through my degree in mechanical engineering, I would like to solve problems and provide creative solutions for my community. It is inspiring to be supported by a family who cares so much about helping the community through this scholarship. I hope that when I am older, I will be able to help my community and the youth within it to achieve their goals in a similar way."
The collective generosity of our region empowers high school students through the Foundation's Youth in Philanthropy program. This fall marks a regional milestone for the program—the participation of all public schools in the Foundation's 5 1/2 county service area. Over 250 students from 20 school groups will work together to create visible impact in their communities, collectively awarding $100,000 in grants this spring through their own youth-led grant rounds.
Youth in Philanthropy continues to leave a lasting mark on our local youth. As one student reflected, "It's one thing to talk about community needs in a meeting. It's something different to see how a program we funded is supporting kids like us. It's in those moments that I feel most proud—not just of what we accomplished, but how deeply this group cares about making real change."
