Youth in Philanthropy awards $36,500 to charities
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/04/2025 (378 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
FORREST — Youth in Philanthropy presented $36,500 worth of grants to local charities at Elton Collegiate in Forrest on Tuesday evening.
YIP is a joint program between Brandon Area Community Foundation and United Way Brandon and District, designed to introduce motivated youth to philanthropy and local community development. Through the program, students from Elton Collegiate, École secondaire Neelin High School and Vincent Massey High School gain first-hand experience working together and connecting with charitable organizations to help communities thrive.
The event marked the 20th anniversary of the program, which has helped foster a culture of compassion and leadership among youth in the Brandon region since its launch in 2004.
Brandon Area Community Foundation director John Zilkey (from left) and Vincent Massey's Youth in Philanthropy group president Hailey Noto present a $10,000 grant to Forrest Special Projects Group chair Kristy Agnew and treasurer Corynne Hutton during YIP's 20th anniversary ceremony at Elton Collegiate in Forrest on Tuesday evening. (Abiola Odutola/The Brandon Sun)
This year’s grant total — more than triple last year’s $12,000 — was made possible through the community foundation, which funds the YIP program in partnership with the local United Way.
The foundation provides financial resources from donors specifically designated to support youth-led philanthropy and community development initiatives, said Hailey Noto, president of Vincent Massey’s YIP group.
“The funds were distributed by student groups from the schools, each of which researched and selected local charities they felt were deserving of support,” she told the Sun.
Highlighting the anniversary celebration, two special $10,000 grants were presented to Forrest Special Projects Group and Brandon Riverbank Inc., honouring the legacy of YIP founder Keay Dobson-Golletz and the longstanding partnership between the two sponsoring organizations.
The representatives of the anniversary grants lauded the efforts of the students in shaping the future of charities.
“We are so excited about this grant,” said Kristy Agnew, chair of Forrest Special Projects Group. “This money will go a long way toward creating the walking path in our community. It’s also amazing to see young people so engaged in shaping their future and ours.”
In addition to the commemorative grants, students from each school presented smaller grants, typically around $2,000 each, to a variety of local charities.
“This year, Vincent Massey students awarded five grants, while Elton Collegiate and Neelin High School each awarded four,” Noto added. “The selected organizations ranged from literacy programs to food security initiatives and Indigenous-led community groups like the Brandon Bear Clan.”
She explained the program has both educational and emotional value to the lives of the students who participated.
“It opened my eyes to how much work is being done in our community that often goes unnoticed,” she said. “From working with seniors to volunteering at Samaritan House, we’ve had the chance to give back while learning so much. It’s inspired me to continue giving my time and resources in the future.”
The initiative helps youth see themselves as part of a larger ecosystem of giving and change-making, BACF director John Zilkey told the Sun.
“Sometimes young people are underestimated when it comes to community engagement,” Zilkey said. “But this program proves just how thoughtful and innovative they are when it comes to addressing real needs in our community.”
Since its inception, YIP has distributed more than $236,000 in grants, building a legacy of youth-driven impact that stretches across two decades. The initiative is supported annually by the BACF and United Way Brandon & District, and rotates its end-of-year gala among participating schools.
This year’s event welcomed students, educators, charity representatives and community leaders in a celebration of service and generosity.
For Noto and her fellow students, the program has not only been about giving back, but about shaping who they are becoming.
“We’re learning how to lead with empathy,” she said. “And that’s something we’ll carry with us well beyond high school.”
» aodutola@brandonsun.com
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