Youth in Philanthropy awards $12K to charities

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This article was published 02/05/2024 (507 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Youth in Philanthropy presented $12,000 worth of grants to Brandon charities at Vincent Massey High School on Tuesday evening.

The group is comprised of committed individuals at each of the city’s three high schools who help the community and people less fortunate around Westman.

Abby Wruth, Youth in Philanthropy president at Vincent Massey, said the annual event aimed to recognize and support the impactful work of various organizations within the community.

“We divide into groups to research and select charities. Each group presents their findings, and we collectively decide on the recipients through a voting process,” Wruth told the Sun. “This year, we had six candidate charities at Vincent Massey, which we narrowed down to three for funding.”

The fundraising presentation, held in the school’s library, saw each charity receiving $1,000, she said.

The recipients included the City of Brandon Youth Centre, Samaritan House Ministries, Ask Auntie Blue Door, Brandon & Area Youth for Christ, Community Health and Housing Association, Brandon Riverbank, Brandon Food for Thought, Funds for Furry Friends, Western Manitoba Regional Library, Brandon Humane Society, Helping Hands Centre of Brandon and Westman Dreams for Kids.

Youth in Philanthropy is present in all the high schools in Brandon and Elton, Wruth explained.

“We discuss various charities, conduct research on them, and strive to volunteer in the community whenever possible,” she said.

Regarding the funding process, the group receives support from the Brandon Area Community Foundation and the United Way.

“They assist us in our research efforts, and we submit a funding proposal to them. Once approved, we notify the chosen charity of their grant.”

Samaritan House Ministries food bank co-ordinator Marcia Hamm-Wiebe said the impact of the students’ involvement during their time at the food bank was immeasurable.

“Many of them volunteered with us every week for several hours. Witnessing their dedication from the beginning to the end of their tenure, was truly impressive,” Hamm-Wiebe said in an interview. “They enthusiastically took on various tasks, learning about our organization in the process.”

Hamm-Wiebe acknowledged the invaluable support the food bank received from Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School’s culinary arts students, who provide food for the shelter, and École secondaire Neelin High School, which contributes volunteer work for a nearby garden.

Ask Auntie representative Samantha Maclean expressed her pride in being recognized and receiving the grant.

“Being acknowledged for the work we do in our community is truly gratifying. Inspiring another generation to get involved is amazing,” Maclean told the Sun. “We rely on our youth to make a difference, and their recognition of our efforts is heartening.”

The students visited Ask Auntie for a tour and spent valuable time interacting with some of the community members and seeing what the organization does, she said.

Brandon Area Community Foundation executive director Laura Kempthorne said Youth in Philanthropy has distributed more than $200,000 to support community organizations since 2009.

“I’m also hopeful that we’ll secure more donors to increase the funding available to the students next year,” Kempthorne said. “Over the years, the United Way has also joined forces with us.”

The students adhere to specific criteria throughout the year, conducting research, interviews and evaluations of registered charities and their projects.

“They then present their grant recommendations to us in April and I ensure they align with our foundation’s guidelines, and the board approves them,” she said.

Brandon School Division Supt. Mathew Gustafson said the event is one of the highlights of the year for the division.

“Youth in Philanthropy has been making a difference in our division and in Elton for nine years now,” Gustafson told the Sun.

“My first exposure to it was as principal of Vincent Massey at the time and now, in my role in senior administration, it’s truly inspiring to witness students engage in research and actively participate in community groups and organizations that provide valuable services.”

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett also commended the initiative.

“It’s beneficial for everyone to learn the principles of giving and philanthropy,” Fawcett said. “This program sheds light on the important role of community organizations.”

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