Who We Are and What We Do
The Youth Grant Committee (YGC) is comprised of public, private and home-schooled high school students from the greater Grand Rapids area. During the school year, members meet and assess youth issues, develop a request for proposals process to address those needs, follow up with previous grantees, conduct interviews and site visits and present grant recommendations to the Foundation's Board of Trustees.
2009-10 Grand Rapids Community Foundation Youth Grant Committee Members
- Gabe Audu, West Catholic High School
- Tiffany A. Boorsma, West Catholic High School
- Alex Brown, Lowell High School
- Chaslyn Burt, Forest Hills Northern HS
- David G. DeStigter, Grand Rapids Christian High School
- Allison Endres, Forest Hills Eastern High School
- Nnenna Ezeh, Catholic Central HS
- Sarah Fagerman, East Kentwood HS
- Grace B. Feenstra, Grand Rapids Christian High School
- R.J. Ferrell-Tillman, Catholic Central High School
- Kyrstan Forseman, Grandville High School
- Kierstdea Furey, City High School
- Mary Jane Gallegos, East Grand Rapids HS
- Matt Gammans, Northview High School
- Elisabeth Gladyness, GR Christian HS
- Isaiah Gladyness, GR Montessori HS
- Nikaysha Haight, City High School
- Tabitha Haight, City High School
- Elizabeth Herman, East Kentwood High School
- Tom Kennedy, Catholic Central High School
- Nick Kooyer, Northview HS
- Caroline Liske, Catholic Central HS
- Vlastibor Minarovjech, Forest Hills Central HS
- Mariah Nawrot, City High School
- Kathryn Nowicki, West Catholic High School
- Jenna Rood, West Catholic High School
- Deja Smith, Forest Hills Northern HS
- Khayriyyah Muhammad Smith, East Kentwood High School
- Akeram Suleiman, Creston HS
- Mackenzie Swart, Northview HS
- Alex Tarr, Caledonia HS
- Dakota Wolter, East Grand Rapids HS
- Cris Kooyer, education and youth program officer
Belonging to the YGC is good for students and GREAT for the community!
Youth Grant Committee members benefit by:
- Participating in a real-life leadership experience in which decisions are made that have a real impact.
- Learning about the needs of youth in the community by conducting a survey every two years.
- Understanding the role of nonprofit organizations in the community by reviewing grant requests.
- Gaining decision-making skills and how to work as part of a diverse group.
- Appreciating the value of service to the community.
- Making many new friends who attend different schools and have backgrounds.
The community benefits by:
- Receiving funding for programs that benefit youth and appeal to youth.
- Observing young people working for positive change in the community.
- Hearing a youth voice as YGC members share their insight at local conferences and on advisory committees.
- Discovering youth opinions through the biannual survey conducted by the YGC.
- Utilizing knowledgeable young volunteers who have an understanding of community issues and who are well-prepared to take on leadership positions as adults.
© Grand Rapids Community Foundation - 185 Oakes Street SW - Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 - 616.454.1751
