Who We Are and What We Do

The Community Foundation's 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.

2011-12 Grand Rapids Community Foundation Youth Grant Committee Members

• Teyland Avery, West Catholic
• Hannah Bodnar, Rockford
• Max Boorsma, West Catholic
• Chaslyn Burt, Forest Hills Northern
• Donovan Cummings, Central
• Hailey Dann, Forest Hills Eastern
• Jude Eyamba, Creston
• Jack Gould, Catholic Central
• Quinn Hascall, Northpointe Christian
• Nathan Hurwitz, Forest Hills Eastern
• Darryl Johnson, University Prep
• Nick Kooyer, Northview
• Katie Kraus, West Catholic
• Anneke Lehmann, homeschooled
• Noah Lehmann, Northview
• Caroline Liske, Kelloggsville
• Myles McCurdy, Byron Center
• Markyshia Meadows, Ottawa Hills
• Vlastibor Minarovjech, Forest Hills Central
• Matt Norris, West Catholic
• Yasmeen Robinson, Creston
• Deja Smith, Forest Hills Northern
• Desmond Smith, Forest Hills Northern
• Khaysirah Muhammad Smith, East Kentwood
• Khayriyyah Muhammad Smith, East Kentwood
• Mackenzie Swart, Northview
• Lexie Sweat, Forest Hills Northern
• Alex Tarr, Caledonia
• Alondra Abigail Vergara-Diaz, City High
• Aaron Williams, Grand Rapids Christian
• Dakota Wolter, East Grand Rapids
• Austin Young, East Kentwood

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.