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.

2009-10 Grand Rapids Community Foundation Youth Grant Committee Members

• Ms. Tiffany A. Boorsma, West Catholic High School
• Mr. Max Boorsma, West Catholic High School
• Ms. Chaslyn Burt, Forest Hills Northern High School
• Ms. Hailey Dann, Forest Hills Eastern High School
• Ms. Nnenna Ezeh, Catholic Central High School
• Ms. Sarah Fagerman, East Kentwood High School
• Mr. Aaron Fein, Northview High School
• Ms. Kyrstan Forseman, Grandville High School
• Ms. Mary Jane Gallegos, East Grand Rapids High School
• Mr. Jack Gould, Catholic Central High School
• Ms. Nikaysha Haight, Bio Tech High School
• Ms. Tabitha Haight, City High School
• Ms. Elizabeth Herman, East Kentwood High School
• Ms. Melena Hogan, City High School
• Mr. Darryl Johnson, University Prep
• Mr. Nick Kooyer, Northview High School
• Mr. Noah Lehmann, Northview High School
• Ms. Caroline Liske, Catholic Central High School
• Ms. Markyshia Meadows, Ottawa Hills High School
• Mr. Vlastibor Minarovjech, Forest Hills Central High School
• Mr. Matt Norris, West Catholic High School
• Ms. Kathryn Nowicki, West Catholic High School
• Ms. Jenna Rood, West Catholic High School
• Ms. Deja Smith, Forest Hills Northern
• Ms. Khaysirah Muhammad Smith, East Kentwood High School
• Ms. Khayriyyah Muhammad Smith, East Kentwood High School
• Ms. Victoria Smith, Catholic Central High School
• Ms. Mackenzie Swart, Northview High School
• Mr. Alex Tarr, Caledonia High School
• Ms. Alondra Abigail Vergara-Diaz, City High School
• Mr. Leighton Watson, Lowell High School
• Mr. Dakota Wolter, East Grand Rapids High School
• 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.