Muskegon, MI - October 22, 2004 << Return to Press Release Page For more information, call: Arnold (Arn) Boezaart, Vice President - Grant Programs Community Foundation for Muskegon County Tel: (231) 722-4538 YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL ANNOUNCES GRANT AWARDS OF $28,725 The Community Foundation for Muskegon County’s Youth Advisory Council announces grant awards totaling $28,725 to local youth programs and projects. Based on a recent needs assessment project conducted by the Council, grantmaking efforts this year will focus on Adolescent Health, with priority emphasis on the subjects of Teenage Sexuality, Substance Abuse and Self-Esteem. Grants recommendations recently made by the Council and approved by the Board of Trustees on April 26, 2004 include: Muskegon County Schools - $10,000 – To support the 2004-2005 Teacher Mini Grant Program, which allows teachers to apply for grants up to $250 for classroom projects and programs Catholic Social Services - $5,000 – To support the Rally Against Peer Pressure program at Muskegon Technical Academy. This program will encourage youth to abstain from substance abuse and sexual activity. STATS (Straight Talk About Tough Stuff) - $4,925 - To support the STATS (Straight Talk About Tough Stuff) Legal Rights video that will focus on the legal aspects of teenage sexuality. Volunteer Muskegon - $4,500 – To support the Teen Straight Talk program that will address teenage sexuality with radio spots, PSAs, and a television show. Girl Scouts of the Michigan Pine and Dunes Council - $3,000 – To support an outreach program in Muskegon and Muskegon Heights designed to build Girl Scout program presence in those core communities. Muskegon Area Intermediate School District - $1,300 – To support the 2004 Muskegon Aerospace Challenge (rocket launch) program. Katie Trzaska, current Chairperson of Youth Advisory Council and a junior at Muskegon Catholic Central, noted that “It’s great to be able to empower other youth to make a difference in the community”. She went on to say that the Youth Advisory Council appreciated receiving so many great applications from organizations who serve youth in the Muskegon region. Community Youth Advisory Council – 2003/2004 School Year What is the Youth Advisory Council (YAC)? The Youth Advisory Council is a special project of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. The Council, made up of adult advisors and student representatives from 14 Muskegon area schools, involves young people in solving problems affecting their peers. Members of YAC help set policy and guide distribution of over $80,000 a year in grants to promising youth projects in Muskegon County. When and why did YAC get started? In 1989, the Trustees of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County created the Youth Advisory Council in response to a statewide challenge issued by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. In order to meet the requirements of the challenge, a new fund was created to address youth issues, and the YAC was established to make grant recommendations to the Foundation Board of Trustees. Since its inception, YAC has made grants to local youth projects totaling over $700,000. The Community Foundation for Muskegon County was created in 1961 to improve the quality of life for Muskegon County residents. As a publicly-supported community endowment, the Foundation receives and manages contributions from community citizens and organizations who are committed to the future of Muskegon County. << Return to Press Release Page