Another Successful Year Planned for the Youth Board

Thursday, September 25, 2014

United Way Fox Cities' Youth Board encourages local youth to give back to the community.

Contributor: Michele Losey, Youth Board Advisor/Teen Symposium Coordinator at United Way Fox Cities

Last Monday, United Way Fox Cities' Youth Board welcomed over 35 local high school students to our first bi-monthly meeting for the 2014-2015 school year! I was joyful to see many returning students along with several new students who are committed to making a difference in our community by contributing to the Youth Board. All of the students are eager to get the year started and participate in our volunteer events, learn more about our grant funding for youth-driven projects and plan theme ideas for our leadership event called Teen Symposium.

As one of our guiding principles, the Youth Board highly encourages the students to get involved and VOLUNTEER. A few of our upcoming volunteer events include the Children's Haunted House at Youth Go, Apple Creek YMCA Fall Clean-up, Holiday Open House at Bergstrom Mahler Museum and Ringing Bells for the Salvation Army. Another strong aspect of the Youth Board is our grant program. Twice a year, the Youth Board students review grant applications submitted by area youth-driven organizations.  Students then vote and designate the funding based on the needs of the applying organization. Some of the organizations that we funded last year included the Technology Club at Columbus Elementary School, Change for Charity at Kimberly and Xavier High Schools, Appleton A Better Chance, and Fox Valley Sibling Support Network Teen Leadership Experience. The last (but NOT least) aspect of the Youth Board is our leadership day conference for freshmen students, Teen Symposium.  Each year, in early February, Youth Board members help plan and run Teen Symposium with many exciting leadership activities and motivational guest speakers.

We are all very excited for another year of the Youth Board and welcome any 10-12th grade student to apply. Applications are accepted anytime. Please visit our websitefor more information, including downloadable applications!