The Youth Advisory
Committee (YAC) is dedicated to supporting youth-oriented
programs and projects in the Greater Kingston area through:
Grantmaking.
YAC boasts not one but three innovative and inclusive grantmaking
programs.
Community Leadership.
YAC promotes our philosophy of youth philanthropy by leading
by example.
Fund Development.
YAC encourages individual and corporate donors to leave
a legacy to benefit young people.
The Youth Advisory Committee
is a group of young people striving to make their community
a better place. We believe that youth involvement is essential
for a strong community, and we strongly promote youth philanthropy.
Philanthropy?!? Wassdat?
Philanthropy is the effort to increase the well-being of
humankind, by donations of money, time, effort, passion,
thought, etc.
Who is on YAC, anyway?
We are between the ages of 14 and 22 and represent the interests
and needs of our community to The Community Foundation of
Greater Kingston. We meet twice a month from September to
June, and are led by an executive consisting of a Chair,
Vice-Chair and Secretary. We have an adult Advisor/Liaison,
who is present at every meeting and provides us with support.
How is YAC connected to the Community
Foundation?
YAC is a committee/program of The Community Foundation of
Greater Kingston. The Community Foundation is a public,
non-profit registered charity which seeks to improve the
quality of life for people in the Greater Kingston area,
and they do this through grantmaking, community convening,
and donor services.
How did YAC start?
The Youth Advisory Committee started in late 1998 with a generous
flow-through grant from Oldies 960 and Country 96 (parent
company Corus Entertainment
Kingston). A small group of young people were formed to
distribute this grant money, which was designated to support
youth talent development programs. The group flourished, incorporating
two additional granting opportunities, each broadening the
difference we make in the community. We are currently one
of the leading youth philanthropy programs in Canada!
What about the future?
We're going onward and upward! YAC continues its dedication
to enhancing and strengthening the quality of life in our
community, and one way we will do this is by launching the
second drive to further build our Youth Endowment Fund.
Grantmaking.
The Youth Advisory Committee has established three innovative
granting programs, each designed to help enhance and strengthen
the quality of life for other young people in our community:
- Youth Endowment Fund
Established with a matching grant from Gregg and Marla Beth
Rosen, the YEF supports youth in all aspects of life in
our community.
- YAC
Corus Entertainment Youth in the Arts Fund
An annual $6000 flow-through fund supporting the development
and exposure of youth talent in the arts provided by Corus
Entertainment.
- YAC
Kickstart! Mini-Grants Program
This program allows elementary school classes to apply for
funding of less than $300 for small community projects,
teaching them about community, philanthropy and legacy.
Community Leadership.
YAC also betters our community through our unique community
outreach projects:
- YAC Imagination Station at Cool Night
Every New Year's Eve YAC organizes and hosts an arts and
crafts centre for children as a part of the Cool Night festivities
in Downtown Kingston.
- Youth Action Summit
2003 marked the first year of our Youth Action Summit, an
exciting forum for youth from all over Kingston. Youth and
adults dialogue about the issues they face in our area and
what everyone can do to improve these circumstances.
Fund Development.
In addition, YAC also 'makes the ask'. Because money doesn't
grow on trees, our YAC members raise funds to sustain our
granting programs:
- Youth Endowment Fund
Every donation we receive for YEF isn't actually spent.
We take all the donations and pool them together in investments.
All money gained as interest forms our granting money, so
that the fund continues to support our causes forever!
Make a difference by joining YAC!
To do what?
- Help us make grants to local charities
- Help us make positive changes in the Greater Kingston
area
- Help us raise awareness of the importance of being involved
in your community
What else?
- To participate in community volunteering
- To help us raise funds to make even more grants
- To attend YAC meetings twice a month
Why do we want you?
- You have new and important ideas
- You know the needs of youth better than anyone else
Interested?
- Send us an email (grants@cfgk.org)
and we will keep you in the loop
- New members are always welcome, so come make a difference
in your community!
