Wayne County Community Youth Foundation

Accepting Applications for 2021-2022 High School Participants

The Wayne County Community Youth Foundation is currently accepting applications for advisors for the 2021-2022 school year. You could be one of these participants!

A select group of Wayne County, Ohio High School students will gain valuable leadership experience, learn more about local charitable giving, understand how investments grow charitable funds, evaluate and recommend grant awards, and meet local philanthropic leaders. Youth Foundation advisors have already awarded over $39,500 in grants.

Meetings of the Wayne County Community Youth Foundation (WCCYF) are held one Sunday per month during the school year. Each 2-3 hour meeting is held at a different non-profit organization and includes a light dinner. A typical meeting agenda includes:

• A presentation and tour by the host organization
• An interactive leadership activity
• A learning module about foundation operation
• Dinner

There is no cost to apply, no dues, or expenses except those incurred for transportation to and from meetings and/or field trips.

While the WCCF is unable to provide academic credit for this student initiative, WCCYF will provide a letter of participation and endorsement to those students who need verification of community service to fulfill a community service requirement. 

Advisors will be a self-directed team facilitated by Deanna Troutman, a WCCF Trustee and Youth Fund Advisor.

Advisors shall be selected to participate, based on the below procedures.

1. All applicants must be attending a high school located in Wayne County, Ohio and be JUNIORS for the 2021-2022 school year beginning in August 2021 or SENIORS if enrolled at the Wayne County Schools Career Center.
2. All applicants must submit a completed application form available below.
   
   Youth Foundation Advisor Application Form
   
   
3. All applicants must include a letter of recommendation from someone other than a relative, preferably someone representing the school, a local government agency, a religious organization, or a charitable organization.
4. Application Forms must be received no later than April 1, 2021.

Completed applications are to be submitted by mail or e-mail to:

Wayne County Community Foundation
Attn: Youth Foundation Advisor
517 N. Market Street
Wooster OH  44691
Email: wccf@sssnet.com

If you want to help improve the quality of life for local youth by supporting existing or new charitable projects, submit your application by April 1, 2021.

Wayne County Community Foundation

The Wayne County Community Youth Foundation (YF) was established in Fall 2012 to provide educational and practical experiences on how community foundations operate for the purpose of getting students engaged in local "structured" philanthropy.

Thanks to the vision and leadership of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley C. Gault, the Donald and Alice Noble Foundation, the Sam Shapiro family, and the Wayne County Community Foundation Board of Trustees, a Youth Foundation fund was created so students can evaluate community needs and make grant recommendations for local non-profit organizations that support Wayne County, Ohio youth.

During the academic year, students meet once a month at an area non-profit organization to get a better understanding of why the organization exists and how it serves the community.

For the 2020-2021 school year, there were 26 students representing 10 local high schools. Deanna Troutman, a WCCF Trustee, is the Youth Foundation Advisor. 

The Youth Foundation will meet on the following Sundays, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm (unless otherwise noted), for 2020-2021:

Last year, some of the local non-profit organizations where the YF met included Adaptive Sports Program of Ohio, Alice Noble Ice Arena, Christian Children’s Home of Ohio, Orrville Area Boys and Girls Club, Orrville & Wooster YMCA, Poplar Ridge Adventures, Red Cross, Salvation Army, The Village Network, Viola Startzman Clinic, and Wayne Center for the Arts. Anyone can donate to the Wayne County Community Youth Foundation Fund through the Wayne County Community Foundation. For more information about the Youth Foundation call 330-262-3877. If interested in the grant guidelines and application process, see Wayne County Community Youth Foundation Grants.

In addition to learning about philanthropy, Youth Foundation members perform a community service project. Maegan King, Michelle Leighty, and Katie Johnson (shown above), are happily clearing a trail for Rails-to-Trails.

 Congratulations to the Youth Foundation Class of 2019-2020. Thank you for participating in the program.