The Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $2.16 million across a broad range of initiatives during the first four months of the year including community improvement, basic needs and post-secondary success.

Among the most notable grants is more than $250,000 dedicated to youth-focused programs, underscoring an emphasis on supporting the next generation through every from education, the arts and career exploration to mental health advocacy and mentorship.

Leading the mental health effort is Community Mental Health’s Teen Advisory Group (TAG), a youth-led initiative spearheaded by local high school students who are turning personal experiences and peer engagement into meaningful mental health advocacy. TAG’s work was supported by a $3,800 grant from the Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) and main Grants Committee.

“I think this is important to the youth community because seeing other students you go to school with and do the same things as you open up and advocate for mental health is really powerful,” said Joshua Kriesch, president of YAC and a TAG member. “Oftentimes advice and help stem from adults, which doesn’t always make the impact on youth that it needs to. This new group is truly youth advocating for youth.” 

The grant will support evidence-based Mental Health First Aid training for TAG members and other teens, which will help them recognize when their peers are struggling and how to connect them with professional resources. The grant will also support TAG branding and outreach materials.

Although TAG is still in its first year, the group has already launched several initiatives aimed at breaking down the stigma surrounding teen mental health. One of its most visible projects is The Resilience Blueprint, a student-driven podcast created in partnership with Athletic Factory that encourages open conversations about emotional wellness among teens. Episodes have tackled issues such as academic pressure, student-athlete burnout and personality differences among students like introvert and extrovert.

“I was lucky enough to listen to an episode and see clips online – their advice is well thought out and I foresee the impact of this project being great,” said YAC member Andrew Cottone, a student at Marysville High School.

TAG members have also expanded their outreach through social media, using Instagram posts and short videos to share personal experiences and reassure teens they are not alone in facing everyday stress and challenges. The group also delivers monthly Mental Health Minutes segments on WGRT radio.

Cottone said it was important to YAC to support their TAG peers because their missions align

“When YAC surveyed peers around the county, mental health was a huge concern for teens and they wanted YAC to address it,” he said. “Secondly, as a youth driven program ourselves, it is important to support other youth driven programs.”

Additional grants by YAC and other committees targeted educational enrichment and career exploration opportunities.

A $20,000 grant to Athletic Factory provided at-risk student-athletes with tutoring support. Central Middle School received $1,500 to take their student council to a leadership conference. Another $12,600 grant to SONS Outreach will support out-of-school programming and teen mentorship efforts.

Meanwhile, a $16,200 investment in SONS skilled trades programming will introduce students to career pathways in high-demand industries like electrical and welding, helping bridge the gap between classroom learning and workforce opportunities.

A full list of all Community Foundation grants through April may be found here.

While committee- and donor-driven grants span multiple focus areas, these youth-focused grants show investing in young people – academically, emotionally and professionally – remains at the center of community progress.