YAC kicked off the 2020 grant making season with their first granting meeting.

A record 40 YAC students reviewed and evaluated six grant applications from various organizations using their Strategic Priorities of mental health, school life and positive lifestyles. After discussion and voting they decided to fund four different projects.

Approved grants:

• $5,000 to SC4- The grant will support youth field trips to SC4 Experience center through June of 2020. The goal of the STEM center is to provide interactive teaching and learning opportunities through exhibits that feature a maker space, science experiments, traveling exhibits, learning stations and demonstrations led by experts in the science and nature fields.
• $3,546 to the Port Huron Police Department – This is the 2nd year in a row YAC helped to fund the High School Youth Academy led by Officer Dennis Huisman and Chief Joseph Platzer. The youth academy is a week-long training program that allows students the opportunity to discover a career field in law enforcement at a young age.
• $2,400 to Memphis Schools for the Backpack Nutrition Program- This program provides food to some of the schools economically challenged families. On Friday of each week a backpack is filled with nonperishable food items providing 6 meals to families to ensure that students are getting proper nutrition over the weekend.
• $5,000 to the Yale Area Football League (FAFL)- This is their first time submitting a grant to the Foundation and they received $5,000 towards their $30,000 project to help fund new football equipment. YAFL is a sports league that promotes physical and mental health, reduces stress, teaches time management and best of all builds self-esteem.

Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a granting committee of the Community Foundation made up of St. Clair County high school-aged students that meets monthly to support programs that strive to improve the everyday life of the youth in the county. If you would like to apply for a YAC grant please apply for funding here.