The idea was simple enough: Celebrate The Community Foundation’s 15th birthday by establishing an endowment that would distribute $15,000 per year to Boulder County nonprofits. Then convene 15, 15-year-olds to decide which organizations get the funding.
We called it 15 Forever.
On Sunday, a group of 15-year-olds from across Boulder County met with representatives from seven nonprofits and handed each of them checks. The celebration marked the end of the program’s third year. This youth civic engagement, leadership and grantmaking program is now well-established in its intention of addressing the needs and concerns of Boulder County youth from a youth perspective.
The year-long experience begins in the fall, when the group comes together to discuss the issues it believes are the most pressing to Boulder County youth. This class decided to focus on the achievement gap, sexual health, and domestic and sexual abuse support.
During the spring semester, the group sends Boulder County nonprofits a request for proposals. This year, 14 proposals were submitted, asking for nearly $90,000. The teens analyzed and scored the proposals, interviewed some of the service providers, and ultimately decided who would receive grants.
Ani Christianian, a Fairview High School sophomore, said her experience on the 15 Forever board confirmed for her that “young people can be empowered to bring change into the lives of other young people.
“This past year, I have grown and learned about a number of issues in depth,” she said. “I feel that the work we did will impact a great deal of Boulder’s youth.”
Still she said, “there is so much more that we, as a board, can accomplish. For example, I would like to spearhead going out into the community to interact with those programs and people we gave money to.”
The Community Foundation is now recruiting a new class, to begin work this fall. If you know a bright student who would contribute to this class, please refer them to Programs Director Carly Hare, at 303-442-0436, for an application.
The seven organizations receiving grant checks on Sunday were:
Alternatives for Youth, $1,000, for programs helping at-risk youth in Longmont succeed in shool and in life.
Attention Homes, $2,000, to support the Broadway House – the county’s only emergency shelter for teens.
Blue Sky Bridge, $1,500, to underwrite forensic interviews with Boulder County youths who are possible victims of child sexual abuse.
Moving to End Sexual Assault, $2,000, for the Peers Building Justice program, which trains peer mentors to give presentations on issues of interpersonal violence to Boulder Valley middle and high school students.
Rise Institute, $5,000 for the Golaso program, supporting 4th-, 5th- and 6th-graders through the middle school transition.
Safe Shelter of St. Vrain, $2,000 for the Teens Ending Relationship Abuse peer mentoring program, which trains teens to provide education and awareness to their middle and high school peers in the St. Vrain School District about dating violence, healthy relationships and domestic violence.
Skyline High School, $1,500, to create a League of United Latin American Citizens youth council.
Congratulations to these great nonprofits, and to the class of Boulder County teens who participated in this past year’s program.
