Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Council Now Accepting Student Applications

WATERTOWN — The Northern New York Community Foundation is now accepting applications for  service on its Youth Philanthropy Council from all Jefferson County rising sophomores and juniors.  This is the first year the Foundation will welcome applications from students attending any of the county’s 13 public and private schools, as well as home-schooled students, provided they reside in a Jefferson County  school district. 

 The Youth Philanthropy Council is an advisory committee of the Northern New York Community  Foundation. It was chartered in 2010 to promote positive youth development and leadership while engaging  young people in meaningful activities that build their skills and deepen their understanding of community  needs and philanthropy and its impact on Northern New York. Council members collaborate with peers from  multiple school districts to evaluate grant applications and allocate up to $25,000 to support local nonprofits  and volunteer to help with various community service projects. 

 “We know this program is transformational for the students who participate,” said Rande S. Richardson,  Community Foundation executive director. “It is a leadership experience that stands apart from others and  has enduring impact on our community and the world.” 

 At its core, the Youth Philanthropy Council is a student-led, adult-run leadership program. Council advisors  are Emily Sprague, Community Foundation Board vice chair; Kraig Everard, Community Foundation director of philanthropy, Emily Pfeil, Community Foundation philanthropy associate, and Leslie Renzi, Community  Foundation committee member. 

up to 13 open seats for the 2025-2026 academic year. Students selected for further consideration will be  contacted to schedule an in-person interview during the summer. New Council members serve a one-year term,  and are typically sophomores or juniors, with the opportunity to continue to serve in future academic years.   Council members meet once or twice a month from August through June, typically after school hours, at  the Community Foundation’s Watertown office in the Northern New York Philanthropy Center. Members  are expected to attend regularly and actively participate in discussions, nonprofit site visits, and grantmaking  decisions. Throughout their term, they gain valuable leadership experience and develop essential skills such  as critical thinking, communication, and professional boardroom conduct. 

 Since its inception in 2010, the Youth Philanthropy Council has awarded 145 grants totaling $255,070 in  support to nonprofit organizations that serve residents of Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.  In the past 15 years, nearly 160 students representing eight Northern New York high schools have served  or are presently serving on the Council.  

 This year’s Council includes 18 representatives from General Brown, Immaculate Heart, Lyme, and  South Jefferson central schools, and Watertown High School. Council members are in their sophomore,  junior, or senior class.  

 They are: General Brown Junior/Senior High School: Kiera Covey, junior, and Colden Marks, senior; Immaculate Heart Central: Julia Tontarski and Alexandra Zajac, sophomores; Lyme Central School: Rosamond Hunt, senior; South Jefferson High School: Mia Mouaikel, senior, and William Steward,  junior; Watertown High School: Hannah Eldridge, Lillian Jareo, Mia Kelly, Vincent Knapp, Bennett Pistner, Anastaja Smith, Ella Smith, Finley Swartz, and Sienna Virga, seniors; Trey Urf, sophomore;  and April Wang, junior. 

 The Youth Philanthropy Council and its grant program are made possible by gifts from donors who make  contributions to the Friends of the Foundation Annual Community Betterment Fund and generous support  from Watertown Savings Bank, the Renzi Family Charitable Foundation, RBC Wealth Management  Watertown, the Mart Liinve Fund, and the Timerman Family Fund. 

About the Northern New York Community Foundation 

 The Community Foundation is a resource for local charitable organizations, donors, professional advisors  and nonprofit organizations. It also works to bring people together at its permanent home in the Northern  New York Philanthropy Center to discuss challenges our communities face and find creative solutions that  strengthen the region and make it a great place to live, work, and play.