By Jill Kolodka
Youth in Philanthropy is an organization that aims to get junior high and high schools students involved in community service. It also strives to teach young people about the importance of giving back and how that benefits local charities. The Morris Area Foundation has worked with schools in Morris and Rosenort to have Youth in Philanthropy groups within their schools. This year, Morris School was given $1500 dollars to allocate to local charities and organizations in need of funds.
The Morris School group has chosen to disperse the funds between the Valley Regional Library and Youth for Christ. $500 dollars will go to the library in order to help them upgrade their outdoor lighting so that can be safer for people to walk by and enjoy the nearby park. Youth for Christ will be receiving $1000 dollars to help with the installation of 2 wheelchair access washrooms. These are needed for the facility in order to allow everyone to have washroom access without having to leave.
The students involved in the organization at Morris school would also like to extend much gratitude to Pat Schmitke and the Twisters for allowing them to run the 50/50 draw at one of their hockey games. On top of the money raised by Youth in Philanthropy, Pat Schmitke won the 50/50 and chose to give it back to the organization to add to the amount of money they were able to disperse.
Youth in Philanthropy, and with the Morris Area Foundation and the Thomas Sill Foundation, look forward to continuing the work and community service they have provided to the local community. Students involved in the group understand that there is always a need for something in the local area, and they are very proud and blessed to be able to help others out.
