Young Philanthropists Announces $10,000 Grant

CF Land of Lincoln

 

The award is the single-largest grant the giving circle has awarded

in its ten-year history

 

Springfield – The Young Philanthropists initiative at the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln has announced the recipient of its tenth annual grant award. Sangamon County nonprofit organizations were invited to submit grant proposals in the fall of this year for the competitive grant to support programs for children and youth.

The 2015 grant award for $10,000 was presented to Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois for its LEGO League program designed to introduce real-world engineering challenges to students in grades K-8 by building LEGO-based robots to complete tasks.

“The excellent applications submitted by nonprofits this year made it extremely difficult to select just one recipient. The quality of work being done in our community to benefit youth and children speaks volumes about the commitment of local charities,” said Young Philanthropists Grant Committee Chair Shane Adkins. “Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois provides a unique place in Springfield to nurture the development of youth and truly make an impact on young lives.”

The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. It provides a safe, positive place to promote and enhance the development for youth by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging, and influence.

Mia Woods, director of program operations for Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Illinois, shared that the LEGO League program “is designed to create and inspire our community’s future innovators and leaders. More than 100 elementary and middle school students from our ten site locations will meet weekly throughout 2016 to design, build, test, and program robots. I can’t wait to see what they come up with.”

The program seeks to shape a positive perception of science and technology for children and will culminate with a state-wide competition in December 2016 where the top robots will be put to the test.

“Over the past ten years, members of the Young Philanthropists have sought to make a long-term positive impact for children and youth in the community. During those ten years, $59,000 has been granted to local charities for top-notch programs designed to make a difference in the lives of the children and youth involved in the programs,” said Community Foundation President and CEO John Stremsterfer.

“Each member of the Young Philanthropists makes a $125 annual investment, members pool their donations and join together to help others,” said Stremsterfer.

Young Philanthropists is a special initiative that began in 2006 at the Community Foundation.

Local nonprofits can apply for the competitive grant award from Young Philanthropists in the fall of each year. Charities should watch the Community Foundation’s website www.CFLL.org for the next round of applications and sign up online to receive alerts when funding opportunities are available.

Through philanthropic services, strategic grantmaking and community leadership, the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln “connects people who care with causes that matter.”