The Michigan Community Foundations Youth Project (MCFYP) Committee recognizes that YACs across the state give a great amount of time and energy to enhance their communities. The MCFYP committee has created “YAC of the Year” awards for four categories in order to honor the hard work and dedication that committees of youth grantmakers demonstrate each year. The MCFYP committee would like to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of YACers throughout our state, and thank you for your commitment to the betterment of the lives of young people within your communities!
Grant of the Year
The first award presentation is for “Grant of the Year.” This YAC chose to support a local pool in their community that was described by this YAC as the “epicenter for youth” in their community. They said, “We heard stories about kids who were able to stay out of gangs and jail because they had some place to go in the summer.” This year’s recipient granted $20,000 to help support the rebuilding of a community pool that affects 17,000 people each year with programs. Congratulations to the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Youth Council for receiving the 2012 Grant of the Year award!
Community Service Project of the Year
After conducting a community youth needs assessment, this YAC found that the top issue identified was employment and economy. They chose to do a project to promote homelessness and poverty awareness in their community, through “living” in a cardboard box without any electronic devices. When asked why their project qualifies as the “Community Service Project of the Year,” this group said, “Poverty is very prominent in this county, therefore it was important to us to promote poverty and homelessness awareness. It was also a very visual, creative, and unique demonstration.” Congratulations to the Hillsdale County Community Foundation YOUTH [Youth Opportunities Unlimited Throughout Hillsdale.]!!
Fundraiser of the Year
In an effort to build their endowment fund, this creative group of YACers participated in their annual “Flamingo Flocking.” In the flocking process, a group of YACers meet with an advisor to put twenty to thirty pink, plastic flamingoes in a suggested person’s yard. After the family is “flocked,” they are asked to donate to the youth fund to have the flock removed and placed in another person’s yard. Congratulations to the Mount Pleasant Area Community Foundation YAC for receiving the 2012 Fundraiser of the Year award!
Media Usage of the Year
The final award presentation is for Media Usage of the Year, and has been given to a YAC who decided to move their youth needs assessment to an online format for the first time. This group created their assessment and administered it to 7th, 9th, and 11th grade students throughout six local school districts, covering approximately 2,000 students. Results not only helped identify different needs for different communities, but also allowed the needs of young people to be directly conveyed to school boards, administration, faculty and parents. Congratulations to the Four-County Community Foundation YAC for receiving the 2012 Media Usage of the Year Award.
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