Seniors 2012, l to r, Abby Butler, Danny Touhey, Taylor Brandstatter, Max Habicht, Sarah Long, and Eric Reed

Community Foundation Recognizes Youth Advisory Council Members

BUCHANAN- On Sunday April 22, 2012 Michigan Gateway Community Foundation held an Open House for the graduating members of their Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Also in attendance were current members and graduates parents.

There are 16 active members in the group from Marcellus, Cassopolis, Edwardsburg, Niles, Brandywine & Buchanan High Schools.

The six senior graduates are Abby Butler, Niles High School – attending St. Mary’s College; Danny Touhey, Niles High School – going to NYU; Taylor Brandstatter, Niles High School – going to DePauw University; Max Habicht, Edwardsburg High School, headed to University of South Carolina; Sarah Long, Buchanan High School – attending Grand Valley State University; and Eric Reed, Marcellus High School – going to Michigan State University.

The seniors have been involved anywhere from 2 – 4 years in the Youth Advisory Council. Over the years they have been participated in fall new member orientations, summer leadership training conferences, and many community service projects like Cass County Backpack Spectacular, Shop with A Cop (Buchanan), Salvation Army (Set Up Toy Shop in Niles), Youth Volunteer of the Year events (Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan), and Fernwood’s Lights Before Christmas.

In the past 12 months they have served their community through philanthropic activities, making grants from the Youth Endowment to: Music with a Message (assembly’s at local schools), United Way of Southwest Michigan (Cass County Backpack Spectacular), Niles-Buchanan YMCA (Youth scholarships), Salvation Army (Feeding his Sheep backpack meals), Edwardsburg Little League (Batting Cage).

“We will miss the leadership and personalities of these graduating students, but their examples will be carried on by the remaining members, and the new recruits we will welcome in August” stated Jayne Lamb, Youth Advisory Coordinator for Michigan Gateway Community Foundation.

For more information on Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, or to make a tax-deductible, charitable contribution, visit our website at www.mgcf.org, or contact Robert N. Habicht at 111 Days Street,  Buchanan, MI  49107, or call 269-695-3521.

Using time, talent, and treasure to make a difference in their communities

They came to learn, have fun and share ideas on new and innovative ways to increase the impact of youth philanthropy and service learning in their hometowns across the nation. More than 400 students from small towns and big cities across Michigan and 5 other states, made their way to the 2010 Youth Philanthropy and Service Camp in East Lansing. The agenda was packed with sessions on topics such as proactive grantmaking, needs assessment, hunger and homelessness, networking and developing new projects that could be replicated in the participants’ communities.

Members of the local youth advisory committee (YAC), called Michigan Gateway Community Foundation YAC, attended the camp held at Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI.

Michigan Gateway Community Foundation YAC is guided and directed by Jayne Lamb, YAC Advisor, who was inspired by what a group of young people can accomplish when provided a forum to share their ideas and talents.

This year marked the first time that the Michigan Community Foundations’ Youth Project (MCFYP) and their affiliated Youth Advisory Committees (YACs) combined their annual Youth Grantmakers Summer Leadership Conference with the Michigan LEAGUE powered by Learning to Give and Learn and Serve. This opened the camp doors to students participating in Service Learning programs through their respective high schools. Breannah Alexander, CMF’s new Program Associate for Youth Philanthropy, called this year’s camp “a once in a lifetime experience.”

Michigan Gateway Community Foundation works to foster a community of philanthropy, for good, forever. The organization accepts grant applications to address their mission and looks for community projects that allow them to use further their mission.   For more information about YAC, contact Jayne Lamb at the foundations number 269-695-3521.

The 2010 Youth Philanthropy and Service Camp was entirely planned and facilitated by a planning committee of young people. A joint effort between the Michigan Community Foundation’s Youth Project (MCFYP) board and the Service-Learning committee, these 24 youth leaders chose speakers, planned the camp schedule, facilitated sessions, and hosted the three-day event.

Attending the 2010 Youth Philanthropy and Service Camp from Michigan Gateway Community Foundation YAC were:   Taylor Brandstatter (Niles High School), Ryan Henckel (Buchanan High School), Becca Kastner (Buchanan High School) and Jayne Lamb YAC Advisor.

Contact:   Jayne Lamb 695-3521