During the 2022-23 school year, the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin introduced the Youth Philanthropy Leadership Program for students in Marathon County. The two-year program, aimed at high school juniors and seniors, is designed to prepare the next generation of philanthropic leaders through hands-on learning and mentor training.

After learning how foundations support local nonprofit’s important work, the students were been given an allocation of $20,000 to award grants to deserving nonprofits that fit their objectives, which included:

• Youth were to be involved in planning, organizing, and conducting the project or program, and/or
• Youth were to directly benefit from the services provided through the project, and/or
• Youth were to gain specific knowledge about an organization's work if a grant were to be awarded.

Through student site visits, research, and discussion, twelve organizations were invited to apply for funding. The following grants were awarded at the Capstone Event held on June 5, at the Community Partners Campus.

Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Wausau Area

College Campus Visits:  $3,000

The Boys & Girls Club provides career and college exploration and readiness activities for middle and high school teens as they begin to think about their future. This grant will support the Club’s college and career development initiative with campus visits for 35 junior and senior Club members this summer and fall at UW-Madison and several other Wisconsin campuses.  This grant will help remove barriers to success for Club members by introducing them to post-secondary educational options and increase the number of members that graduate with a plan for their future.

Healthfirst Network

Marathon County Period Poverty: $7,500

The lack of affordability and accessibility of menstrual products, coupled with stigma and other societal factors, contributes to a perpetuating cycle known as period poverty. Due to the lack of access and affordability, 1 in 4 teens in the US have missed class due to the inability to get menstrual supplies. This grant will allow Healthfirst to purchase tampons, menstrual pads, and menstrual cups that will be distributed to middle schools in the ten school districts in Marathon County.

Keep Area Teens Safe

Providing Normalcy for Youth During Crisis: $3,500

KATS’ mission is to serve the community by providing at-risk youth, ages 12-17, with a safe and stable living environment that results in the decrease of human trafficking, drug addiction, untreated mental illness, and other adverse risk factors that affect the lives of youth. Funding from this grant will allow residents of Hillcrest House to receive bus passes to get to and from school, jobs, the YMCA, parks, and other outings, as well as provide essential needs, which all add to normalcy in their lives in a time of crisis.

NAMI Northwoods

Raise Your Voice Leader Training: $3,000

Raise Your Voice (RYV) is a youth movement launched by the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Wisconsin that empowers teens to create a conversation about mental health through education, leadership development, and civic advocacy. Within the area supported by NAMI Northwoods, there are currently three active RYV clubs including Wausau East and Wausau West High Schools. Another four schools are planning to start a RYV club in the upcoming school year and this grant will be used to train individuals from those schools, supporting a positive connection with youth and the mission of the NAMI organization.

New Beginnings for Refugees

Furniture Donation and Household Setup Program: $3,000

Committed to providing basic household items and furniture for refugee families locating to our area, New Beginnings, requested funding to involve youth in their programming. By engaging with refugee families, students will learn about the experiences and challenges faced by people in different circumstances. Students will also gain valuable skills in communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, which will serve them well in their future endeavors and provide them with the opportunity to make a positive difference in the community.

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About the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin: 

Since 1987, the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin has been connecting the passions of philanthropists with the purposes of nonprofits for local community impact. With over 35 years of serving the north central Wisconsin region, the Community Foundation leads and inspires philanthropy to enhance the quality of life for generations to come. The Community Foundation has over $90 million in current assets and prudently manages over 430 funds. Through its commitment to excellence in donor investment, the Foundation received $7.4 million from donors in 2022 and distributed more than $7.4 million that same year to support nonprofits throughout our area.