Youth Grantmakers in Action
Bringing Youth Voices to the Table
Youth Grantmakers in Action (YGA) creates an avenue for youth, ages 15–18, to play a meaningful role in philanthropy in Forsyth County.
YGA is a diverse and youth-led group who live in or attend school in Forsyth County. They come together to gain leadership experience, represent youth in their community, voice their opinions, and make grants to youth-directed projects that address community issues and challenges in Forsyth County.
The program supports authentic, working partnerships between youth grantmakers and other youth who are creating meaningful projects for community change.
2018-2019 Youth Grantmakers in Action
- Jane Antonas, East Forsyth High School
- Zavera Basrai, West Forsyth High School
- Najashi Belcher, Atkins High School
- Tucker Bowman, Reagan High School
- Jayden Brown, Salem Academy
- Vivian Caldwell, J.F. Kennedy High School
- Hamia Clemons, Reagan High School
- Austin Cook, Reagan High School
- Olivia Fleming, Walkertown High School
- Harris Gregg, Reynolds High School
- Karina Hernandez-Reyes, Atkins High School
- Allison Hiersteiner, Reynolds High School
- Makayla Jackson, East Forsyth High School
- Rhyan Johnson, Mt. Tabor High School
- Marcos Lammel, Forsyth Country Day School
- Caleb Lumpkin, Reynolds High School
- Daisy Orozco, Parkland High School
- Nicholas RiCharde, Mt. Tabor High School
- DeMorris Samuel, Atkins High School
- Anahi Sanchez-Tapia, North Forsyth High School
- Taylor Simmons-Parsons, Early College of Forsyth
- Kekoa Thompkins, Forsyth Tech Middle College
- Dante Tongogara, Parkland High School
- Eleanor Tyson, Parkland High School
Grants for Youth-Led Projects
YGA makes grants annually to youth-led projects that address community issues and challenges and that have a positive impact on other youth. Grant applications from youth-led groups are due in late January of each school year, and grant decisions are made by April.
2019 Grant Recipients
- The Collective – $500 to produce a play about sexual assault
- Forsyth Backpack Program Club – $1,088 to host a food packing event at Forsyth Country Day Middle School
- Forsyth County Young Leaders – $300 for summer enrichment sessions
- Golf Girls – $250 to host a week-long golf clinic
- Mandela Society – $300 to organize a Diversity Day to combat stereotypes
- Middle College National Honor Society – $630 to provide clothes and food to homeless individuals
- North Star Leadership Council – $300 to host the alternative prom
- Reagan Girls Service Club – $750 to host an egg hunt for blind children and their families
- Reagan High School Care Club – $640 for a spring literacy camp at Bolton Elementary
- THETA Awards and Scholarship Fund – $1,010 for a high school theatre awards gala and to raise scholarship funds for a theatre summer enrichment program
- Walkertown High School FCCLA – $500 to purchase shirts and ties for graduating senior boys
- Walkertown High School FCCLA – $750 for a food pantry backpack project
- Walkertown High School FCCLA – $200 to provide meals and craft activities to Ronald McDonald House
How to Get Involved
Join YGA
If you’re 15–18 years old and live in or attend school in Forsyth County, then you’re eligible to apply! YGA’s program runs from August through April of each school year, and applications to join YGA for the next school year are available on our website in the spring.
Donate
Adult Advisor: Andrea Hulighan, The Winston-Salem Foundation
Facilitator: Fred Baker, Leading to Change