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.
2019-2020 Youth Grantmakers in Action
- Shi Belcher, Walkertown High School
- Kennedy Brandon, West Forsyth High School
- Jackson Brown, Atkins High School
- Vivian Caldwell, John F. Kennedy High School
- Brenna Chadwick, Parkland High School
- Austin Cook, Reagan High School
- Isabella Coronel, Middle College Of Forsyth
- Sebastian Del Campo, Mt. Tabor High School
- Chloe Fletcher, Carver High School
- Jajhayra Fonceca-Roque, Glenn High School
- Cierra Godfrey, Quality Education Academy
- Carter Greenwood, Reagan High School
- Trevon Helm, Early College of Forsyth
- Allie Hiersteiner, Reynolds High School
- Caleb Lumpkin, Reynolds High School
- Kaegon Matlock, Reagan High School
- Naudia McKoy, North Carolina Leadership Academy
- Samantha Medley, Walkertown High School
- Aseelah Renee O'Neal, Mt. Tabor High School
- Paris Reynosa, Glenn High School
- Alan Rojas-Rodriguez, Glenn High School
- Elizabeth Salazar-Garcia, Atkins High School
- Sawyer Ingram, Reynolds High School
- Taylor Simmons, Early College of Forsyth
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