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.
2021-2022 Youth Grantmakers in Action
- Luke Armentrout, Mount Tabor High School
- Sarah Bettis, RJ Reynolds High School
- Will Craig, Reagan High School
- Sebastian del Campo, Reagan High School
- Lochlan Downard, Paisley IB Magnet School
- Hillary Dunn, RJ Reynolds High School
- Ashanti Evans, Mount Tabor High School
- Landon Greenwood, Forsyth Country Day School
- Testimony Isiguzo, Atkins High School
- Grace Isiguzo, Early College of Forsyth
- Emma Jensen, Atkins High School
- Naudia McKoy, North Carolina Leadership Academy
- Kelly Mills, Calvary Day School
- Saniya Mitchell, West Forsyth High School
- Anya Narayan, Reagan High School
- Anam Parveen, Atkins High School
- Alex Shen, Atkins High School
- Desiree' Shields, Reagan High School
- Skylar Sumrell, West Forsyth 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.
How to Apply
YGA’s grant guidelines and application will be available again in November 2021.
2021 Grant Recipients
- Atkins HOSA – $300 to create a blessing closest filled with school and toiletry supplies for students
- Ebony Society of Mount Tabor High School – $900 to purchase books for premature babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at Forsyth Medical Center
- STEAM for Girls – $1,815 to host a STEAM summer camp for middle school girls
- Students4Change – $250 to provide masks, hand sanitizer, blankets, and books for children in group homes and the foster care system
- The THETA Awards and Scholarship Fund – $1,200 for a high school theatre awards gala and to raise scholarship funds for a theatre summer enrichment program
- The Winston Opportunity Project – $2,300 for a mentoring program in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Winston-Salem Youth Advisory Council – $500 to host a virtual food drive to benefit youth experiencing food insecurity
What's YGA all About?
In this video, past member Megan Mills discusses what she learned from her YGA experience, including consensus-building and decision-making skills, and why it’s important to give back.
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 the application to join YGA is available each spring.
Donate
Adult Advisors:
Andrea Hulighan, The Winston-Salem Foundation
Katie Sonnen-Lee, The Winston-Salem Foundation
Facilitator:
Fred Baker, Leading to Change