Youth Leaders Allocate Funds to Innovative, New Programs for Teens in the Valley

Valley United Way’s Youth Leadership Program has concluded its eventful year with a Youth Leadership Venture Grant Allocation Process for Valley Teen Programs. Students in the program were required to identify areas of critical concern to Valley teens through interviews with parents, teachers, relatives, clergy, medical professionals, fellow teenagers and other community members. Their identified three areas of concern that included the following: Confidential Support Groups and Mentor Programs, increased drug awareness and protection programs, and additional recreational activities and places for teens to meet and make a difference in the Valley after school.

A Request for Proposal was distributed to Valley Organizations that work with teens. Members discussed the proposals as a group and organized teams to visit the agencies and conduct interviews with the Directors that are responsible for organizing the programs. All of the members were extremely impressed with the discussions they had with agency representatives and their proposals to make an impact in our youth.

Youth Leadership members debated about the amount of funding that would be given to each program after they had learned the value of fundraising earlier in the program. Marc Brumer, President of the Youth Leadership Program stated, "We all understand how hard it is to raise funds by sponsoring our Rock the Valley Concert this year. We need to make sure that we allocate this significant amount of money fairly and to the program(s) that will reach the majority of our teens in the Valley."

Members decided to allocate their $3,000 in funds to three programs that will benefit Valley Teens. The first program to receive funding will be sponsored by the Valley Substance Abuse Action Council and features a Dating and Substance Abuse Violence Program for teens. Valley YMCA is the second agency that was chosen to be funded by Youth Leadership Members for its Teen Community Service and Leadership Program. Many of the members were excited about this program because it will give students who want to participate in community service activities the opportunity to become involved in a program similar to the Valley United Way’s Youth Leadership Program. Derby Neck Library is the third agency that was chosen to be supported by members for their Digital Filmmaking program. The library received a grant from the Katherine Matthies Foundation to purchase computers to begin this program. According to Judy Augusta of the Derby Neck Library. "Funds from the Youth Leadership Program will help participants have a chance to practice their new skills."

The allocations process was extremely successful and concluded a very eventful year for the Youth Leadership Program. Applications for next year’s program will begin in late January. If teens would like to receive further information about any of the programs that have been funded or the Youth Leadership, they may contact contact Joy DeMarchis, coordinator of the Valley United Way Youth Leadership Program at 926-9478.

If you have questions about the Youth Leadership Program call Joy DeMarchis at Valley United Way at 203-926-9478or e-mail her at vac.vuw@snet.net. 

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