Valley United WayMembers of Valley United Way’s Youth Leadership Program have just completed the task of allocating money to community organizations. They put all of the leadership skills learned during the past year to good use in conducting a needs assessment as well interviewing perspective agencies and finally distributing approximately $2,4000 to Valley agencies. Monetary awards were presented to: The Valley YMCA Saturday Night Live Program, The Umbrella for their art therapy project for children of domestic violence and Valley Substance Abuse Action Council for a Public Service Announcement dealing with underage drinking that is geared for youth and parents.
This year’s president, Rajani Shenoy, a Shelton High School Junior, commented on the work the group has completed: "Allocations is a process that we do every year, and it is always a worthwhile experience. There was wonderful discussion, and really good questions were asked. It was obvious that the group came to the meeting with a mission in mind, and we accomplished that. Overall, I am very proud of our Youth Leadership team."
The Teens in the group, who come from Valley high schools, completed their own needs assessment prior to seeking grant applicants. In doing so, they identified issues of importance to teenagers in the Valley area. The next step was to conduct interviews with parents, police, physicians, teachers, clergy and others. Compiling hundreds of answers, the group then selected the top three needs on which they would focus their 1999 funding. The issues targeted were drug and alcohol programs, relationship Issues, and recreational space
"Youth Leadership members once again participated in a process similar to the United Way allocation process and they asked some pretty tough questions," said Patricia Tarasovic, Volunteer Action Center director and coordinator of the Youth Leadership program. She added that, "These teens view this process as an important step in the training they have undergone. They take the mission of Youth Leadership of giving back to the community very seriously in funding as well as in acts of community service."
Since 1990, Valley United Way Youth Leadership members have distributed over $28,000 in funding in the community for a variety of new and innovative programs. Hundreds of Valley teens have successfully participated in the Youth Leadership Program.
Youth Leadership is presently accepting applications for its 1999-2000 program year. If you are interested in the Program please call the United Way office at 926-9478.
Since 1990, when the program first started making grants, Valley United Way Youth Leadership members have distributed over $25,000 in funding in the community for a variety of new and innovative programs. The program has been successful in not only distributing funds, but in training members of the program. For the last six years, at least one student has been appointed to the regular United Way allocations committee to help review and make recommendations for United Way funding in the community. United Way Executive Director Jack Walsh said that, "The adult members of the allocations committee find that the students are well prepared and make an important contribution to the allocation process. The training and experience that they get in the Youth Leadership Program prepares them well to be part of the larger process."