WHAT IS THE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE? The Bay Area Community Foundation Youth Advisory Committee is a group of dynamic young people who positively impact the youth of Bay County by identifying needs, making informed decisions, developing and distributing funds and volunteering within our community. The Youth Advisory Committee volunteers are made up of 7th to 12th grade students from throughout Bay County. We strive to have every high school represented, and students who are home-schooled are also included in the mix! The group meets regularly once a month for 2 hours and volunteers for projects and/or programs as needed. New members are always welcome, and applications for membership are accepted any time of the year. HOW DID THE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE BEGIN? In 1988, the Council of Michigan Foundations and Community Foundation Members developed a proposal to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation for the Michigan Community Foundations' Youth Project. Their efforts meant to accomplish the following:

. . . who better to shape a brighter future than those who will be living it?

Expand the areas served by community foundations so that every citizen would have access to a philanthropic vehicle Strengthen existing community foundations Involve youth in community foundations through the creation of Youth Advisory Committees To spearhead the effort, CMF received the help of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation – formidable advocates for community self-reliance and community foundations, and champions of youth. The Kellogg Foundation agreed to help seed the development of community foundations and, in the process, create a philanthropic training ground for youth. And so, a challenge was made - for every $2 raised locally and placed in a permanent endowment within a community foundation, the Kellogg Foundation pledged $1 match to build a youth fund - up to one million dollars for every participating community foundation! As part of this challenge, each community foundation was required to form a Youth Advisory Committee, made up of young people and adult mentors. Their primary goals were to address local youth needs, assist in fund development activities, and direct grantmaking toward youth programs. SO, WHAT ARE GRANTS AND WHO GETS THE MONEY? A grant is defined as "an award of funds to an organization or individual to undertake charitable activities." Grantees submit grant applications, which are reviewed by the students, who in turn, make recommendations about whether or not the grant should be approved. Grants which positively affect the lives of young people in the community receive first priority. 2007 Grants ($50,210) Bay Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation Bay Areanc Behavioral Health Bullseye Golf Foundation Friends of the Bay City Recreation Area Gethsamene Missionary Baptist Church Kawkawlin Township Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan Saginaw Valley State University Studio 23 United Way of Bay County Wenona Center YWCA of Bay County WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT BEING PART OF THE YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE? Young people gain so much by being involved with the Youth Advisory Committee. Here are just some of the advantages: Gain direct volunteer and philanthropic experience in the community Become aware of existing projects and programs as they research youth needs Join kids from all schools in partnership for the betterment of the community Develop leadership skills and more positive attitudes about our community Play a key role in making improvements happen all around the Bay Area