Youth Philanthropy Council Welcomes 5th Cohort of Leaders

Your Community Foundation of White County's Youth Philanthropy Council (YPC) is kicking off another exciting year of youth leadership, community service, and philanthropy! Now in its fifth cohort, the program welcomes 22 high school students from across White County who are eager to make a difference in their communities.

With three meetings already underway, this year's council is off to an enthusiastic start. Students are getting to know one another, exploring what it means to be a philanthropist, and beginning to shape their goals for the year ahead.

The Youth Philanthropy Council provides high school students from Twin Lakes, Frontier, North White, and Tri-County with hands-on opportunities to experience philanthropy, develop leadership skills, and make meaningful decisions about how charitable resources can strengthen their communities. Rather than simply learning about giving, these students are the ones doing the work, making the decisions, and seeing the impact firsthand.

Leading this year's council is a team of student officers who will help guide the group's efforts: President, Ella Grennes; Vice President, Sami Hindi Jr; Secretary, Ella Zarse; Grants Chair, Blake Turner; Volunteer Chair, Shaylen Shepard; Fundraising Chair, Ava Getz.

The council has set some ambitious goals for the year! The Volunteer Committee hopes to raise $5,000 to support their philanthropic efforts, with an extraordinary opportunity to multiply their impact through a match from Dave & Debbie Shook and Lilly Endowment Inc. If the students reach their goal, their fundraising efforts will generate $45,000 in total support for youth philanthropy.

The council's Grants Committee also has $20,000 available to award to school- and youth-based projects throughout White County. Applications for this year's grant cycle have officially opened, and students are encouraging their peers to identify opportunities to make their schools and communities even better. Have an idea for a project? Find your school's YPC representative to learn more about the application process!

Community service is another important component of the program. Each council member commits to completing at least 10 hours of volunteer service per semester, encouraging students to become actively involved in the organizations and causes that make White County a better place to live. The Volunteer Committee is currently exploring local service opportunities, and this year, students will take their involvement a step further by designing and implementing a community service project of their own.

While the fundraising, grantmaking, and volunteer efforts are exciting, the true purpose of the Youth Philanthropy Council goes much deeper.

When the Community Foundation launched the program in 2023, it was with a vision of investing in young people as a proactive approach to addressing the mental health challenges facing our communities. We recognize that supporting mental wellness isn't only about responding when someone is struggling. It's also about building the relationships, experiences, confidence, and sense of belonging that help young people navigate life's challenges long before a crisis occurs.

That philosophy is woven throughout the YPC experience.

The program is guided by the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets, a research-based framework identifying the positive experiences, relationships, values, and skills that help young people thrive. These assets are integrated into the council's grantmaking process, leadership development, and activities throughout the year. By creating opportunities for students to exercise their voices, build meaningful relationships with peers and adult mentors, and recognize their ability to create change, the program is intentionally strengthening the protective factors that support resilience and lifelong well-being.

Students will also explore design thinking, an approach to problem-solving that encourages them to look beyond the surface of a challenge, listen to the people affected, and think creatively about meaningful solutions. Through this process, council members will be challenged to consider not just where they can give money, but how their philanthropy can address the underlying needs of their communities.

Adding another layer to their learning, students will read HumanKind by Brad Aronson throughout the year. The book shares stories of kindness, compassion, and the extraordinary impact of everyday people. Through discussions and activities inspired by the book, students will explore what it means to approach philanthropy with empathy and a genuine understanding of the people they hope to serve.

The council will also welcome guest speakers and community panels throughout the year, introducing students to local leaders, volunteers, and philanthropists who are making a difference in White County. These conversations will help students see the many ways people contribute to their communities, while building connections with adults who can encourage and mentor them along the way.

At the Community Foundation, we believe young people aren't simply the leaders of tomorrow. They have the ability to lead, contribute, and create meaningful change right now. When we invite students to the table, trust them with real responsibilities, and encourage them to share their perspectives, we are doing more than teaching philanthropy. We are helping them discover their own strengths, recognize their value, and understand that their voices matter.

And perhaps most importantly, we're investing in a generation of young people who know they belong to a community that believes in them.

We couldn't be more excited to see what this fifth cohort accomplishes. With 22 enthusiastic students, ambitious goals, and a year full of opportunities ahead, the future of youth philanthropy in White County is bright!

2026–2027 Youth Philanthropy Council Members

Sophia Culp, Tri-County

Olivia Dahlenburg, North White

Adalynn Demerly, Tri-County

Jorie Deno, North White

Blake Earney, Tri-County

Ava Getz, Twin Lakes

George Govert, Frontier

Brooke Greene, Tri-County

Ella Grennes, Twin Lakes

Paige Gutwein, Twin Lakes

Sami Hindi Jr., Frontier

Lillie Jaynes, Frontier

Skylar Phelps, North White

Clara Plantenga, Twin Lakes

Harvey Plantenga, Twin Lakes

Casserly Raney, Frontier

Shaylen Shepherd, Frontier

Emmalyn Stockment, Frontier

Blake Turner, Frontier

Mary Kate Waikel, Twin Lakes

Katy Westerhouse, North White

Ellie Zarse, Twin Lakes