Right here in White County, there's a group of young leaders making a difference, and among them is Braylon Gretencord, a senior at Tri-County High School, who has been a member of the Youth Philanthropy Council (YPC) since its inception in 2023.
The YPC is an opportunity for sophomores, juniors, and seniors at all four county schools to have a platform for which they can make real change. As a functioning committee of the Community Foundation of White County, YPC members learn about leadership skills through engaging panel discussions, interviews, and exposure to various collaborative community efforts. YPC members learn to identify opportunities that uplift their community; by developing and marketing their own grant applications, YPC has awarded over $18,000 in grants for which the members witness the impact firsthand.
One of Braylon's favorite things about the YPC is the direct impact the organization has on local schools. "It is so rewarding to know that our efforts are effective," he shared.
For Braylon, being part of the YPC is about ensuring that teachers and their needs are seen and supported. "The impact that I hope to make by being in the YPC is knowing that teachers know that the YPC is looking to help them," he explained.
When asked about the YPC grants he is most excited for, Braylon highlighted those involving extracurricular activities. "This takes the impact outside of the classroom while still positively impacting students and educators," he said.
For instance, a ’23 Spring YPC Grant helped the Career & Technical Student Organizations like Business Professionals of America (BPA) and Future Farmers of America (FFA) in the Frontier School Corporation to purchase shared presentation equipment for their competitions, enabling them to compete at the national level.
In his free time, Braylon can often be found rehearsing for his BPA contest or preparing for a musical. He is passionate about musical theatre and helping the arts in the community.
Looking ahead, Braylon plans to pursue a Theatre Degree at Ball State University, continuing his journey of making a positive impact through creativity and community involvement.
Braylon's dedication to the YPC and his passion for the arts serve as an inspiration to us all. As he prepares to embark on the next chapter of his journey, we are certain that Braylon will continue to make a difference wherever he goes.
The Youth Philanthropy Council first launched in response to several years of data collection at the Community Foundation during Lilly Endowment Inc.’s GIFT VII initiative. These years of convening with the individuals, families, and leaders in our community, aligned with quantitative collections of local, regional, and state data, led the Community Foundation to spend the next five years dedicated to impacting our county’s mental wellness.
The broad concept of 'mental wellness' includes not only initiatives around direct mental health services but also efforts related to childcare, addressing basic needs like food insecurity and housing, and preventive measures aimed at youth, such as education, building protective factors, and mentorship.
Originally funded through a Regional Cultivation Fund grant from Wabash Heartland Innovative Network, the YPC is now developing fundraising efforts to sustain this program with an endowment… a fund to provide ever-growing support in the development of the next generation of leaders and philanthropists.
To learn how to support the YPC and their important mission, reach out to director, Lucy Dold at (574) 583-6911.
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