Antioch students use grants to pay it forward

YELLOW SPRINGS — Students at Antioch University McGregor will award $4,500 to three Miami Valley nonprofit agencies, thanks to a student philanthropy grant from Ohio Campus Compact.

The university was one of 15 Ohio colleges or universities awarded the Pay It Forward: Strengthening Communities through Student-Led Philanthropy grant, according to its Web site. Students in the Human Services Systems class will divide the money among three nonprofits, helping children in Montgomery, Greene or Clark counties.

“Three community organizations have directly benefited from this project, but countless families will benefit from the work these students have done,” said Karin VanZant, a human services systems instructor.

Winners will be announced at the inaugural celebration of the student philanthropy project at Antioch University’s National City Auditorium at 6 p.m. March 19.

“I was able to strengthen my leadership skills, work directly with community agencies, and be a part of contributing towards high-quality programs implemented in the community,” said student Becky Evemy.

The grant specified recipients must be nonprofits that focus on children and youth programs, neighborhood development and revitalization or hunger, homelessness and health issues.

“I am so proud of the students for all of their hard work this quarter,” VanZant said. “They took an idea of a project and developed a full-scale student philanthropy project in less than five weeks.”

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