Even Debons, who’s been a very active community volunteer since high school, didn’t know about GYSD until she started working for United Way.
Debons volunteers at Artemis Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Dayton International Peace Museum, and the YMCA teens in action mentoring program.
As a founder of the United Way’s Youth Changing the World volunteer initiative, Debons hopes to create more awareness among young people about GYSD and its numerous projects worldwide.
“We want to make youth aware of all the opportunities, and to prep them to serve their communities all year,” she said.
United Way has funded GYSD projects in the past, but they were more controlled than what’s envisioned this year.
In 2010, the group received a grant from Office Depot, but all supplies for the projects had to be bought there, which limited variety. Last year, the group funded 10 area athletic teams to prepare CARE packages for various agencies. This year’s initiative gives kids the ability to develop projects on their own.
“We wanted to be able to give them the opportunity to build a service project from the ground up so they could have experience applying for funding, itemizing a budget, researching community issues that are important to them, and executing an idea from start to finish,” Debons said.
Project grants of up to $250 will be awarded to any group of youth, ages five to 25, that has an adult mentor to oversee funds.
“They have to think about their project and how they’ll accomplish it to fill out the application,” says Debons. “I hope to see a wide variety of projects.”
Information and applications can be downloaded from the GYSD link at www.VolunteerDayton.org, or by calling Debons at 225-3050.
Applications submitted by mail must be postmarked by the deadline of March 8. Debon’s Youth Council and the GYSD planning committee will decide which projects will be awarded the mini-grants by March 15. Projects must be completed during the week of April 20-28.
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