High Schoolers Set to Make Difference

High school students from the Yakima Valley are helping to steer grant dollars into the community through the Yakima Youth Advisory Council, part of the Yakima Valley Community Foundation.

President Linda Moore says two high school students from each high school in the valley are selected to be on the council and they're charged with granting $50,000 to a community group every year. The money is from a fund set up by former Yakima resident and philanthropist Helen Jewett.

Moore says “Jewett set up a fund so that the youth of Yakima County understand how important community investment is.” The students are trained in how to review and grade grant applications and then they help the board decide where the money should be donated or granted.

The Yakima Youth Advisory Council has about 26 students serving from Yakima area high schools.