Local youth philanthropy group hosts luncheon for school, foundation leadership
Forever Improving Steuben County Together (FIST), a youth-lead philanthropic pod of the Steuben County Community Foundation, hosted a luncheon for area superintendents, principals, sponsors, teachers, and Foundation Board members and staff on Thursday at the Steuben County Community Foundation.
FIST, twenty high school and middle school students from Fremont Community Schools, Hamilton Community Schools, and Metropolitan School District of Steuben County, shared their community and volunteer projects, grantmaking initiatives, and future plans with special guests. Students also took turns sharing what they have learned about leadership, philanthropy, teamwork, and the importance of collaboration.
“FIST was initiated in 1996 with the idea to cultivate the next generation of philanthropists,” said Jenifer Danic, President and CEO of the Steuben County Community Foundation. “The program empowers our youth to take an active role in addressing needs in their community, and allows them to gain skills in consensus building, critical thinking, and community needs assessment.”
Each year, the group collaborates with other nonprofits in the community and provides grants. The Trick or Treat for Canned Goods drive, one of FIST’s signature projects, collected nearly 9,000 canned goods for local food banks this year. Many of the members also volunteer their time at Balloons Aloft, annual WLKI “Cops for Kids” pie auction, and Shop with a Cop.
Wylie Fredrick, a Junior at Angola High School, and President of FIST, said, “We received 18 grant applications this year, which is the most we’ve had in a long time.” Fredrick continued, “Funding from the Dekko Foundation and the Steuben County Community Foundation, allowed us to double our grantmaking this year.”
Next school year, FIST hopes to host an event connecting the youth and the elderly population. The group is looking for partnerships and support to kickstart the initiative.
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