What do a public mural project, the purchase of life-saving medical devices, and maintaining a safe and healthy preschool environment have in common? A funding fairy godmother in the form of local teens doing good.
The Middle Park High School Student Philanthropy Fund is an entirely student-run fund dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in Grand County. Although that mission may seem broad, the fund awards sizable grants of $2,000 per applicant to recipients in each of the following specific categories: arts and culture, health and human services, environment, education, and amateur sports.
Students evaluate prospective grantees and applications, choosing projects that show sustainability and efficacy. This year’s recipients included the Granby Chamber of Commerce, for their Main Street Art Festival/mural project; Headwater Trails Alliance, for hiring and training a high school field projects intern; Grand County Search and Rescue, for the purchase of 50 pulse oximeters; the Granby Rec Department, to purchase supplies for a blacklight volleyball court; and Granby Playdays Preschool, to fund improvements needed in their utility room.
“Without these funds, we would not be able to fund an internship position,” says Meara McQuain, executive director of the Headwater Trails Alliance, a 2019 recipient. “We’ll be able to accomplish more trail work, trail user education and train the local workforce. Because this money came from the youth community, we felt it was very important to use it to fund a youth position—we wanted to be able to give back and provide opportunities for them as well. We feel like it’s a total win-win-win.”
It’s not just Grand County residents who benefit from the fund—the teens who give reap positive outcomes, too. Evidence shows that kids who perform acts of kindness experienced increased well-being and acceptance among peers, setting them up for personal success. And that habit of charitable giving helps students learn about needs and people beyond their own experiences and world views, as well as fosters important life skills—research, decision-making, fundraising and entrepreneurial skills, and empathy.
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20th Annual Grand Classic Golf Tournament
June 14 -15
The annual golf tournament is back to help benefit the Grand Foundation and the Fraser Valley Recreation District (FVMRD) Youth Programs and we invite you to join us for this well rounded two-day golf tournament. The FVMRD will team up with the Grand Foundation to increase our tournament offerings. This two-day tournament will showcase two extraordinary courses in Grand County: Pole Creek Golf Club and Grand Elk Golf Club.
Tournament Details