Since its inception in 2009, The Community Foundation’s Youth Grantmakers program has offered opportunities for Inland youth to discover the possibilities of creating a stronger community through their own engagement in philanthropy.

The Youth Grantmaker program has been working toward a goal of empowering Riverside and San Bernardino county youth in addressing the issues important to them through their participation in the issuance of grants.

In ceremonies held at the Sturges Center for the Arts in San Bernardino on June 5, Grier Pavillion at Riverside City Hall on June 12 and Temple Isaiah in the Coachella Valley on June 26, the Youth Grantmaker program celebrated with the 15 non-profits selected to receive a total of $28,648.

“Because of this organization, we learn that, though we may be young, we can still have an impact on the communities we’ve come to love,” said Saachi Kudtarkar, a Youth Grantmaker who graduated from North High School and will be attending the University of California at Los Angeles.

Eleven students from five high schools comprise the Youth Grantmakers program in San Bernardino. They awarded five grants to five nonprofits in 2015-16: $2,500 to Big Brothers and Big Sisters, $2,500 to Foothill Family Shelter, $1,000 to the Hamilton Essentials Foundation, $2,000 to Project Fighting Chance and $2,000 to Youth Hope Foundation. I have learned more about my community and how important youth involvement is,” said Vivian Gutierrez, a Youth Grantmaker who graduated from San Bernardino High School and will be attending San Bernardino Valley College.

To find out more about the Youth Grantmakers Program, call The Community Foundation at 951-241-7777.