GABY members to award Youth HOPE grants

by Kristy Venrick-Mardon
GABY member

Grants Advisory Board for Youth members met on Dec. 10 and 11 at Sierra Health Foundation to hear presentations by potential Youth HOPE grantees. Twenty-eight youth-led projects in Sacramento and Yolo counties that qualified for the Youth HOPE (Youth Helping Other People Excel) grant met a Dec. 3 deadline for their applications. The 21 board members (ages 12 to 17) broke into smaller groups of three and reviewed four applications each to get a better understanding of the projects.

On Dec. 10 and 11, once again in the small groups, board members prepared to hear presentations by the grant hopefuls. A schedule was established and a list of questions for the presenters was prepared. Each group was given 15 minutes to stand before the board and make a case for their organization. The board members asked their questions and answered questions from presenters about GABY and the grant process. The groups were thanked for their time, and were given instructions for the next step in the procedure.

The committees’ job now is to evaluate these projects based on youth involvement and leadership, need for the projects in the community, and the applicants’ ability to meet all of the requirements. At the next meeting in February, the small groups will present what they have found out about their applicants to the entire board. The board will then decide who will receive grants and in what amount. The Sacramento Region Community Foundation, which oversees GABY, will announce the grant awards on Feb. 25.

For information about GABY and Youth HOPE grants in Sacramento and Yolo counties, visit the Sacramento Region Community Foundation Web site. For information about GABY and Youth HOPE grants in El Dorado and Placer counties, visit the UC Cooperative Extension's El Dorado County Web site and the Placer Community Foundation Web site. Sierra Health Foundation provides support to the region’s three GABY programs through the REACH program.