Dunwoody, Georgia Teen a First to Win a $500 GivingPoint Grant
Several teenagers from the Metro Atlanta YMCA became the first youth to be awarded micro grants through an innovative youth initiative called GivingPoint. One teen, Forest Ogunyankin, a ninth grader from Chamblee High School, who volunteers for the Cowart Ashford Dunwoody YMCA, earned enough points to donate a $500 micro grant to help fund a mission trip to Africa.
Dunwoody, GA, May 06, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Dunwoody Teen a First to Win $500 GivingPoint Grant
Several teenagers from the Metro Atlanta YMCA became the first youth to be awarded micro grants through an innovative youth initiative called GivingPoint. One teen, Forest Ogunyankin, a ninth grader from Chamblee High School, who volunteers for the Cowart Ashford Dunwoody YMCA, earned enough points to donate a $500 micro grant to help fund a mission trip to Africa.
Through GivingPoint, teens earn points for learning about community needs, sharing their stories and contributing their time, talent and treasure. For every 500 points earned, teens can apply for $250 micro grants to fund the causes they care most about.
Ogunyankin is a two-year volunteer for the Cowart Ashford Dunwoody YMCA, helping hundreds of children and families in under-resourced communities through the Teen Leaders program. YMCA Teen Leaders helps teens realize their leadership gifts through serving others. Roughly 80 teenagers ages 13 -18 participate in the YMCA’s Leaders program at the Dunwoody YMCA every week.
Forest and the other members of the Leaders Club at the YMCA have an incredible tradition of teen leadership. They have raised over $10,000 this year for the YMCA’s annual Partner With Youth Campaign. They volunteer their time to serve as officials for the YMCA’s Youth Sports programs where 900 children play soccer and 300 children play basketball every weekend. In addition to this, Forest and his peers have participated in the Georgia Youth Assembly and helped cleanup at Montgomery Elementary.
"I've always had a passion to serve others, but with my Giving Point grants, I can use my time to benefit people even when I am unable to be there. GivingPoint is a great tool for teens to learn about philanthropy and get rewarded for volunteer contributions. It’s fun to give grants to the causes I care about!” Ogunyankin says.
“Forest is a great example of one of our teen leaders looking for innovative ways to fuel their passion,” says Wesley Bender, Metro Atlanta YMCA director of teen initiatives. “GivingPoint is a powerful tool to help our teens learn about and become philanthropists.”
“GivingPoint helps young people to tap into their passion to create a more connected, compassionate and socially responsible society,” said Derek V. Smith, head of the Myfifident Foundation, a private foundation that supports GivingPoint. “We make it easier and more fun for teens to find and fuel the social beliefs that are so important to young people today. We congratulate Forest Ogunyankin for his impressive efforts to become an effective social entrepreneurs and lifelong giver.”
About GivingPoint
GivingPoint is a youth initiative designed to inspire a new generation of social philanthropists who want to connect and serve others in a technology-driven world. Their mission is to unleash the passion and energy of teenagers to make positive social change and inspire an unprecedented level of civic engagement. GivingPoint is supported by the Myfifident Foundation, a private family foundation. For more information, please visit www.mygivingpoint.org.
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Several teenagers from the Metro Atlanta YMCA became the first youth to be awarded micro grants through an innovative youth initiative called GivingPoint. One teen, Forest Ogunyankin, a ninth grader from Chamblee High School, who volunteers for the Cowart Ashford Dunwoody YMCA, earned enough points to donate a $500 micro grant to help fund a mission trip to Africa.
Through GivingPoint, teens earn points for learning about community needs, sharing their stories and contributing their time, talent and treasure. For every 500 points earned, teens can apply for $250 micro grants to fund the causes they care most about.
Ogunyankin is a two-year volunteer for the Cowart Ashford Dunwoody YMCA, helping hundreds of children and families in under-resourced communities through the Teen Leaders program. YMCA Teen Leaders helps teens realize their leadership gifts through serving others. Roughly 80 teenagers ages 13 -18 participate in the YMCA’s Leaders program at the Dunwoody YMCA every week.
Forest and the other members of the Leaders Club at the YMCA have an incredible tradition of teen leadership. They have raised over $10,000 this year for the YMCA’s annual Partner With Youth Campaign. They volunteer their time to serve as officials for the YMCA’s Youth Sports programs where 900 children play soccer and 300 children play basketball every weekend. In addition to this, Forest and his peers have participated in the Georgia Youth Assembly and helped cleanup at Montgomery Elementary.
"I've always had a passion to serve others, but with my Giving Point grants, I can use my time to benefit people even when I am unable to be there. GivingPoint is a great tool for teens to learn about philanthropy and get rewarded for volunteer contributions. It’s fun to give grants to the causes I care about!” Ogunyankin says.
“Forest is a great example of one of our teen leaders looking for innovative ways to fuel their passion,” says Wesley Bender, Metro Atlanta YMCA director of teen initiatives. “GivingPoint is a powerful tool to help our teens learn about and become philanthropists.”
“GivingPoint helps young people to tap into their passion to create a more connected, compassionate and socially responsible society,” said Derek V. Smith, head of the Myfifident Foundation, a private foundation that supports GivingPoint. “We make it easier and more fun for teens to find and fuel the social beliefs that are so important to young people today. We congratulate Forest Ogunyankin for his impressive efforts to become an effective social entrepreneurs and lifelong giver.”
About GivingPoint
GivingPoint is a youth initiative designed to inspire a new generation of social philanthropists who want to connect and serve others in a technology-driven world. Their mission is to unleash the passion and energy of teenagers to make positive social change and inspire an unprecedented level of civic engagement. GivingPoint is supported by the Myfifident Foundation, a private family foundation. For more information, please visit www.mygivingpoint.org.
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Contact
Myfifident Foundation
Ansley Colby
770-709-5013
www.mygivingpoint.org
Ansley Colby
770-709-5013
www.mygivingpoint.org
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