2020 Youth Contest Winners

Congratulations to our 2020 Youth Contest Winners!

Battle Creek Elementary students will provide First Aid Training for students ages 11-15 that will equip them will the skills they need when they are at home caring for younger children or elderly family members.

The Panther Junior Optimist International Clubs will host an ice cream and bingo social for the members of the The Arc of Norfolk in order to provide them with a fun way to socialize and get out of their ordinary routine.

Gracy Day, Hannah Fowler, and Reece Lawrence will send care packages to deployed soldiers with cards made by first and second graders at Lincoln Elementary School.

Sacred Heart Elementary and Growing Families will assemble activity bags for children attending Project Homeless Connect.

Maran Andersen will provide bags full of helpful items to assist homeless people in getting back on their feet.

Austin Truex will host Norfolk Area Christmas in July, which will be a community-wide, family-friendly occasion designed to encourage local recreation and support local business through engaging activities, promotions, and sales.

The “Shade Masters” will plant trees on their school campus as a way of honoring our state’s inception of Arbor Day 148 years ago, as well as bring awareness to the loss of trees during the 2019 flood.

Dillon Grub, Garret Snitchler, and Jagger Spiering will give seatbelt cutters to young drivers and inform them about the importance and potential uses for them.

Jefferson Elementary 3rd Graders in Mrs. Rich’s class will provide their pen pals at The Madison House with a special gift and time together.

Sacred Heart Elementary students will be gifting a care package for cancer patients who are entering chemotherapy treatments at the Carson Cancer Center at Faith Regional.

 

 

What is this?

The Youth Philanthropy Contest is an exciting opportunity for youth and young adults to use their creativity, compassion, and love of their community to make a difference.  We want people from Kindergarten through age 25 to ask themselves this question: How can I make a difference in my community?

Applicants will submit their best ideas to change the world, right here in their own backyards.  Contest winners will receive up to $1,000 to implement their projects!

What do you mean “make a difference?”

We are looking for projects that help our community grow and change for the better and are “philanthropic” in nature.  Philanthropy is a big word but it can be easily understood as “giving of your time, talents, and treasure for the benefit of all.”  Here are some questions to help you think about ways to make things better in your community:

  •  What do I care about?
  • How can my caring help others?
  • What in my community needs fixing?
  • What would make my community a better place?


Your idea could be something you’ve been thinking about for a while or a totally random spark of inspiration – as long as it benefits others.  You could save something, create something, or change something.  Tell us about your best idea for making a difference!

What kinds of ideas qualify?

We’re looking for philanthropic projects that:

  • Have a positive impact on the community.
  • Can be completed by October 1st of that year.
  • Take place in Northeast Nebraska.
  • Are charitable in nature (which means it must focus on serving the public interest or common good).
  • Directly involves youth in the project work.

Do I have to do this by myself?

Not unless you want to!  You can do a project on your own, with friends, or as part of a class, club or group.  The contest has five different age-based categories for youth, so find the one that works for you.  The winner of each category will receive up to $1,000 to complete their community project.  In addition, there will be five “best of show” projects chosen also!  If you add it up, that is $10,000 worth of great things that will be happening to make our community a better place.  See where you fit in below:

  •  Kindergarten – 4th Grade
  • 5th Grade – 6th Grade
  • 7th – 8th Grade
  • 9th Grade – 12th Grade
  • Young Adult (through age 25)

**If the group has various ages of youth, the age group is determined by the age of the oldest person participating.

How do I complete an application?

Applications will be available soon for the 2021 contest!

If you have any questions, please contact us at youthcontest@philanthropycouncilne.org

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The Philanthropy Council of Northeast Nebraska is an account of the Norfolk Area Community Foundation Fund, an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation.