September 10, 2008 - The Greater Round Rock Community Foundation has formed the a young grantmakers council, the ChangeMakers, based on a successful national model. ChangeMakers is a youth civic engagement, leadership, and grantmaking program of The Greater Round Rock Community Foundation. The intention is to address the needs and concerns of Round Rock's youth from a youth perspective. Each year, the ChangeMakers will make grants to programs focused on the youth of Round Rock.
Grants recommended by the ChangeMakers are funded by generous contributions from community supporters such as Wells Fargo Bank, who has made the first $10,000 contribution to the Youth Fund. Grants will be made to programs addressing issues affecting youth, including but not limited to health and human services, cultural, recreational, and educational activities.
The ChangeMakers will begin its inaugural year in October 2008 surveying other high school students to determine the most pressing issues affecting teens. When this information is pooled and priorities are established, they will distribute a request for proposal to non-profit organizations asking them to share knowledge about programs or projects that address one of the defined issues. The young grantmakers then will decide which programs they believe will most benefit Round Rock's youth and determine which to fund. The ChangeMakers will take its recommendations to the Board of Governors of the Greater Round Rock Community Foundation for their approval and checks will be cut and funds distributed in May 2009.
The ChangeMakers will also receive "hands on" involvement by choosing and completing a community service project.
The Greater Round Rock Community Foundation believes that communities benefit when their youth gain leadership and fund development skills. The young grantmakers council will give young people an opportunity to help solve the problems and challenges of today's youth. The Foundation believes that by involving teens in grantmaking, they will be more aware of the importance of community activism and will realize the importance of tomorrow's civic leaders. ChangeMakers will be for youth and led by youth, operating with very little guidance from adult advisors. The ChangeMakers will enhance the decision making skills of young people, provide a forum for youth interests, needs and problems, commit resources to youth serving programs and develop and encourage youth involvement in philanthropy and volunteerism.
Teens interested in joining should attend the first meeting in Building 5, Room 232 of the First United Methodist Church at 6:00 pm on October 13th. Parents are invited to attend the orientation with their teens. Mayor Alan McGraw will be in attendance with his high school daughter and will address the students, offering his support of the program and inspiring potential members to make a commitment to the program's success. For more information, please contact Kami Barron at 514-0046 or kami@rrcommunityfoundation.org www.rrcommunityfoundation.org.