Youth Initiative Award Nominations Open Until July 15
“Good habits formed at youth make all the difference.” ~Aristotle
In the similar spirit of the Great Initiative Award, we know there are talented, generous youth in our communities doing charitable projects of their own. The Youth Initiative Award was created just for them. The award is eligible for youth age 18 and under who were the primary organizer of a charitable program or project. A $1,000 stipend to support their work is available to the winner.
Giles Joslyn received the first award for creating “Stringfest” concerts to raise money for new band instruments and music lessons for students who might not otherwise be able to afford them. The passion, persistence, enterprise and leadership he demonstrated will continue to be honored through this Youth Initiative Award.
To nominate an individual for the Youth Initiative Award, review the Award Guidelines, complete the Nomination Form and include letters of support from members of the community who can attest to the charitable work being done by the nominee.
Criteria:
- Will be awarded to a young person who was under 18 years of age at the time of the initiative and who displays the kind of personal traits and charitable initiative as Inaugural Youth Initiative Award Recipient Giles Joslyn.
- Will be awarded to a youth who was the force behind the charitable project, program, event, etc. and who saw it through from beginning to end.
- Will positively impact one or more important areas of culture, education, environment, finance, health, and/or society to improve life in Muscatine County.
Eligibility:
- The Youth Initiative must serve Muscatine County residents and have taken place in Muscatine County.
- The Youth Initiative sparked by this young volunteer should have taken place in the last three years.
Ineligibility:
- Those who received payment to work on the charitable initiative are not eligible.
- Immediate family members of the Selection Committee and Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine are not eligible.
Recipient:
The award recipient will be recognized by the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine and will receive a $1,000 stipend to be directed to the recipient’s charity or charitable cause of choice.
Past Recipients of the Youth Initiative Award:
Silas Hoffman for printing and donating PPE (personal protective equipment) such as face shields and an “ear saver” to alleviate discomfort for those wearing masks all day. He created thousands of the PPE and was able to donate to local nursing homes, hospitals, and more.
Vanessa Calderon and Isabelle Hartman two of the five founding members of Scouts BSA Troop 1127. They assumed the two highest leadership positions within the troop with Vanessa as Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and Isabelle as Senior Patrol Leader. At the week-long, council-wide National Youth Leadership Training they were the only two females in attendance.
Grace Longlett for fundraising and spreading awareness for the Ronald McDonald House Charity.
Kyle Hoffman for developing and delivering STEM education programs at the Flickinger Learning Center Summer Camps.
Caleb Hoffman for initiating and developing STEM education programming.
Emma and Abigail Yerington for Coins for Christmas to assist the homeless.
Erin Lagone and Katie Friederichs for a mentoring program for elementary students by high school students.
Hart Goldman for expanding the Muscatine High School’s library nonfiction holdings.
Giles Joslyn for String Fest concerts to purchase instruments for students in need.