Coatesville, PA – The Brandywine Health Foundation’s Coatesville Area Youth Philanthropy Program (CAYPP) recently held their Grants Award Ceremony at Citadel’s offices in Thorndale. Seventeen Coatesville area youth, young women and men between the ages of 14 -18, met during the fall and winter to learn how philanthropy works, and researched and discussed a myriad of possible philanthropic goals to improve their community before deciding to fund programs that address preventing youth suicide. CAYPP offers teens the opportunity to learn about the world of philanthropy through leadership training, mentoring, coaching, diversity components, round-table question and answer discussions with philanthropists, group sessions and team building in a safe and trusting environment. This spring, after a review of applications and site visits, the CAYPP members selected two organizations to receive grants totaling $15,000.
Vanessa Briggs, President and CEO of the Brandywine Health Foundation commented, “We are honored to partner with Citadel and their entire team, and this program would not be possible without them. CAYPP is one of the foundation’s signature programs that provides teens living in the Coatesville Area School District with a powerful opportunity to learn more about the needs of their community, how to make a difference, experience diversity and teamwork through collaboration, and to become actual philanthropists. We look forward to launching our fifth class later this fall, and congratulate the 2018/2019 class for participating in this rigorous program and strategically and thoughtfully selecting its 2019 grant recipients.”
Congratulations to the following organizations receiving CAYPP awards:
Child Guidance Resource Center (CGRC) received a $10,000 grant to support the use of preventative health care services to address mental health conversations before they affect emotions and impact someone’s behavior. They recognize that many teens, in our community specifically, struggle with anxiety, depression, grief, and low self-esteem and their goal is to help tackle this. They will provide groups of youth, mainly 12-16, with a safe environment to share their thoughts and connect with their peers. Their sessions are focused on helping participants understand and identify their feelings, which is not an easy process at all.
Minding Your Mind (MYM) received a $5,000 grant. Minding Your Mind’s mission is to reduce the stigma and destructive behaviors associated with mental health issues and to promote help seeking behavior in youth through education. Their suicide prevention programs that are provided are aimed at teachers, parents, caregivers, and administrators. The proposed outcomes and solutions of this program is for participants to better understand stigma and identify action steps to reduce stigma.
Citadel, the Marshall Reynolds Foundation and Genuardi Family Foundation generously support the Coatesville Area Youth Philanthropy Program. CAYPP not only distributes grant dollars to pressing community issues, but inspires youth to be philanthropists, explore careers in the non-profit sector and develop their leadership skills. For information on joining CAYPP, contact Kimberly Daye Hardy, Strategy Officer at 610.380.9080, x107 or kdayehardy@brandywinefoundation.org.
ABOUT THE BRANDYWINE HEALTH FOUNDATION
The Brandywine Health Foundation has distributed over $17 million in grants and scholarships, and provides resources and leadership, bringing the community together to increase access to health care for everyone, to help young people grow up safe and successful, and to build a vibrant and healthier Coatesville. To learn more about the Brandywine Health Foundation visit www.brandywinefoundation.org or contact info@brandywinefoundation.org.