The Idyllwild School Youth Grantmakers awarded $3,000 to three separate groups last week. This is the fourth-consecutive year that a group of students made philanthropic decisions to the benefit of the community and student life.
During its award of grants to local nonprofit organizations, the Idyllwild Community Fund began to set aside funds for local students to learn about philanthropy and its effect on their community.
The students were looking for projects that provided space and opportunities for local youth, involved the arts, and encouraged good behavior, and all-around health and well-being in the community.
Each recipient received an award of $1,000 this year.
Funds were provided to help produce a spring musical, “Alice in Wonderland,” at Idyllwild School. The funds will purchase scripts and costumes, the students said.
“I’m thrilled,” said Buzz Holmes, head of the school’s Music Department.
Another $1,000 was granted to the school’s Outdoor Education programs, which the Booster Club organizes. The annual trips are for grades six through eight.
The sixth graders travel to Joshua Tree National Park, the seventh graders visit Catalina Island and the eighth graders go to AstroCamp. The funds will provide scholarships to enable all of the students to participate in these off-campus events.
The third grant was awarded to the Friends of the San Jacinto Mountains County Park to recruit student interns to help design and implement the Junior Naturalist Program at the Idyllwild Nature Center for the summer of 2016.
“This will sponsor several youth interns, who will research and explore an area of nature in Idyllwild and then present a workshop,” said Amanda Allen, park interpreter at the Nature Center.
This is the second year the grantmakers have funded this program.
Photo by J P Crumrine
Photo by Chandra Lynn
