The Iosco County Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) recently awarded 11 new grants totaling $10,354 to area nonprofits, churches and schools for programs and projects that benefit area youth.  The Iosco County Community Foundation Board of Trustees approved the Youth Advisory Council’s grant recommendations on March 29, 2017.

• The Northern Michigan Children’s Assessment Center received a $2,000 grant to support the startup of the Iosco Children’s Advocacy Center.
• Whittemore-Prescott Area Schools received two grants totaling $1,850 to support the high school’s robotics team, and the Whittemore-Prescott Smiles food pantry.
• WE Players, Inc. received $1,800 for funds to start up a youth theater program.
• H20 Helping to Overcome received $1,500 to support Phase Two of its youth-oriented H20 program.
• Oscoda Area Schools received two grants totaling $1,200 to purchase video equipment for a video production class, and to support the Full Access to Healthy Choices program.
• Iosco County Coats for Kids received $854 to purchase winter coats for the FISH Christmas gift house.
• Hale United Methodist Church received a $700 grant to purchase violins for youth violin lessons.
• Shoreline Players, Inc. received $250 to support the Shoreline Players Youth Drama Association.
• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) received $200 to help send an Iosco County youth to the MDA 2017 summer camp.

The next deadline for grant opportunities through ICCF is with the Community Improvement Grant. Applications are due May 1, 2017. Nonprofits, schools and churches interested in applying for a Community Improvement Grant can access the application form and criteria at www.iccf-online.org. Those with questions or needing assistance with the application process can contact the ICCF office at 877-354-6881.

The Iosco County Youth Advisory Council is a group of young people ages 12 to 21 from Iosco County. Working with adult advisors, these youth work to improve the lives of other children in the community through the allocation of grant money. With initial funding support by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, YAC encourages young people to learn how philanthropy can help meet the specific needs of their community.

The Iosco County Community Foundation is a charitable organization that serves as a catalyst and resource to inspire private giving for the betterment of Iosco County. Led by a volunteer board of local citizens, the foundation oversees a group of permanent endowment funds from a wide range of donors. Gifts of all sizes from individuals, families and businesses are invested in a balanced, well-managed portfolio to build endowments, enabling support for local community nonprofits now and forever. To make a donation or learn more about how community foundations work, visit www.iccf-online.org.