Youth Opportunity Fund Grant Manual

Youth Opportunity Fund Grant

Manual For those thinking about applying to the Youth Opportunity Fund or YOF

Grant, needing help going through all six pages of the YOF Grant Application, craving useful tips/pointers, trying to come up with service project events, or any member of Key Club International

Youth Opportunity Fund Grant Manual Page Two | CNH KIWIN’S 32nd District of Key Club International

Electronic application: Signature page must be mailed in

Winners: Announced January 1

Two ways to fill out the application: electronically or manually Due date: October 15 at11:59PM EST (Eastern Standard Time)

Initial Funding: Grants are usually reimbursementbased

General Tip: Read this entire first page of the application thoroughly! Although it may seem like a lengthy introduction to the Youth Opportunity Fund Grant, it’s filled with a lot of important information such as how to fill out the application or where to send questions.

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Club ID Number: Found on the Membership Update Center (MUC)

Application Denied: To divisional or district projects

Advisor Information: Must be faculty advisor, Kiwanian, or school administrator

General Tip: Start the entire application as soon as possible as there is specific information such as the budget and timeline which will take some planning beforehand but the basic club and advisor information is important especially as the advisors should be aware of the project in planning,

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Disqualification: If application uses extra sheets of paper Tip: Emphasize how the project will directly affect the community Tip: More progress in the project will show determination to the judging committee Tip: Changes to improve the project are highly encouraged

General Tip: The more details on the application about the project will show the judging committee that the club or individual has invested a lot of time to plan out the project, The judging committee is favorable to detailed application because it shows that the project will occur even without the grant.

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Tip: Note clarifications on any location specifics such as cost or portion of large park

Tip: Fill the box out to further inform the judging committee of the project

General Tip: Be very specific about the ten project dates within the timeline to show how the project is very thought out and planned to the judging committee.

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Tip: Prior fundraising/ donations show positive progress to the judging committee Tip: Fill the box out to further inform the judging committee of the project

General Tip: Be very specific about the twelve project expenditures to show the judging committee that the project is very thought out and planned.

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Signatures: Obligation to the four requirements of the grant proposal

Money: Amount requests can be from $100$2,000

Three ways to send in the application: Scan the signatures and email the application, fax the signatures and application, and mail in the signatures and application

General Tip: CC your email if you decide to scan the signatures and email the application to make sure that you did send both documents successfully. Confirm with the Kiwanis International Office if they received the faxed signatures and application.

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PROJECTS THAT RECEIVED THE YOF GRANT Key to Literacy—Trenton High School Key Club in Trenton, Missouri Using their grant money of $500 in 2010, they purchased 544 inexpensive books through Scholastic Incorporated. On designated days, club members went to an elementary school in which they read to entire classrooms and left the books as a donation. The project was inspired by the low literacy rates in the impoverished town of Trenton. Their impact on the community was noted as a faculty advisor and English teacher has stated that the “Reading scores have increased”. Trenton Key Club has received another grant for $500 from the Youth Opportunity Fund to expand their project to include two preschools.

Washington Community Garden—Warren Hills Regional High School Key Club in Washington, New Jersey Using their combined grant and donation money of $2,000 in 2010, they organized a 72-plot organic vegetable and flower garden in addition with two water pumps and a deer fence. The project was inspired by the lack of gardens due to the vast amount of apartments. Their impact on the community changed the dynamics as 90 different groups work together to keep the garden in pristine condition. They have donated more than 1,000 pounds of vegetables to the local food pantry in one year. Warren Hills Regional Key Club has worked in association with a garden company to add 23 plots, four water pumps, brick walkways, and birdhouses.

If you have any additional questions or concerns contact:

Carolyn Le District Kiwanis Family and Foundation Chair kiwins.dkfamilychair@gmail.com

or

yof@kiwanis.org

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PROJECTS THAT RECEIVED THE YOF GRANT Bringing Art and Children Closer—North Crowley High School Key Club in Fort Worth, Texas Using their grant money of $450 in 2010, they purchased a wide amount of art supplies for the purpose of usage at the Barnes and Noble’s Saturday morning story time every single week. The project was inspired by the lack of funds in the arts department of local elementary schools. They also hosted a citywide arts and crafts fair which met with positive feedback from the community. Their impact in the community touched many hearts as parents saw how excited their children were to make art with the teenage volunteers. North Crowley Key Club continued to fundraise the crafts and story times in addition they donated art supplies to an urban elementary school.

School Patio Beautification—Glen A. Wilson High School KIWIN’S in Hacienda Heights, California Using their grant money of $200 in 2015, they purchased supplies to restore their school patio behind the media center for future usage by students and teachers.

The project was inspired to give the whole student body and administration a cleaner area in which endless activities could take place in the new patio. Their impact in the community was noticed as other teachers and students appreciated the effort to change

If you have any additional questions or concerns contact:

Carolyn Le District Kiwanis Family and Foundation Chair kiwins.dkfamilychair@gmail.com

or

yof@kiwanis.org

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SERVICE PROJECT SUGGESTIONS

School Garden

Work with your school advisor and principal to approve and find a place on school grounds to start a garden. Although the garden would technically be the school's, your club can tend to the garden as a service project. Tending to the garden may be planting the fruits/ vegetables, watering them, or pulling out weeds. You can also donate the fruits and vegetables to a local homeless shelter. The YOF application would cover the costs for seeds, tools, etc.

Blankets for a Cause Create a service project event where members come together at a designated location and knit blankets. The blankets can be donated to a local homeless shelter. The project is a great way for members to develop leadership skills as they work with others and directly see how their work has impacted the lives of others. The YOF application would cover the costs for fabric and other materials needed to create the blankets.

Playground Upgrade Work to enhance a playground by either repainting or repairing the tables around the playground or reinforce the safety mechanisms in the playground. Also, clubs or individuals can also ask the city in which the playground’s location is in if they could add new playground equipment. The YOF application would cover the costs for materials upgrading the playground, playground equipment, or improvements on safety mechanisms.

School Beautification Work with local schools to organize a day where members can come afterschool to assist teachers in cleaning their classrooms. Members can wipe down table, clean windows, change posters, or anything the teachers specifically request. It’s a great event where the school administration is exposed to the service that the club does outside of school. The YOF application would cover the costs of cleaning supplies, paint, etc.

If you have any additional questions or concerns contact:

Carolyn Le District Kiwanis Family and Foundation Chair kiwins.dkfamilychair@gmail.com

or

yof@kiwanis.org

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SERVICE PROJECT SUGGESTIONS

Adopt a Beach or Highway

Locate an unkempt beach or highway. With proper permission from the city or association, care for the location either bimonthly or monthly. This event would give members an opportunity to directly leave an impact to the community and also socialize at the same time. The YOF application would cover the costs of cleaning supplies such as rakes, bags, etc.

Children’s Holiday Festival Work with a community center or school to host a holiday festival. Set up food booths, games, or play a movie that’s family friendly and related to the holiday. Members could help plan and run the event through the booths on the actual day of as well. It’s a good event to build close relations with the city officials and the club. The YOF application would cover the costs of food, games, projector, etc.

Special Needs Program Work with local schools and community centers that have a special needs program in purchasing braille and large print books. Club members could also read to the special needs students as a service project event and leave the braille and large print books as a donation.

Not only do members get a chance to bond with these people, they are working directly with the community. The YOF application would cover the costs to buy the books.

Care Packages Work with different centers to either create first aid kits or care packages. With specifics from the different centers, members can create the kits or packages. Members can also include instructional flyers inside the kits or packages as well. It is a project that requires specific planning but the impact goes past just the center to families within the community. The YOF application would help to cover the costs of supplies within the kits or packages.

If you have any additional questions or concerns contact:

Carolyn Le District Kiwanis Family and Foundation Chair kiwins.dkfamilychair@gmail.com

or

yof@kiwanis.org

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CONTACT INFORMATION Carolyn Le District Kiwanis Family and Foundation Chair kiwins.dkfamilychair@gmail.com Nicolette Cruz

Danilene Prodon

Jade Lieutenant Governor

Emerald Lieutenant Governor

kiwins.jadeltg@gmail.com

kiwins.emeraldltg@gmail.com Bronte Sorotsky Club President of Palisades KIWIN’S bronteq1@gmail.com Warren Sargent Emerald Regional Advisor wsargent@sanrr.com

Youth Opportunity Fund Contact yof@kiwanis.org