Concord students give $9,000 to area nonprofits

By Sarah Thomas, Town Correspondent

Students at the Fenn School in Concord distributed $9,000 in grants to area organizations as part of the Foundation for MetroWest’s Youth in Philanthropy Program. The grants will help local theaters, youth groups, and other nonprofits, according to a release.

“It is important for our youth to participate directly in community philanthropy,” said Judith Salerno, executive director of the Foundation for MetroWest. “Through the Youth in Philanthropy program they learn valuable skills that will lay the groundwork for sustaining our communities in the future.”

Participating students reviewed grant proposals, conducted site visits, and made final decisions on grant distributions.

Grant recipients include Room to Dream Foundation ($3,000), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MA/MetroWest ($2,500), Concord Youth Theatre ($1,750), and Lovelane Special Needs Horseback Riding program ($1,750).

Youth in Philanthropy is a hands-on, semester-long program that teaches school students the fundamentals of grant making, giving back to the community, and the nonprofit world. The Foundation for MetroWest partners with area schools to facilitate the program.

For more information on the Youth in Philanthropy program visit www.FoundationforMetroWest.org.