Youth for Community Improvement, a teen grant-making committee of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation today announced the awardees of its 2016 Fall YCI Fund program. YCI, a complementary program of the Foundation's discretionary grant making pool, develops its own unique Request for Proposals based on the youth's assessment of community needs. Areas of interest for 2016 included food security, youth engagement and neighborhood enrichment in Central Massachusetts. This year, 10 grants were funded from the 20 grant applications that were received serving the YCI's areas of interest. Those organizations and programs receiving grants this fall are:

African Community Education Program, Cultural Enrichment Program $2,000

Ascentria Community Services, Mentoring Program for Unaccompanied Refugee Minors $1,600

L.U.K. Crisis Center Inc., Adventure Kids Camp $1,500

Main South CDC, Youth Corps $3,000

Mass. Audubon Society- Broad Meadow Brook, Let's GO! Worcester $2,000

Montachusett Opportunity Council, Bringing in the Bystander $4,000

Rachel's Table, Summer Produce for Children $1,600

Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts, Cultural Programs for Youth $2,000

Worcester Interfaith, Teen Jobs Program $4,000

Worcester Youth Center Inc., YouthSpeaks! Spoken word workshops and performances $500

“Over the past 12 weeks, we watched this group of 15 powerful young leaders come together focused on making a significant impact in their community through grant making,” said Sarah Shugrue, GWCF Program Officer. “Each week, they worked diligently together to ensure they had the right tools and knowledge to make difficult funding decisions. Throughout their journey together they developed a deeper understanding of the needs in their community and the workings of nonprofit organizations. The YCI Class of 2016 is an impeccable example of the powerful difference young people are capable of making together”.