Virginia Teens Award $35K to 16 Local Charities

Twenty-two high school students spent the past year doing something most adults never get to do: deciding how to give away thousands of dollars to help their neighbors.

The Youth Philanthropy Council brings together students from eight schools in Virginia's Central Blue Ridge region to learn how nonprofits work and what challenges their community faces. Meeting monthly at Staunton's Innovation Hub, these teens transformed from typical high schoolers into grant-making decision makers with real impact.

Wilson Memorial High School seniors Alison Troxell and Thea Franklin just completed their second year on the council. Both say the experience opened their eyes to struggles happening in their own backyard.

"I didn't even notice some before coming into YPC," Franklin said. "You understand how important it is to start taking action."

Choosing which organizations receive funding wasn't easy. The students had to debate how to split $35,000 among deserving nonprofits, with passionate disagreements about priorities.

"It gets a little heated sometimes," Troxell admitted. "But it's all out of love."

Sixteen organizations received grants this year, including The Neighbor Bridge, which provides food and clothing to families in need. Executive Director Chaz Fillion says having young people volunteer at food pantries and learn about community needs gives him hope for the future.

"Having a group of kids on a revolving schedule that are passionate about this, that want to learn, that want to engage is great," Fillion said.

The Ripple Effect

Sharon Coplai from Renewing Homes of Greater Augusta sees the council creating future nonprofit leaders. Beyond the grant money her organization received, she's excited to see young people thinking critically about their impact on the community.

The council, established in 2008 by the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, has been training the next generation of philanthropists for 16 years. Students learn that giving back isn't just about writing checks—it's about understanding needs, making tough choices, and taking action.

For Troxell and Franklin, their final year on the council taught them empathy that comes only from seeing firsthand what others face. They're leaving high school with something more valuable than academic knowledge: the understanding that they can make a real difference right where they live.