2024 YAC & MiSTEM Network Grants Available

The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is accepting grant applications for projects that impact youth. In addition to the Youth Activities Endowment Fund dollars, the YAC has partnered with the MiSTEM Network to provide additional grant funding for STEM related, youth driven projects.

MiSTEM Network grants are available to youth driven organizations and projects in Huron, Sanilac, and Tuscola Counties. Questions about the MiSTEM partnership can be directed to Upper Thumb MiSTEM Network, Regional Director - Kristen Zagorski kzagorski@huronisd.org

The same application will be used for YAC grants and MiSTEM Network grants.

Deadline is April 12, 2024 at 4:30 pm.

If you have questions, please email Mackenzie (mackenzie@huroncounty.com) or call 989-269-2850.

Youth Advisory Committee Seeks New Members 2023-2024

Our YAC is seeking new members for the 2023-2024 school year. As our seniors graduate, we have to fill their seat at the table. This year, the YAC is doing open applications for those that are interested in serving our community through grantmaking, community service, and awareness projects. Additional information about the roles and responsibilities of a YAC member can be found on the first page of the packet below. The application follows the informational page. All applications must be received by April 12, 2023 by 4 pm.

We are seeking new members that are currently completing their 8th grade year. If you have questions, please reach out to the YAC Members from your school.

YAC Grants NOW Available

The Youth Advisory Committee is now accepting grant applications for their April grant cycle! 

The YAC recently surveyed the 7th, 9th, and 11th graders of each of our county schools.  They asked their peers about some key issues facing Huron County youth. Preliminary results show that the top issues include:

Drugs/Vaping

Mental Health

Respect

As the YAC evaluates grant applications this March any applications that directly impact one of the target areas listed above will receive preference. Applications for projects impacting other topics will also be considered.

All application info can be found in the packet! 

• Grant proposals must impact the youth of Huron County. 

• Applications must be received by March 13, 2023

Youth Advisory Committee Seeks New Members

Our YAC is seeking new members for the 2022-2023 school year. As our seniors graduate, we have to fill their seat at the table. This year, the YAC is doing open applications for those that are interested in serving our community through grantmaking, community service, and awareness projects. Additional information about the roles and responsibilities of a YAC member can be found on the first page of the packet below. The application follows the informational page. The application date has been extended. All applications must be received by April 8, 2022.

We are seeking new members that are currently completing their 8th grade year. If you have questions, please reach out to the YAC Members from your school (see photo below).

Join YAC! Openings for 2019-2020 School Year

Our YAC is seeking new members for the 2019-2020 school year. As our seniors graduate, we have to fill their seat at the table. This year, the YAC is doing open applications for those that are interested in serving our community through grantmaking, community service, and awareness projects. Additional information about the roles and responsibilites of a YAC member can be found on the first page of the packet below. The application follows the informational page. Applications should be submitted by April 10th for consideration. 

We are currently seeking to fill the following openings:

Bad Axe - 1 seats open - preferably a current 8th grader
Caseville - 1 seat open - preferably a current 8th grader
EPBP Lakers - 1 seat open - preferably a current 8th or current 9th grader
Harbor Beach - 1 seat open - preferably a current 8th grader
North Huron - 1 seat open - preferably a current 8th or a current 9th grader
Owendale-Gagetown- 2 seats open - preferably a current 8th grader or a current 9th grader
Ubly- 2 seats open - preferably a current 8th grader or a current 9th grader

YAC Fundraiser - November 7th

Join our Youth Advisory Committee for a fundraiser to grow the Youth Activities Endowment at HCCF!

"We hope to continue our commitment to giving back to our community through grantmaking, awareness projects based on our needs assessment, and participating in community service."

Enjoy a delicious spaghetti dinner from The Pasta House and support the YAC for only $10. Feel free to print and share the flyer below with your friends and colleagues.

Join YAC! Openings for 2018-2019 School Year

Our YAC is seeking new members for the 2018-2019 school year. As our seniors graduate, we have to fill their seat at the table. This year, the YAC is doing open applications for those that are interested in serving our community through grantmaking, community service, and awareness projects. Additional information about the roles and responsibilites of a YAC member can be found on the first page of the packet below. The application follows the informational page. Applications should be submitted by April 17th for consideration. 

We are currently seeking to fill the following openings:

Bad Axe - 2 seats open - preferably a current 8th and a current 9th grader.
Caseville - up to 4 seats open - current 8th-11th graders can apply
EPBP Lakers - 2 seats opening - preferably a current 8th and current 9th grader
Harbor Beach - 1 seat open - preferably a current 8th grader
North Huron - 2 seats open - preferably a current 8th and a current 9th grader
Owendale-Gagetown- 1 seat open - preferably a current 9th grader
Ubly- 1 seat open- preferably a current 9th grader

YAC Announces Top Three Needs

The Huron County Community Foundation Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) recently conducted their Needs Assessment Survey. These results will shape the YAC’s grantmaking and service projects in the upcoming three years. The YAC is the youth component of the Huron County Community Foundation, comprised of representatives from each of our area high schools. These students complete awareness projects, fund development initiatives, participate in community service activities, and award grants to local projects impacting youth.

What is the biggest issue facing your community? This is one of the many questions that the YAC recently asked Huron County students. Every three years the YAC surveys 7th, 9th, and 11th grade students at each of our county’s high schools to ask our youth their opinions on issues impacting their classmates. “Allowing our YAC students to administer the anonymous survey to their peers gives us a unique perspective into these students’ lives,” said Mackenzie Price Sundblad, HCCF Executive Director, “It’s important to us to give our students a voice.”

This year’s survey results led the YAC to identify the following Top Three Needs:

1-      Gossip/Rumors

2-      Drug and Alcohol Use

3-      Texting and Driving

The YAC will accept grant applications in April for programs addressing one of the top three needs.  If any local organizations are planning projects to impact one of these areas, please contact HCCF, as the YAC would love to collaborate around these issues.

YAC Grants NOW Available

The Youth Advisory Committee is now accepting grant applications for their December grant cycle! 

The YAC recently surveyed the 7th, 9th, and 11th graders of each of our county schools.  They asked their peers about some key issues facing Huron County youth. Preliminary results show that the top issues include:

 Gossip & Rumors
 Texting & Driving
 Quality of Healthy Food available at Schools
 Bullying
 Use of Tobacco/Nicotine

As the YAC evaluates grant applications this December, any applications that directly impact one of the target areas listed above will receive preference. Applications for projects impacting other topics will also be considered.

All application info can be found in the packet! 

• Grant proposals must impact the youth of Huron County. 
• Applications must be received by December 4th at 5 p.m.!
• Presentations will be held December 13th 8:30-9:30 am at the Tech Center in Bad Axe. 

YAC Grants $5000

The Youth Advisory Committee, comprised of representatives from each of the area high schools, met at their regularly scheduled April meeting to review grant applications from multiple organizations and hear presentations. 

The grant applicants were evaluated on a number of factors, including the YAC Needs Assessment Data, total youth impacted, and effectiveness of the project. Each year the YAC students dilegently review their applicants, hear presentations, and ask questions of the presenters. This year's grantees are as follows: 

-Scheurer Healthcare Network - THRIVE and Mental Health Matters Programs

-Huron County CAN Council - Child Advocacy Center

-North Huron Schools - Preschool Playground

-Thumb STEAM Showcase

YAC Accepting Grant Applications

The Youth Advisory Committee is now accepting grant applications for their 2017 grant cycle! 

• Grant proposals must impact the youth of Huron County. 
• Applications must be received by April 19 at 5 p.m.!
• Invitations for presentation time slots will be emailed on April 20
• Presentations will be held April 27, 8:30-9:30am

Please note in the fillable pdf file you will need to click on the fill & sign button.

Grantmaking is one of the highlights of the year for the YAC. We look forward to seeing the projects and programs impacting Huron County youth!!

Fleece and Thank You - Blanket Service Project

At our March YAC meeting, the students worked with Fleece and Thank You to make 13 fleece blankets. These blankets will be sent to youth who are in hospitals receiving treatment, It is our goal that the blankets will provide a pop of color and a sense of comfort and home to those who receive them.

Christmas Service Project

Two week before Christmas, YAC members visited residents in 4 local elder care facilities. They took their time together to make crafts, wreaths and candy canes, for the seniors to keep in their rooms as they celebrated the holidays. Below you can see pictures from these events. 

YAC Summer Retreat - August 28, 2016

The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) held their summer retreat on August 28, 2016 at the Huron County Fairgrounds. Seventeen out of twenty six kids were able to come spend the afternoon with their YAC Advisers.  After lunch, the kids enjoyed a round of bingo, treasure hunt, and some team building activities.  

They then reviewed the best practices, and what is YAC?  Officers for the 2016-2017 school year were elected:  Co-Chairs-Halle Keim and Kaira Osentoski, Vice Chair - Brad Pettit, Secretary - Lauren Kranz and Treasurer - Alex Schornack.  Planning & Idea gathering for publicity, fund development, community service projects were discussed. 

The YAC meets during the school year their meeting dates are:  

• September 29        PM    Thursday
• October 19            AM   Wednesday
• November 29        PM    Tuesday
• December 14         AM   Wednesday
• January 26            PM    Thursday
• February 14          AM   Tuesday
• March 22              PM    Wednesday
• April 27                AM    Thursday
• May 17                 PM    Wednesday

YAC Accepting Grant Applications

The Youth Advisory Committee is now accepting grant applications for their 2016 grant cycle! 

• Grant proposals must impact the youth of Huron County. 
• Applications must be received by March 11 at 5pm!
• Invitations for presentation time slots will be emailed on March 16
• Presentations will be held April 21, 8-9:30am

Grantmaking is one of the highlights of the year for the YAC. We look forward to seeing the projects and programs impacting Huron County youth!!

Walk for Warmth

On Saturday, February 20, nearly 20 YAC students gathered at Wilcox Park in Bad Axe to participate in the Human Development Commission's Annual Walk for Warmth. The proceeds from the event support HDC's heating assistance program.

We are proud that our YAC won the Biggest Team of Walkers award at this year's event! 

Showing their spirit bright and early on a Saturday morning! 

YAC President, Daniel Rutkowski, accepts the Biggest Team of Walkers Award on behalf of the YAC! 

Biggest Team of Walkers. HCCF YAC.

YAC Grant Supports Hockey Association

Exciting news from the Huron County Hockey Association and the HCCF Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)! HCHA is offering 10 full 2 year hockey scholarships to local youth, made possible in part by a grant from the YAC!

The YAC, after completing their Needs Assessment in Spring 2015, saw that drug and alcohol use and abuse were the number one concerns for our area youth. To help combat that issue, the YAC was proactive in their grantmaking, seeking out organizations they thought could make a difference. The Hockey Association came up in discussion because it provides an alternative activity for young people to keep them healthy, active, and drug and alcohol free. Their other grant went to Everyone 4 Prevention, a group focused on substance abuse prevention education, to continue their work in our schools and communities.

HCCF is excited to partner with these two great organizations to provide education and alternative activities to benefit our county's youth! Read the release from the Hockey Association below for more information on how to get involved.

"The Huron County Hockey Association is very happy to announce that we - just this past week - received a very generous donation from the Huron County Community Foundation Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) as well as the United Way and wanted to share it right away with our community.

The HCHA will be giving away Full - 2 year scholarships for the 1st 10 (Ten) kids ages 7 yrs. to 10 yrs. old that have never played hockey with HCHA and would like to play this year. This scholarship includes all fees and equipment (if needed) to play.

To enter – send us a brief email to hchascholarship@outlook.com about what playing hockey would mean to you.

Make sure to enter right away as 10 will go quick.

Good luck to everyone and PLAY ON!!!"

First YAC Meeting of 2015-16 School Year

September 22 was the first meeting of the school year for our Youth Advisory Committee! Since new members are added each year to replace members who graduated, the group spent some time getting to know one another and learning to work together. 

The YAC is composed of students from all of the schools in the county who come together with a common purpose, to serve as a voice for the youth of Huron County and strive to improve the quality of life for those living in the county they call home. Each year, they complete community service projects, give grants, and work to raise awareness for issues facing today's middle and high school students. 

Making to through the "minefield" while depending on your teammates for directions was the object of this activity. The students discussed how its hard to understand what's happening when too many people talk at once and how that relates to meetings! 

YACers try to untangle themselves from the Human Knot while learning how to work together to accomplish a goal.

Farewell to 2015 YAC Seniors

May 21 marked the final YAC meeting of the 2014-2015 school year. It was a jam-packed meeting full of many activities.

The first was a presentation from Michigan State University Extension Office on Tourism in Michigan, and specifically in Huron County. YAC students were divided into groups to develop a business model for a new tourism venture in Huron County. Ideas ranged from a "make your own milkshake- from cow to cup", to a winter themed water park, and even water biking. 

The next order of business was 2015 Grantmaking. This year, the YAC took a proactive approach, brainstorming and approaching programs instead of soliciting applications. The decisions were made with the 2015 Needs Assessment results in mind. Grant awards will be officially announced next month. 

Finally, new members were introduced to the group and seniors were given a final farewell. The YAC is graduating 11 seniors this year. We would like to thank them for giving their time and talent to the YAC and wish them the best in their next adventure! 

Students listen intently to at presentation from MSU Extension.

YAC Celebrates National Volunteer Week

April 12-18 is National Volunteer Week. In the spirit of the week, The Huron County Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) recently planned and participated in a service project that connected some of our area youth and senior populations.  The YAC was approached by Steve Jais of the Human Development Commission (HDC) who brought National Volunteer Week to their attention.  YAC Advisor, Emily Polega said “When Steve from HDC approached us with the idea of participating in National Volunteer Week, the YAC was immediately committed to the idea of finding a way to give some of their time and efforts back to our community.”  The YAC thought this would be a great opportunity to connect different generations living in our community.  Elementary students from Bad Axe, Caseville, Harbor Beach, EPBP Lakers, North Huron, Owendale-Gagetown and Ubly created spring art projects to share with residents at some of the local long-term care facilities in the area.  The YAC students then delivered the projects to residents at Courtney Manor in Bad Axe, Country Gardens in Pigeon, and Lakeview Extended Care Facility in Harbor Beach throughout National Volunteer Week.  The students also took the opportunity to interact with the residents, chatting and playing games with them.  YAC Advisor Emily Polega said “This was a fantastic opportunity for our YAC students to connect with different generations of people in our community.  I was very impressed with our group’s ability to brainstorm, plan and execute this idea for National Volunteer Week.  The residents that we were able to visit seemed delighted to have us as their guests, and it was wonderful to see our youth giving back to our community in this way.”  The YAC would like to extend its thanks to HDC for encouraging them to participate in National Volunteer Week, all of the teachers who helped make this project happen, including Mrs. Schaefer, Mrs. Fischer, Mrs. Mayes, Mrs. Collier, Mrs. Brining, Mrs. Klee, Mrs. Rothe, and Mrs. Whitting, and to the long-term care facilities and residents for having us as their guests.  The YAC members are already looking forward to participating in National Volunteer Week again next year.

Students from North Huron and Bad Axe deliver spring pictures, drawn by elementary students, to the residents of Courtney Manor.