Youth As Resources Celebrates 2017 Grant and Award Recipients

 
On the evening of Thursday, June 1, United Way of Racine County’s Youth as Resources (YAR) hosted the annual YAR Celebration to honor its 2016-17 accomplishments. More than 40 people gathered in celebration of the year’s outcomes.
 
Youth As Resources awarded more than $5,000 in grants to six youth-led projects in 2017:
  • Girl Scout Troop 5005 received $1,000 for its Silver Award project, to install four free book-exchange stations at Racine Montessori School, Glorious Light Church, and Zoe Outreach Ministry Garden.
  • All-4-One 4-H Club received $975 to build eight garden boxes for residents of Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin’s Tiny Home Village. These boxes will provide veterans food as well as an opportunity to relax outdoors.
  • Boy Scout Troop 126 member Augustin Weiss received $800 for his Eagle Scout project. Weiss will lead the construction of two kiosks, each with a bench and bulletin board, to inform and shelter visitors to Caledonia Conservancy trails.
  • Girl Scout Troop 5063 received $988 to build a Monarch butterfly garden, bench, and bird bath in the Racine Montessori School garden. The girl scouts will also visit local farmers’ markets to distribute milkweed plants and pamphlets facilitating better support and understanding for monarch butterflies’ role in our ecosystem.
  • Project Safe received $1,000 to take a group of young students on a hiking and fishing trip and provide them with fishing instruction and equipment.
  • Girl Scout Troop 5085 member Marissa Polzin received $1,000, to donate non-perishable food bags to clients of Bethany Apartments. This project received the Great Grant Award for exemplary fulfillment of the YAR grant guidelines.

YAR also awarded Susan Torosian the Gabriela Klein Award for Outstanding Youth Advocate in Racine County. Torosian has dedicated more than 10 years of volunteer service to the Racine Montessori School through fundraising, event organizing, yearbook planning, and leading its Girl Scout troop. She is a beloved mentor to mothers and children in her troop and at her school. 

“I could go on and on about Sue,” said Rita Lewis, administrator of Racine Montessori School, who nominated Torosian for the award. “She does so much without needing a pat on the back. I see how important it is for young people to have role models like Sue.”
 
Lastly, Shane Smiley received the Ruth Bradford-Johnson Award for Outstanding Service and Leadership to Youth as Resources. Shane Smiley has been an outspoken advocate of YAR and an engaged contributor to meetings, portraying his critical thinking, enthusiasm, and leadership at every opportunity.
 
Grants, awards, and contributors like these help YAR in its efforts to empower young people to make a positive difference in Racine County. “Youth As Resources empowers local young people to be change agents in Racine County,” says Jessica Safransky Schacht, education initiatives director of United Way of Racine County. “The dedication of the YAR board members and the incredible work accomplished by YAR-funded projects is evidence of the great things that can happen when young people are given the opportunity to use their passions, talents and energy for good.“