Hamilton County Youth as Resources, a program of United Way of Central Indiana, has awarded $11,969.37 to fund community service projects designed and implemented by Hamilton County youth.
A kickoff celebration was held on March 12 at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds to honor area youth volunteers. This year, Hamilton County YAR awarded grants to 19 youth-led projects. Josh Bleill, community outreach speaker for the Indianapolis Colts, spoke at the event.
“United Way of Central Indiana is proud to support Hamilton County’s Youth as Resources grants because they have such a positive impact on youth and our community,” Joan Isaac, United Way of Central Indiana’s area director for Hamilton County, said.
The 2013 grant recipients in Carmel include:
- Eagle Scout Project for Ben Burdick Invasive Species Removal – $353.62. Boys Scouts of America will assist in this Eagle Scout project to restore an area of Cool Creek Park that is currently unusable due to invasive honeysuckle. The project will remove the honeysuckle, safely dispose of the honeysuckle, and replant the area with wildflowers that will grow easily in the forested environment.
- Fun and Games at the Julian Center – $361.84. Students from University High School will plan and run three holiday-themed parties for children living at Julian Center. Parties are planned for Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day and will give the children a chance for positive interaction with teenagers as well as having fun in a safe environment.
- Plots to Plates Community Area – $445.02. Members of the CCS Green Team will build a freestanding stage and seating area in a community garden for use at community events such as educational classes, gardening presentations, youth events and activities and family gatherings. The project includes a handicap access ramp along with tiles decorated by Carmel Clay students.
- Refurbish Playground Area For Hope Church – $849.81. Boy Scouts of Troop 180 and the Hope Church youth group will support this Eagle Scout project to refurbish the Hope Church playground which currently contains many safety hazards to children. Fence repair, mulching, painting play structures and building a new picnic table are all part of creating a safe place for children of the neighborhood to play.
- Rolling Libraries 4 Kids – $999.50. This club from Carmel High School will be creating six Rolling Libraries for Kids to be distributed to area AYS programs to improve the reading skills of children. The project includes collecting books, labeling them with color codes indicating reading level, and decorating the rolling carts with colorful and fun labels that contain contact information and recognize sponsors.
Other YAR grant recipients included: Artfully Gardening, $752.66; Revitalization of Nature Center at Cumberland Road Elementary, $468.40; Capes for Kids, $664.65; Hospital Cheer, $807.61; NHS Kids Against Hunger Packing Party, $1,000; Giving Sum Garden Gazebo, $850; Hidden Talents, $553.02; Catio Advancement Task project, $314.42; GOYA Soup Kitchen, $741.40; The Lighthouse Relief, $583.32; Lunch Buddies 2.0, $349.10; Y12SR: Bend Against Relapse, $867.50; Generations Tied Together, $479.50; and Revolution of Hope: Community Helping Community, $528.
Since its inception in 1996, Youth as Resources has awarded 260 projects, engaged 7,428 youth volunteers and awarded more than $218,871.09 in Hamilton County. The next grant cycle will begin in November with grant dollars awarded in March 2014. For more information, contact Jill Troha at jill.troha@uwci.org or call 366-5413.