This story originally appeared in the Centre County Gazette.
Six local nonprofits have been awarded $7,400 in grants by 15 Centre County high school students.
The students were participants in Centre Philanthropic Actions Created by Teens, a program put on yearly by Centre Foundation. The student-driven philanthropy program engages high school students throughout Centre County in discussions about issues their peers are experiencing and how various nonprofits can provide solutions for the problems.
During the program, students review grant applications and distribute grants from the Centre PACT Fund and community and business donations to local nonprofits that they believe will have a positive impact on youth in Centre County.
Since 2016, students participating in Centre PACT have granted over $52,000 to local nonprofits.
This year, funds were awarded to six organizations:
- ACRES Project — $720 for its Gardening and Growing — Exploring Aquaponic program
- Park Forest Preschool — $935 for its Mud Kitchens program to expand nature-based learning opportunities
- Discovery Space Museum — $1,000 for its Inspiring Curiosity — Equitable Early Childhood STEM project
- Dyslexia Reading Center of Central Pennsylvania — $1,000 for its scholarship fund
- The State of Hope Foundation Inc. — $1,745 for its Target Christmas shopping spree program
- Centre Wildlife Care — $2,000 grant for its Bringing Wildlife Education to Children program
Centre PACT participants announced the awarded grants and celebrated the end of the 2023-24 program year during a ceremony. Students explained why the organizations selected aligned with the Centre PACT mission, and organization leaders shared the impact the funds would have for their nonprofits.
With the academic year coming to a close, five Centre PACT students will graduate: Eric Clark from Bald Eagle Area High School and Olivia Zellner, Carly Erickson, Stephanie Field and Lydia Shen from State College Area High School.
“I’ve been at Centre PACT for three years, and I think my favorite part is every year at the beginning, when one of our first meetings features the nonprofits granted the previous year coming back to tell us what they were able to do with their grant money,” shared Shen. “It is really powerful to see that even in high school, we can make a difference. I feel Centre PACT has been so fun to be in and will serve me very well wherever I go.”
Students interested in participating in Centre PACT during the 2024-25 academic year can apply starting in August. For more information, visit Centre-Foundation.org.
