United Way of Lake County is Accepting Applications for 2023 Youth United Way Program through February 10, 2023
Mentor, OH (January 12, 2023) – After a three-year hiatus, United Way of Lake County (UWLC) is now accepting applications for their 2023 Youth United Way (YUW) program.
Applications are being accepted through February 10, 2023 and can be found online at uwlc.org/youth-united-way.
YUW of Lake County is an annual youth directed initiative run by United Way’s Emerging Leaders. The program was on hiatus the last three years due to COVID-19 but is now back and the organization is currently gearing up for their 2023 class.
The program is for high school students interested in developing leadership skills while learning about community needs and volunteer opportunities in Lake County. Throughout the program, students engage in site visits to local non-profit agencies where they learn about the services provided to those in need.
According to UWLC President and CEO Dione DeMitro, “Learning and leadership are dependent upon each other, and the development of future leaders is just one of the many ways we work to uplift our community. Our Youth United Way program is designed to advance the field of service learning, help students develop as leaders, and support educators. We believe it’s important for young people to understand the life challenges so many here face, the help that we and our partners make available through collaboration, and that one person can make a difference.”
The YUW program is facilitated by UWLC’s Emerging Leaders and takes place over five Sunday sessions beginning February 19 and ending April 16, 2023. At the end of the program, the students take what they’ve learned and, in collaboration with one another, decide which Lake County non-profit programs they will award $5,000 in real funds to.
The YUW program works to develop and nurture leadership skills through teamwork, problem solving and compromise; connect students with community leaders across Lake County; connect students with community leaders; develop a sense of philanthropic ownership; Improve the community through youth-led service projects; foster an understanding about the types of programs and services available in Lake County; teach students about the process of allocating funds; nurture the importance of keeping youth and community connected; and give students professional experiences through networking and decision making.
“The program always proves to be a real eye-opener for students. Most have no idea that nearly one-third of Lake County households struggle to afford basic needs like food, electricity, heat, medical care and more. The program gives them the opportunity to see how United Way of Lake County and their partner agencies work to make a difference,” said Kerry Jonke, chair of UWLC’s Emerging Leaders.
A program schedule and complete information can be found at uwlc.org/youth-united-way, along with registration. Interested parties may also call 440-639-1286.