by Jennesa Datema, Community 101 Coordinator
"This is an inspiring program that will transform students' lives!"
- Carol Hansen, Parkrose High School teacher, Portland
For the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of leading OCF’s youth philanthropy initiative, Community 101. During that time, I’ve heard high school students talk passionately about the lack of food for families or shelter for homeless teens. I’ve heard fifth and six graders talk about the impact of drug abuse on their own families. I’ve heard from executive directors that Community 101 students are articulate, organized and professional.
Based in schools, each C101 classroom acts as a mini-foundation. Students are given $5,000 to make grants to their communities, following a process of writing mission statements, volunteering, evaluating grant proposals and making funding decisions. After observing students during the decision-making process, I can tell you students are natural born grantmakers; they get to the heart of why a nonprofit deserves their support.
The PGE Foundation developed Community 101 and entrusted OCF to improve and expand the program. OCF doubled the number of participating schools and expanded the program throughout Oregon. Thanks to many generous donors, more than 6,000 students have granted $2.2 million to nonprofits in Oregon and volunteered countless hours in their communities. Imagine thousands of students learning about hunger, child abuse and homelessness.
OCF’s hope is that Community 101 students take this experience with them throughout high school, college and their adult lives.
How can you get involved? If there is a teacher – or a school – in your community who wants to provide students with powerful life training and an understanding of how being involved can make a difference, tell them about Community 101.
As part of the Community 101 service project, Kennedy High School students, Cassidy Pace
and Clint Shepherd, serve food to the hungry at the Church of the Nazarene in Cottage Grove.
Centennial High School Community 101 students made and sold paper cranes
to support the Children’s Cancer Association. They raised $250.
Become a fan of Community 101 on Facebook.