Hutchinson Community Foundation Seeks High School Students for Youth Philanthropy Council
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community Foundation is accepting applications from high school students for its 2025-2026 Youth Philanthropy Council, with a deadline of Sept. 19.
For more than 20 years, the foundation's Youth Philanthropy Council has groomed Reno County's next generation of philanthropists. Each year, a group of high school students transforms into a close-knit council as they learn about Reno County's strengths and challenges and build a common vision for Reno County.
The council's work culminates in a grant process that awards $5,000 to youth-serving organizations. Grant awards typically range from $250 to $1,000 and average $750.
"I'm always impressed by how seriously YPC members take the responsibility of awarding grants. They know their decisions represent the interests of the donors and impact the life of an organization," said Aubrey Abbott Patterson, Community Foundation President and CEO.
YPC grants are made possible through the Richard W. Dillon Memorial Fund for Youth Philanthropy, which the Dillon family established to honor Dick Dillon and his extensive philanthropic work in our community.
The 12 members of the 2024-2025 council are students from Buhler High School, Fairfield High School, Haven High School, Hutchinson High School, Nickerson High School and Trinity Catholic High School.
In March, the council awarded $5,000 in grants to nine organizations at a ceremony at the Hutchinson Art Center. Recipients included Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson for programs in welding and music production.
The Youth Philanthropy Council aims to fund projects that are created and/or directed by youth with appropriate organizational supervision, promote the healthy development of children and youth, introduce children and youth to the fine arts or support their participation in the arts, provide opportunities for youth to give back to the community through meaningful service, and build positive relationships between youth and adults.
Students from any Reno County high school are eligible to apply. Service profile forms are accepted year-round and may be completed at hutchcf.org.
For questions, call 620-663-5293.
Hutchinson Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to inspire philanthropy, collaboration and innovative leadership to strengthen Reno County communities. Since 1989, the foundation has granted more than $104 million to organizations.
The foundation is located at 1 N. Main St., Suite 501, Hutchinson.