SCHOLARSHIP STORY – DR. JOHN WHITENER
An Optometry Officer and a Gentleman
John’s scholarship empowers Arlington students to proudly check “yes” when asked about LGBTQ+ involvement.
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Arlington Youth Philanthropy InitiativeThe core of the Arlington Youth Philanthropy Initiative (AYPI) is a Youth Board of students from area high schools who are committed to making a difference in Arlington.
These teens recruit and mentor peers to develop sustainable ventures that make a positive impact. The AYPI Youth Board makes decisions on grants to fund these youth-initiated projects and works to preserve and grow the Fund for Youth Philanthropy.
Arlington Youth Philanthropy Initiative (AYPI) is offering grants for sustainable, youth-led projects that make a difference in the community.
Contact us: AYPI@arlcf.org
Follow us on Instagram: @_aypi
Donate to the Fund for Youth Philanthropy
AYPI was featured at the 28th annual Spirit of Community virtual event. Get a glimpse of the group’s inspiring community-building work in the video below:
Past Projects
What are you passionate about? What drives you? Do you see any problems in the community that you can fix? Past projects combine student passions with challenges facing our community to create lasting solutions:
The Brief Dive – Podcast series created by a local high schooler that discusses the importance of mental health and provides the unique perspective of a teenager
WL Victory Garden – Established a local garden outside of WL dedicated to growing vegetables to donate to local food banks
SEEK (Science and Engineering Engagement for Kids) – Provides hands-on STEM activities to diverse young students to improve STEM literacy
Art for Patient Development – Supports the emotional health and well-being of children with chronic illness through the creation of art
Students for Racial Equity – Interviews students about issues of race and discusses findings with teachers; creates a podcast about findings
Monumental Films – Films documentaries on issues of interest to the Arlington Community
Steps for College Success – Conducts workshop for students about the college application process, including a financial aid session
Community Action Team for Teens (CATT) – Provides a clearinghouse matching those who want to do good work in the community with projects that need more person-power
Computers for a Cause – Refurbishes old computers and instructs those less knowledgeable about computers on how to use them
How you can get involved
Join AYPI
If you are interested in joining, contact us at AYPI@arlcf.org.
Submit a Preliminary Application
Follow AYPI on Instagram and/or contact AYPI to get updates about the ’24-’25 application period. Students will also be asked to submit a more detailed Action Plan and make a presentation to the Youth Board, following the acceptance of a Preliminary Application. We will work with students to make this process as streamlined as possible and help them to develop and refine their project ideas.
Application Process
1. Preliminary Application – To determine if an organization is eligible to receive funding, a Preliminary Application is filed. The project must be youth-led, sustainable, and impact Arlington (by engaging Arlington students and/or being implemented in Arlington).
2. Action Plan – Once the Youth Board determines the eligibility requirements are met, the applicants will be asked to fill out an Action Plan which provides details about the project’s sustainability (not a one-time event), budget, timeline/plan, etc. Each Project team is asked to select an adult ally and show research about other groups doing similar work in the area.
3. Presentation –The Final stage in the grant process is a Presentation to the Youth Board, where the Board assesses plans to achieve goals, the depth of your venture plan, budget requirements, your enthusiasm, and how you serve as a good role model to others in the community. Since grant money is paid by the Fund for Youth Philanthropy, grantees are requested to provide a non-profit paying agent and a follow up report after 9 months.
For more information, please contact us at AYPI@arlcf.org.
Meet the ’23-’24 board
Chair– Sara Ahmad
Vice Chair– Kamran Ahmad
Outreach Chair – Bronwen Kubaik
Oversight and Management Chair– Gabrielle Cordero
Fundraising and Sustainability Committee Co-Chairs – Hasan Mohamed, Anujin Enkhee
Outreach Committee Chair – Kathryn Boerckel
Board Members:
Nadia Lach Hab
Thea Maloney
Chrissy Gillen
Adult Mentors: Susan Duke and Kirby Clark