Enriching Young Lives Through Philanthropy
The Luzerne Foundation’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is a program designed to introduce local high school students to philanthropy and community development. The program provides hands-on experience that benefits both the participating students and local charities.
Students work in the community to raise money, build endowment funds, and make grants to non-profit organizations improving the lives in our community. YAC is an opportunity to prepare young people to be active, lifelong community citizens.
YAC awards grants to support programs working to improve the Luzerne County Area. Grants are reviewed by YAC members and awarded in late spring, at the end of each school year.
YAC Students learn and experience a first-hand look at their community by:
Community Outreach
Monthly meetings include guest speakers who work within our community, and discuss the importance of supporting our area in ways that are meaningful and impactful.
Fund Raising
Students are tasked with finding creative ways to raise funds. They make connections with businesses and local community members to develop a fundraising plan. All funds raised help build the YAC endowment, allowing more money to be awarded in grants each year.
Grant Making
Students will invite nonprofit organizations to apply and present at their nonprofit forum in December. Each presenter has 3 minutes to share their story and how funding from YAC will support their mission. YAC students deliberate and select 4-6 organizations to be awarded grants at their annual award banquet.
2024-2025 Program Sponsor
2024-2025 YAC Kickoff Dinner
YAC Grantmaking Since Inception
Total Nonprofits Supported: 46
Total Grants and In-Kind Gifts: $189,775
2023-2024
| $7,000 | MamaBird NEPA Inc. |
| $4,000 | Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc. |
| $5,000 | United Way of Wyoming Valley |
| $6,000 | Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania |
2022-2023
| $3,000 | Wilkes University |
| $3,000 | The Jump Start Cart |
| $4,000 | Restored Church |
| $5,000 | Dinners for Kids, Inc. |
| $2,000 | CASA of Luzerne County |
| $3,000 | Family Service Association of NEPA |
2021-2022
| $5,500 | Parenting Autism United |
| $4,500 | United Way of Wyoming Valley |
| $4,000 | NEPA Philharmonic |
| $3,500 | Volunteers of America |
| $2,500 | Think Big Pediatric Cancer Fund |
2020-2021
| $5,000 | Domestic Violence Service Center – Playground Expansion |
| $5,000 | Catholic Youth Center – Taste and See Program |
| $5,000 | Catherine McAuley Center — Virtual Learning Supplies and Purchases |
| $1,000 | Camp Koala — Scholarships |
2019-2020
| $5,000 | The Wright Center for Community Health – Stratus Video Language App |
| $5,000 | The Family Service Association of NEPA ~ Help Line/211 Service |
| $5,000 | Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation — for the purchase of a drone to assist with watershed mapping |
2018-2019
| $5,500 | F.M. Kirby Center – Sensory Friendly Theater |
| $5,500 | PA Environment Council – Community Illegal Dumpsite Cleanup Program |
| $5,000 | Mom-n-Pa Dental – Dental Program June 7 & 8 at Mohegan Sun Arena |
2017-2018
| $5,000 | Family Service Association of NEPA |
| $5,000 | Camp Orchard Hill |
| $5,000 | The Hope Center of Wyoming Valley |
| $1,000 | Wyoming Valley Catholic Youth Center |
2016-2017
| $5,000 | Helping Hands Society, Bringing the Outside In |
| $5,000 | McGlynn Center, Weekend Program |
| $5,000 | Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, The Community Based Cancer Screening Navigation Program |
| $1,000 | St. Joseph’s Center, medical equipment for Luzerne County Intermediate Care |
| $775 | CASA of Luzerne County, Resource Library: Special gift of games/toys |
2015-2016
| $5,000 | Hazleton Integration Project, After School Scholarship Program |
| $5,000 | Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, SPOT On Preschool Camp |
| $3,500 | YMCA of Wilkes-Barre, Tasty Thursday Program |
| $2,500 | Women’s Resource Center, Safe Housing Program |
2014-2015
| $5,000 | Children’s Service Center, Music Intervention |
| $5,000 | Ruth’s Place, Staff Expansion |
| $3,000 | Cori’s Place, Mind & Body |
| $3,000 | The United Way of Wyoming Valley, Success by 6 |
2013-2014
| $5,000 | CASA of Luzerne County, CASA Training Classes |
| $5,000 | Volunteers in Medicine, A Healthy Smile for a Healthy Start |
| $5,000 | Wyoming Valley Children’s Association, Multi-Sensory Room |
| $1,000 | Marlee’s Mission, Scholarships |
