Forever Improving Steuben County Together (FIST)
FIST emerged in 1996 as a program of the Dekko Foundation, whose desire was to encourage the next generation of philanthropy. FIST calls on the energy and intelligence of young people in grades 8-12 from Angola, Fremont, and Hamilton schools to solve problems and face challenges they all share. FIST members acquire skills through the operation of their organization; they learn about what it means to be good stewards of community resources and become good volunteers- here or anywhere else they land in their lifetime. They are grantmakers who apply their know-how and use their resources to solve real life problems. They advocate their beliefs, raise funds for good works, and are generous. FIST members are tomorrow's civic leaders and social problem solvers.

Working with youth is like throwing a stone into a pond; the ripples keep expanding far beyond our time and place, far beyond our ability to measure or perhaps even envision. The Steuben County Community Foundation chooses to work with young people because we believe that our generation has an obligation to express our gratitude to the generations that came before by helping the generations yet to come. We recognize there are no limits on what can be achieved, what deficiencies can be eliminated, ad what good and decent things can be accomplished, if we give our young people the tools to do the job- opportunity to fulfill their potential.

Programs offered by FIST:

Flowering the Future- On national Make a Difference Day, FIST members recruit volunteers of all ages and plant 4000 daffodil bulbs throughout Steuben County. Planting these masses of bulbs is symbolic of the difference philanthropy can make in Steuben County. When the bulbs are planted it doesn't look like much, but each spring our communities are blessed by the masses of color produced. The message behind the work is that even small amounts of time, talent, and treasure given by individuals provides positive and lasting change.

Littlest Philanthropist- Is designed to introduce small children in Steuben County develop habits of giving and serving. FIST members actually bring this program into the elementary schools by using stories, activities and handouts describing the gifts of time, talent, and treasure, and encouraging their creativity by allowing each participating classroom to make a grant of their own- to practice the lessons of giving and serving their community.

Wish Grants- Classrooms always seem to need "a little extra" opportunity to make learning a more creative process. To that end, local school personnel are allowed to apply for Wish Grants- up to $250 to enhance their instruction programs or school activities, for example: classroom materials, field trips, special events, etc... In the past two years, over 100 awards have been made in support of special projects and programs. Wish grant applications are generally available in September and due back, completed, in October of each year. Contact any FIST member or Anne Hamrick, Program Officer for more information.

FIST Web Site: http://fist.youthpods.org/