Forever Improving Steuben County Together (FIST), a youth-lead philanthropic pod of the Steuben County Community Foundation, hosted a luncheon for area superintendents, principals, sponsors, teachers, and Foundation Board members and staff on Thursday at the Steuben County Community Foundation.
FIST, twenty high school and middle school students from Fremont Community Schools, Hamilton Community Schools, and Metropolitan School District of Steuben County, shared their community and volunteer projects, grantmaking initiatives, and future plans with special guests. Students also took turns sharing what they have learned about leadership, philanthropy, teamwork, and the importance of collaboration.
“FIST was initiated in 1996 with the idea to cultivate the next generation of philanthropists,” said Jenifer Danic, President and CEO of the Steuben County Community Foundation. “The program empowers our youth to take an active role in addressing needs in their community, and allows them to gain skills in consensus building, critical thinking, and community needs assessment.”
Each year, the group collaborates with other nonprofits in the community and provides grants. The Trick or Treat for Canned Goods drive, one of FIST’s signature projects, collected nearly 9,000 canned goods for local food banks this year. Many of the members also volunteer their time at Balloons Aloft, annual WLKI “Cops for Kids” pie auction, and Shop with a Cop.
Wylie Fredrick, a Junior at Angola High School, and President of FIST, said, “We received 18 grant applications this year, which is the most we’ve had in a long time.” Fredrick continued, “Funding from the Dekko Foundation and the Steuben County Community Foundation, allowed us to double our grantmaking this year.”
Next school year, FIST hopes to host an event connecting the youth and the elderly population. The group is looking for partnerships and support to kickstart the initiative.
Through philanthropic services, strategic investments and community leadership, Steuben County Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come. The Steuben County Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization with assets totaling more than $36 million. Our vision: Serving as a community leader and improving the quality of life by assessing, supporting and coordinating philanthropic giving and endowment building. Our mission: Connecting people who care with needs that matter to our community. For more information on the Foundation, visit its website at www.steubenfoundation.org.
FIST seeks to inspire the youth of Steuben County to be the leaders of tomorrow by donating their time, talents, and treasures.
