Jumpstart Our Youth
Celebrating the First Year

For a list of funded organizations, please follow this link: 2009 JOY Grantees


Year One Comes to a Close
As the inaugural year of the Jumpstart Our Youth program comes to a close, we are pleased to announce that plans are underway for Year Two, which will begin with the new school year in September.

During the first year, more than 3,200 students in 62 JMG sites around Maine provided funding of approximately $50,000 to 65 nonprofit organizations state-wide. In addition to the grant money provided by the program, many sites raised additional funds. These students also learned about community needs and provided thousands of community service learning hours to many of the grantees and other local groups.

This summer we will be adding more stories about these amazing young people and the organizations they are supporting. We encourage you to learn about these students and the JMG Specialist working with them.


Maine Students Celebrate, Share Success at Reception
Jobs for Maine’s Graduates (JMG) Middle and High School students from seven schools gathered March 3rd 2009 at Point Lookout in Northport to celebrate their first year as philanthropists. Joined by their teachers and grant recipients, students from the representative schools each gave brief insight into an aspect of community involvement that made an impression upon them and their peers. They presented their nonprofit recipients with oversized checks.

The audience heard how the JMG students researched and debated where to donate their grant funds and how to get involved: an economic downturn prompting increased need at the Tri-Town Ministerial Food pantry in Livermore Falls; personal experience in being a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters; the opportunity to become part of the “power of a wish” at Make-A-Wish Foundation; mitigating school budget cuts for athletics and music to maintain student participation – powerful community connections have been forged. Read stories from across the state. (Stories)

Many thanks to UniTel, Inc. for their support of the program and this very special event!

JOY Background
Forward-thinking Maine foundations Unity Foundation and Maine Community Foundation along with corporate partner, UniTel, Inc., have collaborated on a new initiative to teach 3,200 Maine middle and high school students about the value of hands-on community commitment and the principles of "smart" philanthropy. Jobs for Maine's Graduates, which currently supports 62 groups of middle and high school students, delivers this groundbreaking program. Much like foundations or corporations, students design and offer requests for proposals (RFP), review applications from local youth-serving nonprofits, participate in site visits, interview nonprofit applicants, review budgets — and then award grants. Simultaneously, the students develop service learning projects with their grant recipients in order to provide hands-on youth power in their own community while strengthening their understanding of the value of local organizations.

Mission
To revolutionize youth philanthropy in Maine by building and strengthening communities through youth leadership in philanthropy and community service.

Goals

• Empower youth in developing a working understanding of philanthropy
• Develop youth leadership skills
• Strengthen local community
• Increase civic engagement
• Youth In-Charge!
   

Why "Jumpstart Our Youth" (JOY)?

The winner of our naming contest, Brittany Lowe, states, "I submitted this name because it truly would jumpstart our youth and maybe give them more drive. Also I based it around the acronym 'J-O-Y' because it's simple and one everyone can remember. I also did this because I want to leave my handprint on a class that has helped me get to where I am today." Brittany Lowe is currently a student of West Virginia Weslyen.