Philanthropy Education Aids Rehabilitation for Residents at Mary Haven Youth Center
April 20, 2023 | Written by Branden Waggoner
Dylan Frith (center left) presents a $1,000 Magnified Giving grant to Grant Us Hope on behalf of the youth at Mary Haven Youth Center.
At Magnified Giving, our mission is to educate, inspire, and engage students in philanthropy. Our youth philanthropy program is designed to empower young people to become active agents of change in their communities by learning about social issues and supporting nonprofits that are making a difference.
One of the most inspiring success stories of our youth philanthropy program this past year is the experience of the residents at Mary Haven Youth Center (MHYC). MHYC is a nonprofit organization that provides residential services for adolescents who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, or other challenges. The center's mission is to empower these young people to achieve their full potential by offering a safe and supportive environment where they can heal, learn, and grow. Mary Haven Youth Center offers a wide range of programs and services to meet the diverse needs of its residents, including education, counseling, recreational activities, and life skills training. By partnering with our youth philanthropy program, the residents of Mary Haven were able to develop their leadership skills, gain a deeper understanding of social issues, and make a positive impact in their community by supporting a nonprofit organization that aligned with their values and goals.
The residents at Mary Haven had a great deal of interest and passion for subjects close to their hearts, and all the social issues they chose were selected because of their personal connection to them. We were thrilled to see the enthusiasm and dedication that the residents brought to the program.
To help guide the residents in their philanthropic journey, we arranged for Roger Grein, our founder, to visit Mary Haven and speak with the students. Roger's visit had a profound impact on the residents, igniting a spark of inspiration and self-determination that stayed with them throughout the program.
The residents worked in teams to research their chosen social issue and the nonprofit organizations that were addressing it. They created slide presentations to explain their chosen social issue and why they believed their chosen nonprofit deserved the grant. The presentations were impressive, showcasing the depth of research and passion that the residents had put into their projects.
The students were invited to present their findings to an audience of their peers and adult stakeholders at our NPO Presentation Day. Each classroom team served as the advocate for their chosen nonprofit, and the presentations were truly inspiring. The day was filled with excitement and anticipation as the residents eagerly awaited the announcement of the winning nonprofit.
In the end, the residents at Mary Haven Youth Center selected Grant Us Hope, a nonprofit organization focused on providing mentorship and support to at-risk youth in the area, as the recipient of the $1,000 grant. Dylan Frith, one of the residents at Mary Haven, played a crucial role in researching and advocating for Grant Us Hope, which ultimately led to their selection as the winning nonprofit. We are thrilled to have been a part of this transformative experience, and we encourage others to learn more about the impact of this program, Dylan Frith, and Grant Us Hope in this article by Spectrum News 1 or by watching the news clip here.
Throughout their participation in Magnified Giving's youth philanthropy program, the residents at Mary Haven Youth Center developed a wide range of valuable skills. Through the process of researching social causes, selecting a nonprofit organization to support, and creating presentations, the students developed skills in self-management, self-awareness, relationship building, responsible decision-making, and social awareness. These skills will serve them well in all aspects of their lives, and we are proud to have played a part in helping them develop these important competencies.
Mary Haven Youth Center exemplifies the impact that our youth philanthropy program can have on young people. We are proud to have empowered their residents to develop leadership skills, gain a deeper understanding of social issues, and make a positive impact in their community. Moving forward, we remain dedicated to providing unique opportunities for young people who may not have access to extracurricular activities, and to empower them to become active agents of change in their communities.