Foundation for Roanoke Valley’s Youth Leadership Committee (YLC) is accepting Letters of Intent from local qualified, tax-exempt agencies serving the cities of Roanoke and Salem, and the counties of Botetourt, Craig, Franklin and Roanoke. Only one letter of intent may be submitted for each organization. This year, one grant will be awarded in the amount of $15,000.

The Committee will consider projects for 2013 that focus on one or more of these five target areas: working to end homelessness; providing access to health care for underprivileged or underserved individuals; combating substance abuse; working to eradicate illiteracy; and providing resources to military veterans. Letters of Intent must be submitted online by visiting our website at http://www.foundationforroanokevalley.org/grants_Philanthropy_Project_info.html and using the Foundation’s online application. The deadline for applying is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 4, 2013. No faxed or email applications will be accepted.

The Philanthropy Project was started in 2006 by Foundation for Roanoke Valley to introduce students to the world of philanthropy. A Youth Leadership Committee, comprised of local high school students, is responsible for determining what it believes are important community needs, reviewing grant applications, and making funding recommendations to the Foundation’s Board of Governors using a $15,000 budget. To date, the Youth Leadership Committee has awarded over $125,000 to local nonprofit organizations.

The following students comprise this year’s Youth Leadership Committee: Matin Asghari, Lord Botetourt High School; Ford Carson, Patrick Henry High School; Cary-Grace Clark, Patrick Henry High School; Alex Cutting, Northside High School; John Futrell, Patrick Henry High School; Katie Marie Hester, Salem High School; Ollie Howie, William Fleming High School; Alayna Hyler, Hidden Valley High School; Grant Melchers, William Byrd High School; Sterling Moskal, North Cross High; Evelyn Strope, Franklin County High School; and Sarah Thomsen, Glenvar High School.

For more information, please contact Carly Oliver, Associate Director, at (540) 985-0204.

Submitted by Michelle Eberly, Foundation for Roanoke Valley