H.E.Y!, a program of The Erie Community Foundation, and governed by local middle and high school students, is looking for youth interested in better understanding issues facing young people in our community, using philanthropy to address those issues and contributing their voice and perspective to advocate for a stronger, more inclusive Erie, Pennsylvania.  Members of H.E.Y! will learn from community leaders, gain knowledge on the basics of philanthropy, invest real dollars to address youth and community related issues, engage in hands-on service learning, and elevate the youth voice in our region.  Once a student becomes a H.E.Y! member, they have the opportunity to remain so until graduating from high school.

In the last three years, H.E.Y! committee members showcased leadership in the community through:

• Awarding over $30,000 in grant funding to local organizations to address immediate of
        youth

• Conducting over a dozen service-learning projects benefitting a wide range of nonprofits
        including Autism Society, Shriner’s Hospital, Community Shelter Services, Bethany Outreach
        Center, and many more

• Spending summers researching and discussing issues important to youth such as mental
        health, poverty, racism and school and community violence, and developing strategies to
        address them


Completed application should be submitted by October 9, 2022.  For more information on the program, click the following:  https://www.heareriesyouth.org

For questions, please contact Mabel Howard, Program Facilitator (gamewithmabel@gmail.com) or Rachel, Cacchione at The Erie Community Foundation (rcacchione@eriecommunityfoundation.org)