Danbury High School Peer Leadership Among Grant Recipients for Youth-Led Service Projects
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont and Connecticut Office of Higher Education Commissioner Timothy D. Larson have announced the awarding of $38,787 in mini-grants through the Connecticut Commission on Community Service, also known as Serve Connecticut. These grants will support five youth-led initiatives across the state, including a standout project at Danbury High School.
The funding, made available by a grant from The Allstate Foundation in partnership with America’s Service Commissions, aims to increase youth-led service opportunities in Connecticut. Serve Connecticut is one of only ten state and territorial service commissions selected to receive a 2024 Empowering Youth-Led Service Grant.
“The volume and quality of youth-led service project proposals received by Serve Connecticut for this opportunity is a testament to the motivation among youth in our state to have a voice and make an impact,” Governor Lamont said. “We are so proud of every applicant and urge them all to keep up the great service.”
One of the awarded projects, Danbury High School Peer Leadership, engages students in designing and implementing fundraising initiatives that unite the school and surrounding community in support of youth-selected causes. This initiative empowers Danbury students to take charge of philanthropic efforts, fostering leadership and a spirit of service among young people.
“Serve Connecticut congratulates the five youth-led service mini-grant recipient projects and is eager to see these projects come to life and create the impact these youth envision in their communities,” said Commissioner Larson, who also serves as a Service Connecticut board member. “We are grateful to The Allstate Foundation for providing this resource to our state’s youth.”
- The Community Table/Mesa Comunitaria Foodshare (Willimantic) – Providing culturally relevant food boxes to families in need.
- Co-Curating for Younger Children and Youth with Limited Access to the Arts (Shelton) – A mobile juried art exhibition bringing middle and high school art to young children who lack access to museum enrichment.
- EmpowerHER Period Poverty Initiative for Girls (Bridgeport) – Supplying menstrual products and education to girls ages 10 to 18.
- Teen-Driven Community Service (New London) – Supporting youth-led service projects while providing positive development opportunities.
Serve Connecticut received more than 150 applications from schools, municipalities, agencies, and youth-serving organizations proposing a wide range of youth-led service initiatives. Mini-grants of up to $8,000 were awarded to support project development and implementation.
“The Allstate Foundation believes that empowering youth to lead service is key to supporting communities and creating lasting change,” said Greg Weatherford II, director of The Allstate Foundation and Social Impact. “These grants catalyze youth service opportunities by increasing access, deepening quality, and putting dollars behind young people’s innovative and transformational ideas about how to strengthen their communities.”
For more information about Serve Connecticut and future grant opportunities, contact Kate Scheuritzel, Serve Connecticut’s director of programs, at Kate.Scheuritzel@ct.gov.