Last fall, St.
Mary’s Secondary School was accepted into the Toskan Foundation’s Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI). This program provides secondary school students with an opportunity to award $5,000 to a local service group for which they advocate. Grade 10 students in the religion program had the opportunity to develop a proposal for possible submission to the Toskan Foundation. All proposals were reviewed and the top eight proposals will be judged in a school wide event on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 from 8:30 am – 11:10 am in the school library. One of these students will be awarded a cheque for $5,000 on May 6, 2009 by a representative of the Toskan Foundation, who is coming to Cobourg to help with the final judging. “It is precisely through this type of program that our youth are able to learn first hand about the world we share, and just how much impact their involvement and efforts can have,” states Mark Joly, Principal. “The program provides secondary school students with a reality experience, empowers them to authentically participate in the development of their communities, and engages them as dedicated problem solvers and volunteers. Our religion program at St. Mary’s promotes a sense of responsibility, respect, and a commitment to building compassionate communities.”
The Toskan Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Initiative was launched in 2002, to help young people learn social responsibility and become active in changing their communities through philanthropy. The program is provided to secondary school students and it teaches them the skills to assess community needs and make grants to grassroots organizations that meet those needs. Over 75 schools in Canada are involved in the program.