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Media Release

February 5, 2007

The Community Foundation of Ottawa launches new grant program for youth-led projects

(Ottawa) – The Community Foundation of Ottawa’s Youth Advisory Committee is inviting local young people to apply for a new set of grants available through the Foundation’s Ottawa Youth in Philanthropy program. Designed to increase opportunities for Ottawa youth to act as leaders in community projects, the 2007 Youth Empowerment Grants will fund projects that are proposed, selected and implemented by youth. Grants of up to $2000 will be provided for approved projects that are initiated and carried out by local young people. The deadline for applications is Friday, March 30, 2007.

Launched in 2005, the Ottawa Youth in Philanthropy (OYIP) program is a local initiative that engages young people in the world of community philanthropy. Since its inception, the program has brought together a widely diverse group of youth between the ages of

13 – 21 to sit on its Youth Advisory Committee (YAC). In 2006, the committee helped to create the Foundation’s first OYIP grantmaking program, providing $12,000 to support nine youth-led projects in Ottawa. The co-chairs of the first YAC, Joy Ding and Stephanie Zhang, went on to win the Outstanding Youth Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) in November.

“The interest these young people have in making a difference in the lives of others is inspirational,” says Medin Admasu, Youth Programs Coordinator for the Foundation. “It’s been remarkable to watch how the program has evolved under their stewardship.” “This was a really exciting opportunity to help empower our peers,” says Stephanie Zhang, who worked with the YAC to identify needs areas in the community and channel funding into the most promising projects. “Reading those applications, we almost always sensed that real need was there – and when we could say ‘yes’ to an application, it gave us great satisfaction.”

For more information about the OYIP program and the new Youth Empowerment Grants, visit www.cfo-fco.ca.

About the Community Foundation of Ottawa

The Community Foundation of Ottawa is a public, non-profit organization created by and for the people of Ottawa. It connects donors who care with causes that matter and serves as a trusted resource for addressing issues and leveraging opportunities in the community. It attracts and manages a growing endowment, the invested earnings of which provide grants to charitable organizations. The Foundation’s role is as neutral broker in support of all charitable causes that contribute to the community’s quality of life. With its growing profile, the Community Foundation of Ottawa has built an enviable reputation for astute financial management, high-quality donor services, strategic grantmaking and innovative partnerships.