The Foundation Center - Youth in Philanthropy/Your Stories

Your Stories

Natalie Barbieri, Kha Le, Eric Clark, and Shelia Ward of Washington, D.C., are involved in an anti-tobacco program called WAY Too Cool to Smoke!

They participate in the WAY Too Cool to Smoke! program's Youth Philanthropy Board, which evaluates proposals and recommends grants to organizations that benefit underserved minorities in Washington, DC. We asked them to tell us about the challenges and rewards of working on this project .

Evaluating grant proposals is challenging work-"as much reading as law school," Shelia cautions, but the program has enhanced the youngsters' decision-making skills. Eric explains, "The hardest part of the project is the individual grading of the proposals and the group voting. During the individual grading, sometimes I am too nice or too mean. During the group voting, we have to look at every aspect of the proposals." Kha reports that with practice she "learned how to cancel out unimportant things and get to the important things," and she realizes the importance of "not picking any favorites right off the bat."

Natalie, Kha, Eric, and Shelia also appreciate their new role in their community. Eric likes "finding out about more organizations in the metropolitan area," and Shelia says that the best part of her experience has been "the idea of helping others." Natalie, who initially found it difficult "to participate with people [she] didn't know," says that serving on the Youth Philanthropy Board has taught her "people skills."

The students were unanimous in their advice to other young people who are thinking of getting involved in philanthropy. Kha sums it up by saying, "I'd tell them that it'll be a great experience and to do it."