KIPP students tap into philanthropic side

LYNN ? Students from KIPP Academy got to experience that feel-good vibe associated with giving when they awarded $2,500 each to two local organizations.The Highland Street Youth Philanthropy Initiative chose to honor La Vida and Family & Children’s Service of Greater Lynn during an award ceremony Friday.?We chose La Vida because it’s a smaller organization and the funds will go to further help other students in the community,” said KIPP freshman Jaileen Ho, who participated in the initiative. “We selected Children’s Service because they help community members of all ages, and the grant will help a wider group.”KIPP Massachusetts (the Knowledge Is Power Program) serves 866 students in the communities of Lynn and Boston of whom 81 percent are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and 87 percent are African American or Latino.The Highland Street Youth Philanthropy Initiative teaches students about philanthropy, community needs and how to make effective giving choices. KIPPsters learned about nonprofit management, researched local organizations, went on site visits and collectively determined which organizations to fund.?I am thrilled and grateful that our students have had this opportunity and that their research has resulted in financial assistance for such well-deserving nonprofit organizations,” said Rachel Cohen, ninth grade KIPP English teacher, who oversaw the initiative’s facilitation at the high school.In addition to providing much-needed charitable support, the Youth Philanthropy Initiative is training future nonprofit and philanthropic leaders.?The Highland Street Foundation launched this program in 2009 in order to train the next generation of students about philanthropy,” said Blake Jordan, executive director of the Highland Street Foundation. “We wanted to teach the skills and knowledge these students will need to become community organizers, executive directors, board trustees and philanthropists.”In four years, the Highland Street Foundation has managed 51 programs in 22 locations. The program has involved more than 600 students, who have helped give away $340,000 in small, meaningful community-based grants.?Programs like the Youth Philanthropy Initiative are exactly the kind of partnerships in which we encourage our students to engage,” said Caleb Dolan, KIPP:MA executive director.?We teach our kids that strength of character is equally important as academic skills for success in college and in life. This partnership gives our kids the opportunity to continue to strengthen the character traits they learn to value at KIPP such as social intelligence and gratitude.”