The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation (NCCF), in partnership with the YWCA Westfield's Girls Leadership Initiative (GLI), recently celebrated the impact of youth-led philanthropy benefiting the Westfield Recreation Department. The initiative was made possible through support from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.
Participants in the Girls Leadership Initiative of YWCA Westfield recently took part in NCCF's regranting initiative through a hands-off philanthropy workshop. The focus was on community impact through grantmaking while empowering participants to make real funding decisions. Youth were challenged to identify community needs, explore organizations addressing those needs, and determine where funding could make the greatest difference. Working together, they discussed both the strengths and challenges their community faces. Their conversations highlighted concerns including mental health, food insecurity, educational support, environmental stewardship, and opportunities for youth engagement.
One theme consistently emerged throughout the discussion: the need for more opportunities for teens to connect, build relationships, and participate in activities outside of school that are low pressure.
After careful consideration, the youth chose to award a $500 mini-grant to the Westfield Recreation Department in support of summer recreation programming at Welch Field. The grant was presented to Recreation Director Andrew Webster during a gathering of community partners, including NCCF representatives Leslie Wille and Jeannie Gallaway, Girls Leadership Initiative Facilitator Bonnie Hartley, and YWCA Westfield Executive Director Stephanie Stevens. The group celebrated the students' work and discussed the important role young people play in identifying community needs and shaping local solutions.
Bella, a participant in the Girls Leadership Initiative, shared that programs like GLI and the Westfield Recreation Department are especially important in rural communities where opportunities for teenagers can be limited. She explained that participating in these programs helps young people feel connected to one another while creating opportunities to make a positive impact in their communities. The event also highlighted the importance of listening to young people when identifying community needs and developing solutions.
Gallaway says the regranting initiative "is about more than funding; it is about connection, trust, and possibility. By engaging young people in real decision-making, we are helping them understand the power of philanthropy while demonstrating that their perspectives matter. Their ideas help us better understand our communities and identify opportunities we might otherwise overlook."
The initiative also demonstrated the power of collaboration. Throughout the discussion, participants emphasized that organizations can achieve more when they work together, share resources, and support one another in service of a common goal.
Photo by the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation
