Believing that collaboration can have a profound impact on the community, a group of Pinellas County teenagers has come together to raise funds for multiple local nonprofits.
Their initiative, Teens Who Care St. Petersburg, hosts meetings twice a year at the St. Petersburg Woman’s Club. During these gatherings, three organizations pitch their missions and then members vote to determine which nonprofit receives the Impact Award grant.
The winner will be given a sizable donation collected by the participants, which is dependent on how many teenagers attend. Each student contributes $25 to fund the effort. Additionally, the other organizations are awarded smaller grants.
The most recent meeting was in October, where Top Buttons was selected to receive $4,000. A check presentation was held Nov. 16.
Through a thrift store model, Top Buttons raises money to empower young women. It additionally offers ministry programs and mentorship.
The concept is based on 100 Women Who Care, said Teens Who Care president Simi Damani, a Shorecrest Preparatory School senior. She learned about the women’s organization through a school connection and started to volunteer at the St. Petersburg chapter’s events.
This inspired Simi and other students to cofound their own version. The project started in the beginning of the 2024 school year and Teens Who Care held its first event in January.
Approximately 130 students from various Pinellas middle and high schools attended each of the first two meetings.
To find nonprofits to support, Teens Who Care members send out applications and post on social media, Simi explained. A board consisting of about 12 students will then go through the applications and select three to consider for each meeting.
The chosen nonprofits vary in causes, said Teens Who Care vice president and Clearwater Central Catholic High School junior Kate Nordby. These include healthcare assistance for struggling individuals and domestic violence support.
Charlie’s Champs, which provides special events and adaptive equipment to children with disabilities, won the Impact Award in January.
“I enjoy learning about the problems that are in our community,” Kate said. “A lot of us don’t really understand the problems that people go through because we can’t really imagine them. We don’t necessarily have to relate to these challenges, but to do something about them feels good.”
Participants are encouraged to connect with the nonprofits through volunteer opportunities, Simi added.
The teens hope that the organization sets an example and eventually expands to other communities and states.