At its June 2026 meeting, Erie County Community Foundation’s Board of Directors awarded $17,700 in charitable Youth Advisory Council grants to numerous Erie County nonprofits, schools and municipalities.
In total, Youth Advisory Council distributed funds to 16 separate projects in this grant cycle, according to a news release.
Erie County Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council consists of 14 junior and senior students from seven Erie County high schools, including Edison, Huron, Margaretta, Perkins, Sandusky, Sandusky Central Catholic/St. Mary and Vermilion.
Students serve a two-year term and learn about community needs and philanthropy.
The 2025-26 Youth Advisory Council encouraged grant proposals that aligned with its priority areas: mental health, job training, childcare, youth programming, access to healthy food, preserving Lake Erie’s waterways, supporting senior citizens and animal welfare.
Grants generally range from $250 to $2,000 and are for one year. Grant projects must serve Erie County residents, the release said.
Youth Advisory Council receives funding for its grantmaking program from Erie County Community Foundation and its community partners Sandusky Rotary Club Charitable Foundation Fund Inc., the Mylander Foundation and the Dorn Foundation.
The grantmaking program covers a wide variety of needs throughout Erie County.
Organizations awarded
• Back to the Wild Inc., $1,966 for carnivore diets for wildlife rehab patients and ambassadors
• Boots to Grasses Therapeutic Horsemanship Program, $405 for I Gallop
• Campbell Christian Community Center, $1,000 for the Dignity Project: Confidence, Self-Care & Growing Strong
• Cancer Services, $1,000 for Care for Kids
• Care and Share Inc. of Erie County, $1,600 for hygiene — Keeping It Clean
• Erie County Agriculture Society, $1,184 for protective cages for 4-H static displays at the Erie County Fair
• Erie County Public Defender’s Office, $1,500 for Project Strength
• Family Health Services, $1,088 for McKeen Pharmacy capacity expansion
• Harbourtown Fine Arts Center, $1,720 for Inclusive Summer Theatre Camp
• Humane Society of Erie County, $1,500 for Humane Trap Initiative
• Huron Public Library, $450 for Unearth A Story: Resources for Summer Reading and Related Programs
• Obediah’s Hope: An Equine Ministry of First Christian Church, $586 for bits and bridles and saddle pads
• Road to Hope INC, $500 for Road to Hope peer transportation model
• The Parkvue Community, $1,250 for Parkvue Pals
• The Salvation Army — Vermilion, $750 for backpacks bags and personal hygiene
• Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church — Youth Group, $1,200 for supplying the needy through a Blessing Box