Not many students can donate to the organizations that matter most to them, and not many foundations can work directly with students passionate about helping others. In the fall of 2023, Eden Hall Foundation and Clairton City School District created a marriage of both: Clairton Student Grantmakers.
“Being in a small school, we don’t always have opportunities for kids to show their strengths,” Maureen Shaw, counselor for Clairton High School, said. “And now, they can really do that.”
Youth philanthropy provides young people with education and guidance to make grants to nonprofit organizations and projects in their communities. Youth philanthropy is about supporting students as they ask the questions: “What do I care about? And “How can I make positive change?”
During the 2023-2024 school year, six Clairton Student Grantmakers distributed $15,000 to seven community projects through a request for proposals process designed and driven by the youth.
Students chose to support the following:
City of Clairton Pool Party is a free community pool event with food for Clairton residents to support the Clairton Pool which employs many students as lifeguards.
“The pool is one of the things that gives the students something to do that’s positive and brings people together in the community,” Shaw said. “They were so excited to fund that one.”
MOMS will hold life skills classes for high school-aged girls such as opening a bank account and preparing fora job interview. The Student Grantmakers’ contribution will help the program begin.
The Citizen Science Lab is Pittsburgh’s first community life sciences laboratory where interactive learning and STEM enrichment fuel enthusiasm for all things science. The Student Grantmakers funded an assembly/in-school demonstration.
Youth Opportunities Development (YOD) is an education enrichment nonprofit servicing school-aged boys in Clairton. They conduct field trips, afterschool programming and transportation to and from their activities, even providing snacks and dinner. The Student Grantmakers sponsored summer field trips.
“[Eden Hall] learned about Youth Opportunities Development from the students, and now going to the board is a grant for YOD.” Carly Carstens, programs officer at Eden Hall Foundation, said. Eden Hall recently funded a new van for YOD at our June 20 Board of Directors Meeting. “That came from the kids.”
Clairton Community Day is a resource-driven day of unity in Clairton with opportunities to discover local resources. To attract more residents to the event, the students funded a foam machine.
Robotics Team Clairton City School District offers highly successful co-ed and all-girls robotics teams. To support the high-achieving STEM-oriented club, the Student Grantmakers granted funds for a safety testing box for robotics competitions and performing demonstrations for elementary school students.
“We’re K-12 in one building, so we really need to take advantage of that more,” Shaw said. “Just being able to have the younger kids come upstairs and see a demonstration will be a great thing to do.”
Tech25 provides youth and adults with career opportunities in the event production and broadcast industry through classes, workshops and mentoring and promotes diversity in the entertainment and event technology industry. The students funded eight two-hour programming sessions at Clairton High School in the fall.
The Clairton Student Grantmakers program not only gave the students agency to select the causes closest to their homes and hearts but also allowed us at Eden Hall Foundation to learn about the community through the eyes of their best asset: the students themselves.
Clairton Student Grantmakers’ goal is to ignite students’ passion for giving and equip them with the tools and knowledge necessary to empower them to contribute to a more equitable and sustainable world. This act of centering allows the students to envision themselves in relation to their environment and fosters lifelong active citizenship. The community will watch the stories of these student leaders play out, and we cannot wait to see where their journey in giving and leadership takes them.
“Our students are not afraid to say what they want and need, and this was an opportunity to allow their voices to be heard and a tangible way to witness the power of collective decision-making, teamwork, communication and other important skills to prepare them for the world of work,” Dr. Tamara Allen-Thomas, superintendent of Clairton City School District, said. “I can't stress enough the importance of this opportunity that not only affects our students but has the potential to impact generations to come.”
Eden Hall Foundation and Clairton City School District are thrilled to announce that this program is continuing in the 2024-2025 school year. More details will be forthcoming, and be sure to continue to follow Eden Hall Foundation and Clairton City School District on social media for information on the Clairton Student Grantmakers.
“We at Clairton are happy to have an educational advocate such as Eden Hall Foundation partner with us to provide our scholars with opportunity and access into the foundation world,” Allen-Thomas said.