Teens for Tomorrow awards $37,500 to QC nonprofits
'The Teens for Tomorrow Program gives young people the tools and support to create meaningful, lasting change in their own communities,' said Sue Hafkemeyer, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. 'This year's members showed remarkable dedication. They did the research, asked the tough questions, and made strategic choices that reflect both their values and our region's most pressing needs.'
Members focus on four key granting areas, based on their research and after speaking with local donors and nonprofit leaders:
affordable education and childcare,
food insecurity,
immigration support, and
supportive housing.
They also prioritized providing unrestricted, operational funding; these are resources that give nonprofits the flexibility to meet real-time challenges and invest in long-term solutions.
'The focus areas the students chose are also an important indicator for all of us on what matters most to our community's young people,' Hafkemeyer said.
The students reviewed dozens of grant applications, took leadership and public speaking training and worked with Community Foundation staff to hone their storytelling and fundraising skills. They met one-on-one with donors to talk about their Teens for Tomorrow experience. These efforts and donor generosity helped students raise $27,500 to support their grantmaking budget.
'This group was focused, driven and unafraid to lead,' said Kaleigh Trammell, director of grantmaking and community initiatives. 'They didn't just meet expectations—they redefined what youth philanthropy can look like when young people are trusted with real responsibility and supported every step of the way.'
Applications are now being accepted for next year's T4T program. Teens who want to learn about philanthropy and creating positive change in their community and donors who would like to support the program's continued operations can learn more here.
These nonprofits received funding from Teens for Tomorrow this year:
Black Hawk College—Program support for 'Hawk 4 Hygiene'— $500
Christian Care—General Operating Support for Community Meal Site— $2,500
Hope at the BRICK House, Inc.—Hope at the BRICK House 2025 Summer Program for At-Risk Children— $7,500
One Eighty—Supportive Housing for Women in Recovery— $2,000
Project NOW, Inc.—Project NOW Seniors Home Delivered Meals program support— $2,000
Project Renewal Inc.—Summer Youth Program 2025— $3,000
Spring Forward Learning Center—Spring Forward general operating support— $2,500
St. Anthony Church—McAnthony Window program support— $3,000
Tapestry Farms—Tapestry Farms Operational Support— $5,000
Testimonies of Hope—Healing Home for Women and Children Domestic Violence Survivors general operating support— $2,500
World Relief Quad Cities—Refugee Family Literacy— $5,000
YWCA of the Quad Cities—Food and Survival Kit Distribution Program— $2,000
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
22-07-2025
- CBS News
Hill Country flood fund raises $60 million, but residents say help is slow
The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country announced Tuesday it has raised $60 million for those impacted by the catastrophic July 4 floods through its Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. Austin Dickson, CEO of the foundation, said about $9.4 million has been distributed to more than 35 organizations. On July 11, $5 million was granted to nonprofits, businesses, first responders, and crisis response groups. On Tuesday, the foundation announced its second round of grants, distributing another $4.4 million to local organizations, including $1.25 million to the Ingram Independent School District, one of the largest grants awarded so far. "The Ingram central administration level is a total loss; it's toxic to enter. I stood on the outside of it on Sunday, where the water level had risen 6 feet. All its technology, furniture, and fixtures are destroyed and inaccessible," Dickson said. "We made a $1.25 million grant so that the school district could meet some emergency expenses and work through the logistics it needs to be up and running for the first day of school in a few weeks." But some residents feel the funds aren't reaching those most affected. Mikaela Taylor, who lives in Kerr County, said many in her community still need help recovering, from basic necessities to debris removal. "I'm seeing people that are struggling that need help that don't know where to turn," Taylor said. "I know somebody that was sleeping on a floor that didn't have clothes until a couple of days ago." Despite the $60 million raised, Taylor believes it's not reaching the individuals and families who need it most. "There is a lot of money in our community sitting in a bank account that our residents should be able to tap into if they need to do so," Taylor said. The Community Foundation is one of several organizations collecting the bulk of donations meant for Hill Country flood victims. "We have existing relationships with these grantees, we know their staff, their volunteers, we know their advocates, and we all know their heart, and we know they are going to be able to deliver it for us," Dickson said. The foundation said it cannot legally give funds directly to individuals, which is why it distributes money to organizations that then provide aid through gift cards or supplies. CBS News Texas asked the foundation about the concerns. "We also feel that urgency, and we are working as fast as possible to stand up a professional, excellent, transparent process that's going to meet as many needs as possible," Dickson said. Dickson said the foundation is working to create a council to oversee the funds long-term. Of the $9.4 million already distributed, only $1 million has been set aside for families and individuals, according to the foundation's website. Taylor said that's not enough given the scale of the disaster. "We got to help the people, people before anything," said Taylor. "Nobody should have to suffer more than they already have, nobody." Taylor created to help individuals directly, by adding vetted crowdsourcing donation pages to the site.
Associated Press
22-07-2025
- Associated Press
Entergy Texas Donates $30,000 To Aid Flood Recovery Efforts in Central Texas
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, July 21, 2025 /3BL/ - To provide critical support to our neighboring communities, Entergy Texas is donating $30,000 to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to aid recovery efforts following the Central Texas floods. The foundation manages the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, which helps provide rescue, relief, recovery services and flood assistance to impacted communities. 'We're heartbroken to see the damage and pain caused by the flooding,' said Eliecer Viamontes, CEO of Entergy Texas. 'We believe in being there for our neighbors—not just when the lights are on, but especially in moments of hardship. It's crucial that all Texans stand together during this time, and we hope this donation provides meaningful support to the affected communities.' The Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, a public charity based in Kerrville, supports urgent relief and long-term rebuilding after the devastating floods in Central Texas. To donate, please visit the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund donation website. Entergy Texas has a longstanding commitment to strengthening the communities we the Central Texas floods did not directly impact our own service area, it is our mission to support the broader region we call home. Whether through disaster response, volunteerism or charitable giving, we are proud to stand with communities across Texas to help build a more resilient future for all. About Entergy TexasEntergy Texas, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 524,000 customers in 27 counties. Entergy Texas is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy produces, transmits and distributes electricity to power life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Its customers are connected to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator Inc. power grid, which is a regional transmission organization responsible for administering the transmission systems of member utilities in 15 states stretching across the central region of the United States and Manitoba, Canada. We're investing for growth and improved reliability and resilience of our energy system while working to keep energy rates affordable for our customers. We're also investing in cleaner energy generation like modern natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy. A nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship, we deliver more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to the communities we serve through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is a Fortune 500 company headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. Learn more at and connect with @EntergyTX on social media. Media Inquiries:Entergy Texas Media 281-297-2353 (media line) [email protected] View original content here. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Entergy Corporation
CBS News
17-07-2025
- CBS News
Where is the flood relief money going? Tracking millions of dollars in Central Texas flood aid
Millions of dollars are funneling in to help the community in the Hill Country floods, but where is all that money going? "Over the last week, the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country has received more than $30 million through the Kerr County Relief Fund," said Austin Dickson, the CEO of the organization, on July 11. The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country is one of several organizations collecting a large majority of those funds, and donations are continuing to roll in. "We granted out $5 million last week to individuals that were helped through nonprofits in our area," said Jayne Zirkel, the communications and events manager. "We granted out to some business organizations that are helping others in the business community around here. We granted money to some of the volunteer fire departments. All of these organizations have mobilized. They know how to get the aid to people right away, and they're doing that." So far $1,250,000 has gone to four organizations that help families and individuals like the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Kerrville. Another $1,250,000 has gone to businesses via the Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce and Lift Fund. Another $1,250,000 was handed over to local volunteer fire departments, and $1,250,000 was given to groups and churches that assist with crisis response. "By law, we cannot give to individuals. So, we are giving to vetted nonprofits who are in good standing with the IRS in our area. All the money stays local," Zirkel said. Phil Swyers, an officer with the Salvation Army Kroc Center, said they are already putting their portion of donations to use. "The Salvation Army, proudly, as of last week, has begun giving out gift cards and have been cutting checks," Swyers said. "We have individuals that have lost everything, and we have been putting them in Airbnb's and hotel rooms." Swyers said it's also providing cleanup kits to families. The Community Foundation said if an individual wants financial assistance, every non-profit has its own requirements that must be met to receive money, such as an application or registering for a FEMA number. "It validates that your address is one of the homes or locations that were affected by the disaster, and allows agencies to recognize that, yes, this person is someone who has suffered loss in these floods," said Swyers. Of the $30 million raised through the Community Foundation and counting, the organization has only distributed $5 million so far. Zirkel said it's working to release a second round of grants in the coming days.
