Ozark High School YEPO Wins 60 Second Challenge
Monday, March 8th, 2010
The Ozark High School Youth Empowerment Project was presented with a $2,500 prize on Monday, March 8th for creating a winning video in the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ 60 Second Challenge video competition. The winning video, titled, “Someday We’ll All Be Philanthropists”, is student-created and developed piece which provides a 60 second synopsis of the work of the Ozark High School Youth Empowerment Project (YEPO). YEPO is a youth-driven component of the Finley River Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
Students at schools which are part of the Rural Schools Partnership were given an opportunity to create a 60 second web video. These videos speak of a challenge, project, or group in their school. Students were encouraged to be as concrete or as abstract as they liked. CFO received excellent submissions from throughout the Missouri Ozarks, and student members of the Springfield Youth Empowerment Project selected first, second, and three third place winners to receive monetary prizes to continue their good work.
To see all the challenge winners and to watch the videos, visit our website here:
Picture: YEPO students and sponsors receive the $2,500 grant from CFO in a ceremony held March 8th at the Ozark High School auditorium.
Community Foundation of the Ozarks, in partnership with Drury University, hosted the 2009 Youth Philanthropy Conference of the Youth Empowerment Project. Nearly 200 students and sponsors from 27 southern Missouri schools attended the conference held at the Drury University Findlay Student Center.Drury President Todd Parnell gave the welcome and spoke on the importance of philanthropy. The keynote was given by Jennifer Moore, Senior News Producer at KSMU whose international experience as a journalist has given her a unique perspective and love for her Ozarks community. Dr. Gary Funk also spoke on youth-driven grant opportunities through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ Rural Schools Partnership. Additionally, students participated in small-group discussions about the importance of philanthropy in local communities and the purpose of a Youth Empowerment grantmaking project.The mission of the Youth Empowerment Project is to give youth the opportunity to positively impact their community. This is accomplished through education, service, grantmaking, and fundraising. Students involved in Youth Empowerment Project organizations raise funds through projects and events and then grant those funds to worthy youth-related causes in their community. To learn more about creating a regional YEP, please contact Bridget Dierks.Pictured: Students and Sponsors from the Monett Youth Empowerment Project
