Youth Leadership Program (YLP) Funding

The Youth Leadership Program is a Valley United Way initiative dating back to the 1990s that gives high school seniors in the Lower Naugatuck Valley the opportunity to become leaders in their community while allocating funding to local nonprofits.

Geographic Scope: Shelton, Ansonia, Seymour, Derby, and Oxford, Connecticut

Focus Areas: Programs focused on "Preparing Youth to Succeed"

Program History: Since 1990, Youth Leadership members have allocated more than $60,000 in funding to local nonprofits.

Target Participants: High school seniors from the five Valley towns

Program Components:

• Hands-on experience in grant writing
• Financial literacy training
• Community impact assessment
• Support for local nonprofits

Learning Topics:

• Government and State Funding
• Banking and Budgeting
• Non-Profit Leadership
• Business and Corporate Responsibility
• University Leadership

Program Goals:

• Empower Students: Give youth a voice in shaping their community's future
• Build Skills: Develop leadership, writing, and financial literacy skills
• Inspire Civic Engagement: Show students the inner workings of nonprofit organizations
• Support Local Youth Programs: Provide real funding to agencies preparing young people to succeed