Submitted by Belinda Sam

On May 26, 2011, the Interact Youth Advisory Group announced the four grants they have given at the annual Guilford Foundation Dinner at the Guilford Yacht Club:

• $2,000 was given to Women and Family Life to start their new program Boys Coach/Boys Run;
• $1,500 to supply Parks & Recreation with 2 brand new kayaks at Lake Quonnipaug for the community; and
• $1,000 to Guilford Youth & Family Services to supply needy families with Back-to-School supplies.
• YAG is also the Platinum sponsor for this year’s Fourth of July Fireworks!

In 2010, the Guilford Foundation chose to partner with GHS Interact Club to form the Youth Advisory Group as an offshoot of Interact. Interact participates in many charitable programs both local and international such as the Haitian Health Foundation, Guilford Food Bank, Happy Houses in Haiti, Habitat for Humanity, Women’s Shelter, Bio Sand water filters, The Cove, and more. Like Interact, YAG is starting to make a huge difference in the community as well.

YAG fosters locally based philanthropy at the teenage level. Members learn how to write and fund grants through a training program. We would like to thank the Guilford Foundation and everyone who has supported Interact as well as its Youth Advisory Group. Any Guilford High School student interested in joining Interact or YAG should contact Mrs. Samperi in the Guidance Office at the high school or email her at [email protected], Allen Jacobs (Rotary Adviser) at [email protected], or any Interact Club member.