Who We Are & What We Do
Anne Arundel Youth Charitable Initiative Inc., also known as Raising for Reasons, is a student-run, non-profit organization that raises funds and approves grants to Anne Arundel County organizations in need of assistance. Our mission is to develop leadership and philanthropic skills in Anne Arundel County youth through their administration of a charitable organization. Some of the organizations we have given to in the past include Organization of the Hispanic Latin Americans of Anne Arundel County (OLHA), Partners in Care Inc., and Food Link of Anne Arundel County. The focus for 2006-2008 is People in Poverty.
R4R is currently in its third year of existence, and is composed of juniors and seniors who live in the Anne Arundel County and attend both public and private high schools.
Along with an Adult Board of Directors that oversees, a Youth Board of Directors meets monthly at the Anne Arundel County Board of Education in Annapolis. Each member joins a committee either fundraising, grant giving, membership, or public relations on which they will serve for the entirety of the year. We spend the majority of the meetings with our committee trying to accomplish both short and long-term goals. Through positions such as president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and committee chairman, members have an opportunity to exercise leadership.
Raising for Reasons teaches high school students how to work within the dynamics of a board of directors and exposes them to fun, interactive ways to serve their community.
Grant Recipient Testimonials
Issued by:
Partners In Care, Inc.
Anne Myers
Received R4R grant in 2006
Raising for Reasons granted $1,500 to Partners In Care in June, 2006 to support the emergency kit program.
Partners In Care is a community nonprofit organization helping older and disabled adults remain independent in their own homes. Following Hurricane Isabel in 2003, Partners In Care started a program to provide frail, isolated seniors with emergency supplies to help them get through the first critical hours and days following a power failure, a flood, or any other kind of emergency.
The money was used to build and deliver emergency kits to 30 seniors who lived alone in remote locations without the support of family and friends around them. Each emergency kit costs $50 to 'build.' Each kit contains three days of food, water, and other essentials making nine modestly proportioned meals. An AM/FM radio and flashlight, both with extra batteries, are also provided. The emergency kit is in a water-proof plastic case with a preparedness checklist, emergency instructions, and contact numbers for police, fire, utilities, and other useful information.
In addition to the actual contents of the kit, the delivery of the kit provides important social contact. This is an important project which contributes to the safety and security of our seniors.
We sincerely thank the engaged students in Raising for Reasons for partnering with us in this work in the community.
