R4R Youth Board Members from left: Grant Giving chair John Aspray, 17, an Annapolis High School senior; Fundraising chair Kyrk Roberts, 17, of Arnold, a Broadneck High School senior; Nicole Aylor, 17, of Harwood and R4R president Morgan Maloney, 17, of Friendship. Both girls are Southern High seniors. The group raises funds, which it distributes as grants to local charities. The youth members also learn leadership and corporate fundraising skills.

R4R teens learn to be philanthropic with hearts, heads

By WENDI WINTERS
For The Capital
February 20, 2007

Around the county, several dozen corporations and businesses received a letter earlier this month appealing for funds. It looks as slick and professional as any effort by an experienced fundraiser - except it was crafted by high school students. Similarly, charitable organizations were sent letters asking them to send grant applications to R4R, also known as the Anne Arundel Youth Charitable Initiative, Inc.

R4R, an acronym for "Raising for Reasons," is a 3-year-old student-led charitable 501(c)(3) organization that helps residents of Anne Arundel County. The charity is a community project that came out of a brainstorming session in 2004 of Leadership Anne Arundel's Flagship Class, a program that develops leadership and networking talents among active area residents.

"The overall experience of R4R is different from other groups," explained Kyrk Roberts, R4R's fundraising chair.

Mr. Roberts, a senior at Broadneck High School, is active in the school's student government.

"There's not many groups where you can do stuff and help out in the community, while learning these kinds of leadership and organizational skills," he said.

Morgan Maloney, R4R's president and a vice-president of Southern High School's National Honor Society, said the big thing is the leadership practice.

"Last year, I served on the fundraising committee and learned a lot about corporate and business fundraising. This year, as president, it's a different experience leading a youth board and co-leading an adult board. I'm meeting incredible kids from all over the county. The money we give goes to people who need it."

It's not a Board of Education entity, but the BOE loans R4R meeting space without charge and provides support. Katie Brophy, a BOE specialist for Student Leadership involved in Middle and High School student groups, is one of the Adult Board members.

Other Adult Board members include: Phil Mosco, Provident Bank; Marie Friedland, Chevy's Fresh Mex; Loretta Haring, managing editor of The Capital Newspaper; Rob Gagliardi, Comcast; Ned Brooks, Relms Landscaping; Alice Harris, AACo. Local Management Board; Danielle Mosley, District Court judge; and Tawneika Spencer, AACo. Local Management Board.

Student board members currently attend Southern, South River, Annapolis, Arundel, Broadneck and Severna Park public high schools, along with Archbishop Spalding, Key, St. Mary's, Severn and Mount De Sales private schools.

In its first term, the 2004-2005 academic year, a small board of adults recruited 22 teens from area high schools. In turn, the youth set an agenda, created a name, developed a Web site and, with the adults' input, wrote and designed a brochure soliciting funds from businesses.

Grants totaling $2,200 were given to four groups in May 2005: Food Link's Baby Pantry; Woods Work with Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church; Centro de Ayuda; and Restoration Community Development Corporation. Another $4,000 was given away last May.

All of the original teen members have graduated and gone on to college.

"Last year, we lost 10 members and gained 20 more," said Grant Giving chairman John Aspray, a senior in the International Baccalaureate Program at Annapolis High School.

The teen members have been soliciting funds throughout the school year. With a goal of $5,000, they've been spurred on by a challenge that each teen bring in at least $100 in donations. For the next two academic terms, R4R's specific focus is providing grants and aid to people living below the poverty line in Anne Arundel County.

In 2006, Mr. Aspray solicited - and received - $500 from Union Realty Partners, the developers of the 1901 West Street apartment complex. He's hoping they'll return as donors this year.

"They gave to a professional charitable fundraising corporation," he said. "We do things as teenagers, but are also moving into the corporate world."

In addition to large real estate firms, letters requesting donations have gone out to local Rotary and Optimist Clubs, car dealerships and other corporations. Businesses who would like to receive information about Raising for Reasons can e-mail the group at R4R@aacps.org.

Nicole Aylor, a Southern High senior, and two pals created three T-shirts explaining the R4R goal. They donned them and positioned themselves near the doorway when Southern High staged its production of "The Story of Ernestina Scrooge."

The trio chorused an R4R jingle they wrote. As theatergoers walked by, the trio sang, held signs and handed out R4R brochures. "Over $300 was raised that way," smiled Miss Aylor.

She's heading to either Virginia Tech or University of Virginia next fall to study accounting and political science.

Later on, Miss Aylor and several R4R members helped Partners In Care - recipient of a $1,500 grant in May 2006 - by hand packing dozens of emergency kits for frail, isolated seniors.

The teens are in the final stretch for fundraising this academic year. Grants will be presented in a special ceremony at the Board of Education on May 7.

"Everything - 100 percent - of what we raise, we give away to charity," Mr. Kyrk said. Next fall, he hopes to attend Florida A&M, near his hometown, Pensacola.

"Our goal is twofold," explained Mr. Aspray. "R4R cultivates leadership and charitable giving among the youth in the county and allows students the means to do that. We help others and we're learning for tomorrow."

He's planning to attend Cornell next fall as a biochemistry major.

"Perhaps we'll create a chain reaction and inspire other communities to do this, too," suggested Miss Maloney, a Friendship resident.

The deadline for Grant Applications is expiring soon.

"We've got a staggered deadline," explained Mr. Aspray. "If it is mailed, it has to be postmarked by Feb. 23. Otherwise, if you are sending it by e-mail or delivering it by hand, it has to be in our hands no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 2."

The group will meet the following week to decide which groups receive grants and how much they will receive.

Another deadline approaching is the final date to apply to be a member of R4R.

Only current high school juniors and sophomores are eligible to apply.

Applicants must live in the county, but do not have to attend public or private county schools.

One current member, Laura Bardman, attends Mount De Sales Academy in Catonsville, Baltimore County.

Along with the adult oversight board, members attend monthly meetings and conduct other business outside the meetings. Applications must be postmarked or e-mailed by March 23.

To find the Grant Application Form or the Membership Application Form, or for more information, visit the Web site www.raising4reasons.org or e-mail R4R@aacps.org.. R4R's mailing address is: R4R, c/o Katie Brophy, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Donations from corporations, businesses and individuals can be made via check or online at the Web site through PayPal.