Press Release

Natick, Mass., June 10, 2008 — Crossroads Community Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of family life in MetroWest, recently made two grants through its Youth Action Council (YAC). The current Youth Action Council comprises seven teens from Wellesley and Wayland High Schools, whose mission is to select one or more youth-oriented non-profits to receive programming grants.

After reviewing grant proposals from several organizations in MetroWest, Crossroads’ Youth Action Council chose the Room to Dream Foundation and the Young Entrepreneurs Alliance to each receive a $5,000 grant. The Room to Dream Foundation, based in Newton, creates healing environments in hospitals, communities, and homes for children and adolescents who are facing chronic illnesses. Room to Dream primarily renovates the rooms of children and families living in low- and moderate-income urban and suburban areas. Roxbury-based Young Entrepreneurs Alliance (YEA) helps low-income teens realize their economic potential and take steps toward financial independence by owning and running viable businesses.

Wellesley High School students Abby Alvin, Hadley Brooks, Caroline Bunting, and Ellie Caple, and Wayland High School students Jon Bailey, Dan Blahnik, and Kelsey Sommers were members of Crossroads’ latest Youth Action Council. As a key component of Crossroads’ Youth in Philanthropy program, YAC consists of twelve sessions that provide the students with training in fundraising and grant-making, site visits to non-profits, an award ceremony, and an evaluation. The two YAC grants were awarded at Crossroads’ Annual Meeting on May 12.

“YAC has taught me about the nature of giving and the need in our communities,” said Ellie Caple, one of the Wellesley High students. “The site visits to the non-profits we chose were incredible, and it is so satisfying to be able to help other kids in this area. More powerfully than ever, I know how good it feels to give.”

About Crossroads

Crossroads Community Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of family life in MetroWest Massachusetts. The Foundation serves as a resource, leader and catalyst for philanthropy by connecting donors with non-profits, and non-profits with each other, across the region. Established in 1996 by a group of concerned individuals who saw a need for philanthropy in their own backyard, Crossroads now has more than $10 million in assets and has helped thousands of people in towns like Maynard, Framingham, Millis and Waltham. Our service area comprises more than two dozen towns west of Route 128 and east of Route 495. Crossroads is headquartered in an historic building in South Natick.