HCI Invests in Youth – Read about this month’s Investing in Youth Grant recipients

At their March 2014 board meeting, the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) Board approved grants to support five projects and activities designed to benefit Northfield youth.

Funded projects included:

WEB Community Service Event
Where Everyone Belongs (WEB) is a transition program at the Northfield Middle School where 8th graders support 6th graders throughout the school year.  The 8th grade WEB leaders are planning a service event to benefit the Northfield community.  For this event, service projects will include: making cards for the local elderly; making polar fleece blankets to benefit the humane society; outside clean-up at school and a nearby nature area; and more.

After Prom Party
The After Prom Party is an event planned by parents of high school juniors in Northfield. It provides a safe, fun, and chemical-free place for all Northfield juniors and seniors (regardless of whether or not they went to Prom) to continue the celebration after the Prom ends.  There will be many activities, including bowling, casino games, bingo, prize drawings, and lots of food.  The event will take place after Prom on May 3rd. Doors open at midnight, and the event runs from 12:30 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.  This event is held at the Jesse James Lanes in Northfield.

The Making Ties Project
The youth on the Community Resource Bank’s Junior Board of Directors are planning a service project that involves creating small tie blankets for young patients at the Northfield Hospital.  These personal-sized blankets will be distributed to children in long-term care, the Emergency Room, and other areas of need.

Exposure to College Trip
Teachers of the Northfield High School 9th Grade Academy have planned a field trip to four different colleges:  a four-year public college, a four-year private college, a community college, and a technical/vocational college.  The field trip is connected with the 9th Grade Academy’s exploration of students’ Sparks (an HCI-supported initiative).

Cinco de Mayo Celebration
The Cinco de Mayo Celebration has become an annual event at the Northfield Middle School.  This event is for all middle school families and is meant to bring the Latino and non-Latino communities together to celebrate.  This event, scheduled for May 5th, will include authentic Mexican food, cultural entertainment, and many activities.

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HCI offers Investing in Youth grants to projects and activities that:

• provide the opportunity for young people to develop positive intergenerational relationships with caring adults and/or
• connect Northfield youth with their communities (ex. neighborhood, school, wider Northfield)

Applications are reviewed monthly and are due by the 8th of the month.  Visit www.northfieldhci.org/investinginyouthgrants for more information and to access the easy-to-complete application.

Funding for the HCI Investing in Youth grants program comes from the Northfield Hospital & Clinics and Northfield Area United Way.