An Albertson College of Idaho student council will decide during the next two weeks how to give away $30,000 in grant funds.

Thirty Treasure Valley organizations are vying for the Albertson College of Idaho Champions Student Philanthropy Council grant funds, donated by the Seagraves Family Foundation.

Youth organizations, reading programs, a gang-prevention initiative and others have made requests of $500 to $10,000.

The 10-member council of freshmen through senior students came together in January for the first time to organize the philanthropic effort and set April 20 as the applications deadline.

The students decided to make the grant money available to community organizations instead of college groups in order to build bonds between ACI and Caldwell, said Sara Weller, a council member and student body president.

“I’m most excited to see how this money will affect these organizations,” Weller said. “I never realized how much went into giving away money.”

The students will evaluate the nonprofit organizations’ abilities to show tangible and effective service to the community or individuals.

Council members also have to pony up some personal funds. Each student is required to donate $10 or more to the Boone Fund in order to be on the council that decides where the Seagraves money goes.

“The council hopes to use this opportunity to nurture a culture of philanthropy on the Albertson College Campus and in the community at large,” said Michael Bowers, ACI senior and council member. “It is rooted in the belief that just as the vitality of the students and the college are indelibly linked, so too are the vitality of the community and the college linked. As one benefits, all benefit.”

This entry was posted on Monday, April 24th, 2006 at 8:37 pm and is filed under College Grant, Education. Tags: College, Grant, Student. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.