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Mott Foundation celebrates 100 years by asking Flint kids to choose projects that help their community

Flint Area

Community Vitality

Two middle school-aged children, one a girl, the other a boy, sit at a table wearing matching dark blue t-shirts with the words "Innovators, Service Providers, Performing Artists, Visual Artists" and the Mott Foundation's previous logo on the back.
Young students participate in a Young Sharks pitch competition in Flint. Photo: Jenifer Veloso

En español.

Flint, Michigan — To help celebrate its 100-year history, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is inviting young people in Flint to compete for and help award 100 grants of $1,926 each.

Through the Mott Foundation Youth Choice Awards, Flint kids and teens, with the support of an educator or program organizer, are invited to apply for a grant and share how they would use the funds to benefit those around them.

“Flint kids are changemakers and future entrepreneurs,” said Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation. “I’m excited to see how they want to help their community and what projects they’ll propose.”

A total of 100 grants will be awarded throughout the centennial year. Two application deadlines — Feb. 20 and Oct. 9 — will allow students to design and complete projects during the school year.

In keeping with the Foundation’s focus on engaging young people in decision-making, the awards will operate as relay grants. Foundation staff will choose the first five projects to receive funding, and then those participants will choose the next five projects, and the cycle will continue until all grants are awarded. Up to 50 projects will be selected in each application pool.

“Incorporating a relay element to this program was important to us. It not only invites our young people to develop and propose a new idea, but it also empowers them to choose another project to support in their community,” said Kimberly Roberson, Flint Area program director. “We hope the kids will enjoy giving grants away to others as much as they’ll enjoy getting them.”

Eligible participants include:

  • K-12 students attending a school within the city limits of Flint.
  • K-12 students attending a school that’s part of the Flint Center for Educational Excellence’s Network for School Excellence.
  • K-12 students participating in a program at a community-based organization in Flint with 10 or more actively enrolled students. The program must have 501(c)(3) status.

An adult advisor or teacher must submit each project. To apply, visit mott.org/youth-choice-awards.

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