THE ADVENTURE CONNECTION: YOUTH AND ADULTS WORKING TOGETHER
Strong youth/adult partnerships start with relationship building. Explore the "adventure" that can happen when adults invite youth to participate in volunteer activities, service projects and other forms of civic action on Tuesday, May 17th, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM at United Way of Central Indiana, 3901 N. Meridian Street; Indianapolis, IN. Staff and volunteers who work with youth in schools, youth agencies, neighborhood centers, treatment programs, juvenile justice settings, religious and other organizations are encouraged to attend. Facilitators include Jessica Kleffman, Coordinator; Youth as Resources/Hamilton County, and Tanya Johnson, Project Manager; YAR Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Initiative. The cost is $45 for nonprofit agencies / $35 for UWCI member agencies. Limited scholarships are available. Call for eligibility - 317-920-2562. Download registration form at www.uwci.org/nptrain1c.htm.

27 YOUTH RECEIVE VOLUNTEERISM AWARDS IN SOUTHERN INDIANA
The community-service efforts of young people in Clark, Floyd and Harrison counties were recognized on April 10th in New Albany with the presentation of Gold Acorn Awards for youth volunteerism. The awards, having been established as a way to support and encourage youthful giving and serving, are presented under the auspices of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana and are sponsored in part by local Rotary Clubs in the three counties. The festive event was chaired by youth and adults as partners in the planning. Youth members of the Philanthropy Councils orchestrated the event. Charitable organizations, churches and schools in the three counties selected young volunteers to be honored. For more information, contact CFSI at www.cfsouthernindiana.com.

JUDY O'BANNON HAS AGREED TO KEYNOTE THE YP JAM 2005
Mrs. O'Bannon's extensive commitment to young people and philanthropy in Indiana will be an exciting addition to the program.

2005 YP Jam participants will experience a "new and improved" conference based on input from last year's participants. The opportunity for some hands on community service is a result of input and attendees will be building to benefit Habitat for Humanity during the conference. Participants are asked to be collecting new or gently used children's books with will be put into hand built book cases to go in Habitat homes. Other great service activities will take place during the conference. The length of the conference has also been extended and youth will be leading the conference. Brochures are now available for the 2005 YP Jam and an electronic version is available by clicking onto www.ypin.org. July 6-7th will be here soon, so make sure your community has plans to attend. Jam participants will have many opportunities to grow as leaders throughout the low cost, spectacular, two day event. If you have questions, or would like more information, contact us at info@ypin.org.

WHY YOUTH PHILANTHROPY IS IMPORTANT TO A COMMUNITY
Youth who volunteer are three times more likely to volunteer as adults. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1996). Teens say the benefits received from volunteering are: Learning to respect others; learning to be helpful and kind; learning to understand people who are different from them; developing leadership skills, becoming more patient, and better understanding of good citizenship. (Independent Sector/Gallup, 1996). Youth who volunteer are more likely to do well in school, graduate, vote, and be philanthropic. (UCLA/Higher Education Research Institute, 1991)

From the Michigan Study: Leadership, Volunteerism And Giving: A Longitudinal Study of Youth Grantmakers (1993-2003)
" As youth grantmakers move into young adulthood and their incomes rise, so do their levels of giving. A total of 96% of former youth grantmakers gave in 2003 as compared to 52% of YAC members in 1993. The median gift in 2003 was $707.00.
" Youth had the opportunity to serve in leadership roles while serving on Youth Advisory Committees. A decade later, they are still serving as leaders. Fully 77% of the 2003 respondents had served in a leadership position in their job, religious organization or community within the past 12 months. Nearly all (95%) are still using the skills they learned while serving as youth grantmakers.
" 88% (ages 20 to 24) and 72% (ages 25 to 29) of former youth grantmakers volunteered in 2003. Compared to the national level of volunteering, that of former youth grantmakers ages 20 to 25 (88%) is more than double the rate for young adults ages 15 to 25 nationally (42%).