Students in American Philanthropy: The Science and Practice of Giving Away Money, a freshman seminar, donated $5,000 to Committed Partners for Youth on Monday.
In the seminar, students split into groups and choose a nonprofit organization to research throughout the term. Near the end of the term, each group presents its cause to the class and the students chose where to donate the grant, which is sponsored by Wells Fargo bank.
Freshman Zoe Monahan, who represented Committed Partners for Youth, said visiting and researching the organization made it all worth it, even though the class was a lot of work.
“I found that I care way too much about our program,” she said after her presentation.
Committed Partners for Youth provides mentors for at-risk middle school and high school youth.
Monahan and her group members told the class that the need for mentors is increasing as state, federal and local funds for the program are decreasing.
“I didn’t realize how much of an impact just a teeny bit of money could have,” Monahan said.
When the class voted, Committed Partners for Youth tied with Womenspace, which provides services to battered women and their children, but the class opted to revote and not split the money, Assistant Professor Renee Irvin said.
“I think they liked the idea of a big splashy gift,” she said.
Irvin, who created the class last year, said Committed Partners for Youth was a finalist during last year’s class, but the organization didn’t receive the money. The funds went to Start Making a Reader Today and Greenhill Humane Society.
“It was pretty nice that they were able to win this year,” she said.
This year’s other finalists included the Children’s Miracle Network, the Boys and Girls Club Inc. and Looking Glass.
“They’re all great organizations and they would all benefit from this,” Monahan said.
Freshman Josh Tschirgi, who represented the Boys and Girls Club Inc., said he chose to vote for the Children’s Miracle Network, which raises funds for children’s hospitals.
“They seem like they have one of the biggest impacts on a child starting its life out on the right foot,” he said. “That’s an incredibly important foundation.”
He said overall he has learned a lot about how to donate money wisely.
“I learned that there are literally hundreds of viable and worthy organizations that could use philanthropic support,” he said. “If I plan to be a financially successful person, which I do, I’ll know how to be a wise philanthropist.”
Irvin said she hopes to continue teaching the seminar, depending on whether she can find a sponsor for the $5,000.
“The class really needs the gift in order to make it work,” she said.
On March 8, the students will present the donation to the organization at a brunch also sponsored by Wells Fargo bank.
“I have to hand it to Wells Fargo for being so generous,” Irvin said.
Irvin said aside from teaching students about the art of giving, the class provides an opportunity for freshmen to interact with each other in a smaller classroom setting.
“It’s part of the freshman seminar program, which is really the only opportunity they have to take small classes their freshman year,” she said.