HANCOCK — The Student Leadership Advisory Council of the Keweenaw (SLACK) of the Keweenaw Community Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2020 granting cycle. Grants of up to $5,000 per project are available from the Kellogg Youth Endowment Fund. Proposed projects must benefit Keweenaw and Houghton Country youth in grades 7-12.

Proposed projects should address at least one area of need highlighted by the Youth Needs Survey. Conducted in early 2020, the survey garnered an incredible 54% response rate from local students and found that the largest areas of concern were Stress & Anxiety, Vaping, Depression, and Nicotine Use. In relation to additional programs and activities, students wished that there were more recreational and artistic activities available to them.

To be considered, grant applications must be submitted to the Keweenaw Community Foundation no later than Friday, Apr. 24 at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. The Keweenaw Community Foundation will announce grant award recipients by May 26.

Complete information and applications are available at:

https://www.keweenawgives.org/grants

The history of the Student Leadership Advisory Committee of the Keweenaw (SLACK):

In 1992, the trustees of the Community Foundation for Keweenaw and Houghton Counties created the Youth Advisory Committee in response to a challenge issued by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The Kellogg Foundation contributed $500,000 to the Keweenaw Community Foundation to create an endowment to be managed for and by youth in Houghton and Keweenaw Counties. Today, there are over 1,500 young people serving on 86 youth grantmaking committees statewide. Endowment fund assets exceed $62 million and collectively awards $1.5 million in grants per year. The youth council alone has granted nearly $150,000 in funds since its inception. In 2019 the YAC program improved its student and community outreach by working with the Copper Country ISD Student Leadership Council (SLC). Together the students decided to rename the joint council SLACK (Student Leadership Advisory Council of the Keweenaw) in September of 2019. For the 2019 granting cycle, a total of $33,650 was awarded to 12 local organizations.