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By Melanie Klein
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 17, 1996
A finance major at the UA is giving away $40,000 to benefit youth-oriented programs in the community.Justin Limmer, one of 13 Tucson Community Foundation youth members, will serve on the review panel that will allocate money this fall to organizations and programs that help Tucson's youth stay out of trouble, said Laura Almquist, associate director for grants at the Tucson Communiy Foundation.
"We are looking for programs that create a bridge between high school and the real world - programs that help the youth learn how to create things for themselves are important," Limmer said.
Nineteen-year-old Limmer also serves as a member of the board of directors for the Volunteer Center Of Tucson, a community volunteering program.
"Serving as a board member, I help make decisions on dispersing donated money to organizations that benefit the community," he said.
"When I have something to say, I think the adult members listen to me ... I pretty much have the freedom to define my role," he said.
Limmer completed a training course this summer, along with 22 other young people, specially designed to allow them to become active members on boards of directors for non-profit organizations.
"One reason I got involved is to become educated in the process of non-profit organizations and understand how they help the community," Limmer said
Limmer added that he is making viable contacts while learning first-hand how things are accomplished in the city.
Almquist said, "It's very easy for adults to decide what is best for everyone else. It is important to have young people's opinions on how to disperse money that affects the youth in this community."
Limmer is interested in finance and plans to work within the business community. He also plans to stay active in his community service efforts.
"I'm getting my feet wet and learning how the business world operates, which will help me with my career, and I'm doing something to help the community," he said.
Limmer said, "It is a half-and-half trade; it's me learning and me giving."
The Youth Empowerment review panel is holding a meeting at the Tucson main library, 101 N. Stone Ave., in the lower-level conference room from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The panel will discuss the proposal application process and will answer questions regarding funding.
The deadline for organizations to apply for funding is Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. at the Tucson Community Foundation, 6601 E. Grant Road, Suite 111.
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