“These teenagers are able to see the impact they’re making”

Published 1:28 pm Thursday, June 4, 2026

QUINCY — Ten organizations got a financial boost Thursday thanks to some of Quincy’s youngest philanthropists.

The Community Foundation’s Teens Active in Grantmaking program awarded $20,000 in its first spring grant presentation.

“Having the teens being involved in philanthropy shows that they are involved in the community, especially with nonprofits,” said Kristan Miller, coordinator of the Children’s Advocacy Center, part of the Advocacy Network for Children, which received a grant for supplies, including snacks for its young clients.

“These teenagers are able to see the impact they’re making directly with the children we serve,” she said. “We have children who come in with empty bellies, and this helps a child feel comfortable when coming into our agency to talk about what has happened to them.”

Advocacy Network — along with Bella East, Chaddock Children’s Foundation, Cheerful Home, Horizons Social Services, Mission 180, Quincy Children’s Museum, Quincy Community Theatre, Quincy Public Library and Salvation Army of Quincy — all were given support from the initiative empowering local teens to direct funding to organizations making a difference for young people in the Quincy area.

Awarding the grants capped a year of work that “for other kids sets a great example to show up for your community, to be more outgoing. In the community itself, it can show how many people can come together to help others,” said TAG student Emma Hayden.

“It meant a lot to me to be able to be part of something that’s bigger than myself. It felt really empowering, in a good way, for not just me but for everyone it impacted,” TAG student Catori Holford said. “It’s just refreshing to see people my age also care about these kinds of issues that may occur within the area around us.”

Beyond the philanthropy, the program launched in the 2025-26 school year builds teen leadership.

“We have kids interested in doing better and working towards better in the community,” said TAG Coordinator Bailee Duesterhaus, program manager with the Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri.

A grant to the library provides youth language and culture learning kits promoted by three teens.

“It’s inspiring and great they want to be part of the library and expanding the cultural diversity,” QPL Director Natascha Will said.

Other grants helped to fund Horizons’ KidzPacks Weekend Feeding Program, now serving 1,350 youngsters during the school year, summer programs at multiple agencies and the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree.

“This grant can help us shop now for clothes, teen items,” Salvation Army Development Director Matt Schmidt said. “This will make a big difference.”

The program offered by the Community Foundation, and supported by the Tracy Family Foundation, promotes positive youth development while providing education about community-based philanthropy and putting the power of giving in the hands of high school students.

Monthly meetings through the school year brought together the 15 students from Quincy High School, Quincy Notre Dame High School and homeschooling to learn about their community.

“One of my big goals for this year was to get them into the community to volunteer but also to go to those organizations to learn more about what they’re actually doing,” Duesterhaus said.

Students, for example, were surprised at the breadth of services offered by the Salvation Army.

“A big part of what I have tried to teach this year is there’s a lot of need in the community,” Duesterhaus said. “It’s not just the things that are up in your face. It’s a lot of other things that may go unseen.”

Now Duesterhaus focuses on next steps for TAG.

“This year was a big learning year for me — and for the kids,” Duesterhaus said. “My goal for next year is that a lot of these kids will return, and I’d love for them to lead this program. It’s going to be them brainstorming — what do we want to learn, what’s the point of this program.”

More information about Teens Active in Grantmaking is available online at mycommunityfoundation.org/tag.