United Way Youth Leadership Cabinet breaks record in $78,000 donation

Community students of the United Way Youth Leadership Cabinet presented a record-breaking $78,000 to several non-profits throughout the community Friday afternoon at the Club Level of the Hodgetown Stadium.

A combination of 47 schools in the surrounding districts including Amarillo, Canyon, Bushland, River Road, Highland Park, and Ascension Academy determined the funds to be allocated to four different areas:

– $2,000 of the total funds was attributed to sponsoring the “Day of Caring Project”;

– another $2,000 was put toward scholarships;

– $30,000 was awarded to area adult programs and

– $43,000 to area youth programs.

This year, the Youth Leadership Cabinet received 12 applications from local non-profits. The Youth Leadership Cabinet evaluated each application individually, and when available, met with the program directors as part of their evaluation process. Students also reached out beyond the applications for new ways to serve the community through their limited but valuable means. On March 2, they hosted a meeting where all funding decisions were finalized to be presented to the non-profits at Fridays event.

“We wanted to play a part in helping our community, and that’s what we aimed to do. We took it upon ourselves to raise as much as we could,” said Maison Guerra, Canyon HS Youth Leadership member.

The allocation of the funds were presented to nine local non-profits, including the Wesley Community Center, Boy Scouts of America, Salvation Army, Amarillo Red Cross and more.

According to Guerra, the funds were raised in various ways for each grade level across the districts. Some ways that the students raised the funds throughout the school year included change drives, spirit week activities and general donations from students.

“This luncheon is a way for us to celebrate what these students have accomplished and what they are doing, but also a way for them to award those chosen non-profits that they hand picked,” said Raul Rodarte-Suto, Youth Cabinet Staff Leader and Community Initiatives Manager for United Way of Amarillo and Canyon. “Through this, the kids get to be part of the solution to the problems that they see in the community, and we have seen a rise in students participating in the program since the beginning of the pandemic.”

According to Rodarte-Suto, last year’s funds raised amounted to $55,000. The United Way Youth Leadership Cabinet was established 20 years ago and has grown to include the local school districts since. This year’s participation included a total of 10 different high schools from the five districts among grade levels kindergarten through 12th.

During the presentation, Palo Duro High School senior Denascia Johnson was awarded a $2,000 scholarship for her community involvement, including her participation as a student council member, Boys and Girls Club volunteer, membership as a part of the Youth Cabinet and her role in Youth Day.

“I have big plans for my future, so being awarded this helps me to put things in order, knowing I have support from outgoing organizations,” Johnson said. “This is important to me, because I want to encourage others and inspire them to be involved and help their community.”