Creekside students tell Tigard‑Tualatin board how CARES grants funded arts and school programs

Creekside Community High School students presented to the Tigard‑Tualatin School District board on the CARES Foundations youth grantmaking program, describing how student grantmakers select community issues, evaluate nonprofit proposals and run fundraisers.

Luna Vander Kuveren, a Creekside student, said the program guarantees student groups $7,500 from the CARES Foundation and can double those funds by raising another $7,500, with the foundation matching up to $15,000 total. “In Schmitzer Cares, student groups act as mini foundations,” Vander Kuveren said, explaining students assess local nonprofit proposals and allocate funds.

Student presenters listed last year’s awards: Bridging Voices ($5,000), My Voice Music ($2,500) and Bravo Youth Orchestras ($5,000), and said the districtwide student grantmakers distributed $72,750 to 18 nonprofits and $15,754 to school programs, for a combined total of $88,489. Student Jason Bracken said some funds also supported school clubs and that the group’s most successful fundraiser was a talent show.

Board members praised the program’s educational value. Director Miles asked what skills students gained; presenters cited event planning, leadership and collaboration. Director Hammes and others linked the program to the district’s strategic priorities for talent and student achievement with equity.

The student presenters said the program operates at four district schools — Creekside, Tigard High, Tualatin High and Tualatin Middle — and that students may grant up to 25% of their funds back to school programs. The presentation concluded with board gratitude and a photo opportunity; no board action was required.