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Latino Family Fund asks Gilroy Unified to pilot Youth & Philanthropy in high schools after student testimonials
Summary
Representatives and student alumni of the Latino Family Fund’s Youth and Philanthropy (YIP) program urged trustees to expand the middle-school mentoring and grantmaking program into high schools; students described college visits and leadership gains as reasons to pilot a single high school next year.
At the Sept. 19 meeting, the Latino Family Fund presented its Youth and Philanthropy and Leadership (YIP) program to the board and requested district collaboration to pilot an expansion to high schools.
Co-chairs Claudia Valencia and Carlos Trujillo described YIP as a middle-school mentoring and youth grantmaking program (established 2013) that engages students in nonprofit evaluation, corporate site visits and college exposure. The program serves approximately 90 students per participating middle school and has awarded roughly $27,000 to local nonprofits over the last decade.
Students who participated in YIP spoke directly to trustees. Rosalyn Hernandez, an eighth-grade YIP participant, said the program "has helped me become a leader and make new friends" and credited YIP with building confidence that enabled her to present to the board. Former participant Krista Garcia Pablo, now an incoming UC Davis freshman, said corporate and college visits broadened her view of career opportunities and that she hoped the program would be extended to high schools to amplify those outcomes.
Program leaders outlined steps needed to expand to high schools: identify a single pilot site, secure a staff lead (counselor, activities director or teacher on special assignment), recruit mentors willing to work with older students, adapt curriculum for high-school schedules and set selection criteria that favors students with leadership potential but who might not already hold formal leadership roles.
Why this matters: YIP connects students (many first-generation college aspirants) to philanthropic practice, mentorship and exposure to corporate and university settings. Trustees expressed support and several offered to volunteer as mentors once the program scope and staffing are defined.
Next steps: YIP leaders said they will meet with the superintendent and secondary curriculum staff to identify a pilot high school and to develop selection and mentor-recruitment plans for the 2024–25 school year.
