Oakland County hears update on Acorn to Oak youth grant program; next deadline June 15

Susan Holidayiday, executive director of Leadership Oakland and administrator of the Acorn to Oak Youth Grant Program, told the committee the program launched after County Executive Dave Coulter announced the mini-grant effort in March 2023 and a board resolution and contract followed later that year. "Our contract right now is through September 30th of 2027," Holidayiday said, adding the program may seek an extension next year.

Holidayiday described four award categories for applicants ages 8–18 — business/entrepreneurial, community impact, educational achievement and extracurricular — and highlighted individual grantees. "This is exactly what we were hoping to accomplish," Holidayiday said of projects such as Lydia Benelli’s Bravery Bears, which delivered 120 teddy bears with affirmations to pediatric patients. "I hope that these bears have the same impact as they did on my family," Lydia Benelli told the committee in a brief comment about her project.

Holidayiday provided program statistics comparing 2024 to the current year, saying Acorn to Oak gave 71 grants in 2024 and 69 previously, and that the program has reached 36 Oakland County communities. She said the program has seen an increase in entrepreneurial applicants and that staff track demographics by age, gender and ethnicity. Holidayiday also described partnerships and supports — including mentoring and a planned partnership with Oakland Thrive to help youth build business plans and budgets — and said the program follows up with recipients six months after awards.

Commissioners asked about application timing and outreach. Holidayiday said applications are accepted year-round and reviewed quarterly, with the next review period and deadline on June 15. She added the program is working to diversify funding sources beyond initial seed funding so it can transition to foundation support in future years. Holidayiday also said the steering committee reviews applications quarterly and provided commissioners with the option to receive lists of recipients by district and invitations to community events where grantees display their work.

Holidayiday asked commissioners to help publicize the program in their districts and offered to provide flyers and recipient lists to help them identify local events and youth markets where awardees will appear. The committee did not take formal action on the presentation; Holidayiday closed by thanking members and noting recent receptions that celebrated awardees.