Teens and younger children engage in philanthropy in many different ways. Through school, religious institutions and on their own, kids are stepping up to fund their passions and express their desire to improve the world. This panel of practitioners includes a local teen who reached out on his own to support a local non-profit, and two professionals who work closely with youth philanthropists. They will share their experiences, best practices and tips for connecting to teens and youth with the philanthropic community.
PLEASE NOTE that this is a BREAKFAST PROGRAM.
Panelists:
Christy Becker, Women's Fund
After earning her degree at Ohio University, Christy returned to Indianapolis, the city she loves. When her son Jack was born, Christy left her career in event planning and special projects to raise children. A self-described "stay-at-home mom who never stays at home," Christy stayed busy with Jack, and then daughter, Ellie. She took on the role of GO Consultant when she felt she was at a point in her life when her teenage children didn't need as much of her time as they used to, and she decided to become more involved with Women's Fund.
An alum of OPTIONS Class 12 and co-chair of the 2014 Power of Women's Fund Philanthropy event, Christy first learned about Women's Fund and became involved when she met Jennifer Pope Baker during their tenure serving on the Children's Museum Guild. It was at the Children's Museum where Christy truly shaped her philanthropic interests and strengths. She co-chaired various museum events, including the first Haunted House to raise over $500,000 for the museum. She served beyond the six-year minimum on the Guild, also co-chairing the publication of the book, Larry Gets Lost in the Museum and serving on the Board of Directors for the Guild.
A runner, hiker, yogi and avid reader, Christy enjoys cooking, hot yoga, adventure traveling and exploring the Indy restaurant scene. She enjoys her work with Women’s Fund and the GO students and has served as consultant for close to two years. Prior to that, she has been involved with GO as a parent. Her children have had GO funds since 2010. Christy is thrilled to be working with and getting to know the children and families who share her interest in improving our community.
Jill Gordon, Indiana Philanthropy Alliance
Jill Gordon is Indiana Philanthropy Alliance’s Director of Learning with the primary task of designing and developing a diverse offering of programs and events for IPA members, stakeholders, and partners. In this role she explores targeted initiatives and partnerships that support foundation development and impact. Previously she served as the Program Director and primary contact for the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana (YPII), a signature program of Indiana Philanthropy Alliance. In this YPII role, Jill provided resources and technical assistance to promote and support youth philanthropy. She also facilitated training on how foundations and nonprofit organizations can engage younger generations in their communities through the four pillars of youth philanthropy: serving, giving, leading, and engaging. Jill spent 15 years in the museum field and brings over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit arena, with a strong focus on program and curriculum development, training/evaluation, grant writing, and nonprofit management. She’s passionate about lifelong learning, community collaboration, and empowering younger generations to take action and make a difference.
Keegan Priest
Keegan is a sophomore at University High School in Carmel, Indiana. At University, he is on the swim team, plays viola in the orchestra, participates in the school musicals. and is a member of the film and album clubs. Outside of school is working on his project to become an Eagle Scout. In 2018, with an interest in music, Keegan created and directed Uchella, an open mic night for students at University High School. Proceeds from the show went to Arts for Learning. He is working on this year’s production that will take place in May.