WEST LIBERTY – Thanks to their newest pilot program, West Liberty students will soon have the chance to not only learn about the power and importance of philanthropy but also participate in the practice of it.
Starting this fall, the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine is going to be piloting Amplify Youth, a youth philanthropy program, with the West Liberty Community School District and its West Liberty Youth Dream Catchers, a mentoring program that provides academic support and scholarship opportunities.
To help kick off the Amplify Youth program – which will be held during the fall of this year – nine West Liberty Dream Catchers students participated in the Iowa Youth Philanthropy Conference on August 3.
Through the Amplify Youth program, these selected students will learn about current key issues, gain philanthropic skills related to topics like leadership and fundraising through various activities, and discover how they can made a true positive difference in their community as they foster a sense of responsibility.
“We’re really excited about the program,” Moriah Ellis, Community Initiatives Coordinator said. “Niki Moore Nienhaus (Programs Manager for Community Foundation) and I will be teaching a lot of the lessons to the kids, and we’re going to have one session every week this fall. The goal is just to teach them different things about philanthropy, what it means and how they can be charitable philanthropists as kids too and don’t have to wait until they’re adults to start getting involved with their community.”
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Additionally, the students participating in the program will also get to practice philanthropy themselves by selected a West Liberty non-profit to receive a $5,000 grant.
To help kick off the Amplify Youth program — which will be held during the fall of this year — nine West Liberty Dream Catchers students participated in the Iowa Youth Philanthropy Conference on August 3 at the Iowa Valley Community College in Marshalltown.
During the event, participating youth philanthropy groups from across the state had the chance to learn from, network with and share their experiences with each other. Students at the conference also attended workshops and break-out sessions on various philanthropy topics, getting the chance to hear directly from other youth groups such as uVoice and Teen Trust. They also learned about how they could stay involved in philanthropy even after graduating from their youth program.
“I think the philanthropy conference was a good experience because we were able to learn about different communities and how people work together to help each other out. I also learned about some of the ways I could help my town and community in the future,” Vianney Hernandez, a ninth grade student, said in a provided statement.
For the time being, Ellis said that she and Nienhaus are going to use Amplify Youth’s first year to focus on what does and doesn’t work with it in order to make whatever improvements necessary for the program’s future. In addition to wanting to do it yearly, they also hope to eventually expand Amplify Youth to other Muscatine County schools.
For those wanting to learn more about the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine’s various plans, grants and programs, residents can go to https://www.givinggreater.org.
Photos: West Liberty falls to Iowa City Regina, 2-1, in IHSAA boys soccer quarterfinal
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West Liberty’s Diego Hernandez (6) hoists the state participant trophy after West Liberty fell to Iowa City Regina, 2-1, in an Iowa Class 1A state quarterfinal match on Tuesday at the Cownie Soccer Complex.
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West Liberty’s Joshua Zeman (11) moves the ball during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Joshua Zeman (11) reacts after missing a kick during the second half of an Iowa Class 1A state quarterfinal match against Iowa City Regina on Tuesday at the Cownie Soccer Complex.
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West Liberty fans react to a ruling on the field during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Ruben Meraz (1) is comforted by family after West Liberty fell to Iowa City Regina, 2-1, in an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Mateo Simon (3), Diego Hernandez (6) and Juan Mateo (7) react after falling to Iowa City Regina, 2-1, in an Iowa Class 1A state quarterfinal match on Tuesday afternoon at the Cownie Soccer Complex.
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West Liberty’s Joshua Zeman (11) slides to attempt to score past Iowa City Regina’s Dylan Vittetoe (0) during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Juan Mateo (7) flies through the air after colliding with Iowa City Regina’s Andrew Greve (33) during the second half of an Iowa Class 1A state quarterfinal match on Tuesday at the Cownie Soccer Complex.
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West Liberty’s Joshua Zeman (11) is comforted by a teammate after West Liberty fell to Iowa City Regina, 2-1, in an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Javier Andrade (17) and Iowa City Regina’s Quinn Warren (13) go for the ball during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty players react after falling to Iowa City Regina, 2-1, in an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Javier Andrade (17) kicks the ball during the second half of an Iowa Class 1A state quarterfinal match against Iowa City Regina on Tuesday at the Cownie Soccer Complex.
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West Liberty’s Joshua Zeman (11) goes up for a header above Iowa City Regina’s Dan Maley (3) during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Alexis Garcia (2) kicks the ball during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Pascual Pedro (16) moves the ball against Iowa City Regina’s Dan Maley (3) during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Juan Bautista (8) and Bruce Songa (10) react after falling to Iowa City Regina, 2-1, in an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Joshua Zeman (11) slides to attempt to score past Iowa City Regina’s Dylan Vittetoe (0) during the second half of an Iowa Class 1A state quarterfinal match on Tuesday at the Cownie Soccer Complex.
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West Liberty’s Will Seele (5) passes the ball during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Juan Mateo (7) kicks the ball to score during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Diego Hernandez (6) kicks the ball during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Juan Bautista (8) runs with the ball ahead of Iowa City Regina’s Andrew Greve (33) during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Juan Mateo (7) moves the ball against Iowa City Regina’s Andrew Greve (33) during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Dominic Hernandez (15) goes up for a header during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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Iowa City Regina’s Eddie Petersen (15) moves the ball against West Liberty’s Bruce Songa (10) during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Ruben Meraz (1) makes a save during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Juan Mateo (7) runs with the ball during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Bruce Songa (10) moves the ball against Iowa City Regina’s Quinn Warren (13) during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Juan Bautista (8) kicks the ball during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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Iowa City Regina’s Quinn Warren (13) goes up to control the ball during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty head coach Walton Ponce during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Juan Mateo (7) kicks a corner kick during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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Iowa City Regina’s Emiliano Herrera-Sinnwell (6) moves the ball during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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Iowa City Regina’s Jack Hoover (14) celebrates a goal during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Juan Mateo (7) celebrates his goal in the sixth minute against Iowa City Regina in Tuesday’s Iowa Class 1A state quarterfinal match at the Cownie Soccer Complex.
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Iowa City Regina’s Quinn Warren (13) kicks the ball against West Liberty’s Juan Mateo (7) and Juan Bautista (8) during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Joshua Zeman (11) runs with the ball during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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Iowa City Regina’s Emiliano Herrera-Sinnwell (6) kicks the ball during the first half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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West Liberty’s Juan Bautista (8) kicks at the ball against Iowa City Regina’s Jack Hoover (14) during the second half of an IHSAA Class 1A soccer tournament quarterfinal match, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at the James Cownie Sports Complex in Des Moines.
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