The Triskeles Youth Fund was established this year to introduce young adults to philanthropy and giving. Triskeles Foundation President Clemens Pietzner did a summer workshop on philanthropy for the youth in our Food For Thought (FFT) program. Youth and staff then made small donations to a fund; money from sales of baked goods made during Food For Thought and sold at the farmers market were added, and Triskeles Inc Board President Ray Schneider added a donation.

Three youth from the summer program were chosen to decide where the money would be gifted. They chose organizations which had provided services to the communities where they lived: The Food Bank at the First United Church of Christ in Spring City (where the Park Spring garden donated food this summer); the Clinic in Phoenixville (which provides medical care to people without insurance); and Phoenixville Area Positive Alternatives (now housed at the great Franklin Commons complex on the North Side of Phoenixville.

Three of our FFT youth, Andre Griffing, Alexis Bacon, and Megan Appling-Lester, went with Youth Programs Director Mark Birdsall to each of these organizations on December 15th. One of the youth presented a check for $100 at each site to the staff. In turn, staff at each site talked with us about the mission of their organizations and the services they provide.

What a wonderful feeling to be able to give as a young person to organizations which are doing so many vital services in this area. Our thanks again to Donna Kern at the First UCC; Debbie Shupp, Marsha Hill, and Krys Sipple at the Clinic; and Emily Ashinhurst and Sandy Booth at PAPA for all the food, medical care, and educational/recreational programs they offer in Chester County. We wish it could have been $100,000 !