This is our monthly meeting of the youth advisory council. We meet to discuss plans for events and resources.

This is our monthly meeting of the youth advisory council. We meet to discuss plans for events and resources.

In an effort to teach young people about the importance and value of local and global community giving, Youth²- Youth Helping Youth will be hosting its third annual Community Giving Fair to be held on Saturday, November 19^th, 2011 from 10-3 pm, at the United Methodist Church, 175 Fifth Ave, Saratoga Springs.

Walking side by side with your child, the alternative holiday market will provide shoppers with the opportunity to make donations to their favorite community organization that works to help everyone throughout the year. You can give a gift in honor of a loved one that keeps on giving. You can give a financial contribution or have your child donate in-kind items such as a blanket to the Backstretch Employee Service Team or socks for the Domestic Violence shelter. Please refer to www.youthsquared.org to locate items that each agency could use.

This year the event will include a “Youth Challenge: Calling All Kids” grant stimulation effort. Young people who are Saratoga County residents, age 22 and younger can think of a way that they want to improve the world and write a grant proposal to realize their dream. Youth²- Youth Helping Youth which will award $1500 in grant awards on the day of the Community Giving Fair. You can get a group of kids together as part of your school or college club, community organization, church or synagogue youth group, to come up with an idea that will serve other youth in your local community or in the world. There will be an informational meeting about how to secure these monies on Wednesday, October 12^th at 7 pm. in the Glasby Room of Saratoga Springs Library and the grant deadline will be on November 12^th.

The Community Giving Fair will provide a fun and engaging forum that empowers youth to make a difference by encouraging them to think about social change, to participate in social action and to donate to the agencies or groups of their choice. This year we are hoping to involve more youth efforts in our circle of groups participating. Youth groups that are interested in having a table at the Fair please contact Beverly Lazar Davis at

Participating agencies, Saratoga county Children’s Committee, Franklin Community Center, Domestic Violence, Uganda Relief Club, Backstretch Employee Service Team, Ballston Spa Community Center, Help the World, The Giving Circle and others will directly benefit from increased public awareness and financial and gift/in-kind donations. Fair trade holiday gifts will also be available by Mango Tree Imports. There is no cost to participate. Local agencies and youth organizations that would like to participate can contact Beverly Lazar Davis at to secure a space at the event.

We will create a festive mood with live music, bake sale and light lunch, Stone Soup, raffle items, Social Action tables offering ways for youth to make “Good Health Kits” for our community, activities for kids to use small change for big change, a Volunteer Match table and an alternative giving person, “Pockets”, handing out ideas on community service. The Saratoga Performing Youth Artists (SPYA) may contribute a pertinent theatrical event again this year.

Youth²- Youth Helping Youth is a Field of Interest Fund formed under the guidance of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. Youth² won the 2011 Champions for Children Award in the Capital Region. Youth² engages young people to think about issues that they care about and to create volunteer, social awareness and fundraising social action local and global projects for youth and by youth. Youth² is committed to giving both financial and thoughtful support to help interested young people turn their ideas into realities.

Wish Lists

Join us and support the organizations that take care of our community!

Youth Squared- Youth Helping Youth- will hold a “Rain or Shine Rummage Sale” to benefit the organization’s grant fund.

The Rummage Sale will be held on Saturday, August 13th 2011, from 9am to 3 pm at the Presbyterian New England Congregational Church Fellowship Hall, 24 Circular Street, Saratoga Springs, New York.

You can bring a non-perishable food item and pick a discount coupon you can use to get something free at the sale. In this way, the event will also be helping to fill the Soup Kitchen Pantry. From 2-3pm (the last hour of the event), there will be a special $2.00 bag sale.

If you want to donate household items, books, small appliances or clothing or have further questions, please call 518-281-9130.

Northeast Parent and Child Society and General Electric honored Youth Squared – Youth Helping Youth as the 2011 Champions for Children- Kids Helping Kids Award winner.

The Youth Squared – Youth Helping Youth Fund was honored as “Champions for Children” by Northeast Parent & Child Society

Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 5:30 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy, NY … MORE

YouthSquared – Youth Helping Youth hostied the second annual Youth for Change: Community Giving Fair. This exciting event was held on Saturday, November 20^th, 2010 from 10am to 3pm at the United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 175 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs. The next annual “Community Giving Fair” will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2011.

For our third annual event we are going to be having a “Youth Community Giving Challenge” where we will be receiving proposals for local community service projects that will be judged and offered financial grants. We will be highlighting youth clubs and youth philanthropic efforts in our community.

Read more…

YouthSquared – Youth Helping Youth hostied the second annual Youth for Change: Community Giving Fair. This exciting event was held on Saturday, November 21^st, 2009 from 10am to 3pm at the United Methodist Church, Fellowship Hall, 175 Fifth Avenue, Saratoga Springs.

For our second annual event we are going to be having a “Youth Community Giving Challenge” where we will be receiving proposals for local community service projects that will be judged and offered financial grants. We will be highlighting youth clubs and youth philanthropic efforts in our community.

Read more…