NNY Community Foundation names 2025-2026 Youth Philanthropy Council

WATERTOWN, N.Y. — The Northern New York (NNY) Community Foundation recently announced its 2025-2026 Youth Philanthropy Council class, welcoming 12 new and five returning students to the leadership program. The Youth Philanthropy Council is a NNY Community Foundation advisory committee that was chartered in 2010 to promote positive youth development and engage young people in meaningful activities that build their skills. Throughout the yearlong program, students deepen their understanding of community needs while learning about community philanthropy and its impact across Northern New York, the foundation said. Council members grow to become informed critical thinkers and philanthropic leaders as they engage in lessons that may never be taught in a traditional classroom. “When Council members graduate, they frequently say the Council is one of the most transformational experiences of their high school career. Above all, it is a powerful, multi-dimensional leadership program that instills lifelong lessons in civic responsibility and engagement,” Rande S. Richardson, NNY Community Foundation executive director, said in the Oct. 13 announcement. “Our donors are making valuable investments in our youth and helping ensure that our community’s future is in good hands.”  This year’s Youth Philanthropy Council includes 17 representatives from Carthage, General Brown, Immaculate Heart Central, Lyme, South Jefferson, and Watertown High School. Council members are in their junior, or senior class. The class is comprised of the following people: • Valerie Akins, Carthage Central, junior, first-year member • Caitlin Daugherty, Watertown High, junior, first-year member • Gaige Doroha, Watertown High, junior, first-year member • Hudson Guldenpfennig, Watertown High, junior, first-year member • Maxwell Hunt, Lyme Central, junior, first-year member • Nola Johnson, Watertown High, junior, first-year member • Oliver King, South Jefferson Central, junior, first-year member • Isabel Mendez, General Brown Central, junior, first-year member • Annabelle Renzi, South Jefferson Central, junior, first-year member • William Steward, South Jefferson Central, senior, second-year member • Lucy Swartz, Watertown High, junior, first-year member • Julia Tontarski, Immaculate Heart Central, junior, second-year member • Lydia Tremont, South Jefferson Central, junior, first-year member • Trey Urf, Watertown High, junior, second-year member • April Wang, Watertown High, senior, second-year member • Frances Weir, Watertown High, junior, first-year member • Alexandria Zajac, Immaculate Heart Central, junior, second-year member Students elected members to this year’s Council Executive Committee during the last meeting of the school year in June. Watertown High School senior April Wang will serve as the council chair; Watertown High School junior Trey Urf will serve as vice chair; and Immaculate Heart Central junior Julia Tontarski was elected to serve as council secretary.