HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Youth Philanthropy Council of the Hutchinson Community Foundation awarded $3,000 in grants at a ceremony Sunday at the Hutchinson Art Center.

Led by 15 high school students from across Reno County, the Youth Philanthropy Council is a grant-making program designed to involve area students in philanthropy: the practice of giving money, time and talents to help make life better for other people. This year’s group began meeting in November 2017 to discuss local issues of concern to youth, learn about grant-making and award grants to youth-serving organizations.

The grants are awarded from the Richard W. Dillon Memorial Fund, established by the Dillon family to honor Dick Dillon for his extensive philanthropic work in the community.

The following grants were given Sunday afternoon:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson: $440 for a frappuccino bar at the club to serve as a connecting point for older students and to provide business-operation experience.

Central Christian School: $225 for Serve-A-Thon: Cougars Who Care, an all-school day of serving. The grant will purchase backpacks filled with supplies for personal needs to be distributed at the Children’s Emergency Shelter.

Dillon Nature Center: $200 for STEM programs.

Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre: $375 for the theatre’s “By the Bus” arts in education program.

Kansas Food Bank: $400 for Food 4 Kids Reno County-Weekend Backpack Program.

McCandless Elementary School: $750 for materials to build an outdoor classroom at the school.

Plum Creek Elementary School: $60 for second-graders to provide free lemonade to community members in hopes of fostering a philanthropic spirit and brightening the days of others.

Prairie Independent Living Resource Center: $550 for the organization’s Disability Mentoring Day.