Palm Beach Philanthropy Tank 2016-2017 Competition Now Underway
The 2016-2017 Palm Beach Philanthropy Tank is now underway and accepting applications. Philanthropy Tank challenges Palm Beach County students, 7th to 12th grade, to develop sustainable community betterment projects. Winners receive a year of one-on-one mentoring from local philanthropist-investors, and up to $15,000 in project funding. Deadline for application submissions is December 11, 2016.
Finalists will be announced January 25, 2017 and will “pitch” their community betterment projects to a panel of four local philanthropist-investors. The Philanthropy Tank main event takes place March 8, 2017 at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. The Philanthropy Tank’s objectives are three-fold: Benefit students through the process of the competition, by developing leadership and presentation skills, and through developing and executing their philanthropic programs; provide philanthropist-investors a platform for direct action in the actual work of their students’ community betterment projects; and, finally, benefit the community through authentic, sustainable community betterment projects that operate long after the awards have been announced.
Philanthropy Tank Co-Chair Evan Deoul commented, “Philanthropy Tank is an opportunity for local philanthropists to work directly with motivated young people from our community. We know from past participants—students and philanthropist-investors alike—that the Philanthropy Tank is proving a uniquely rewarding and fundamentally inspiring way to make meaningful change in our community.” He went on to say, “Our immediate challenge is getting students to apply, and our October 9th workshop will guide them in how to submit a winning application.” Deoul concluded, “Our best advocates are adults who hope to inspire today’s youth to care for their community. This is precisely our mission.”
Students, parents, educators and community advocates considering the 2017 competition are encouraged to attend a free informational workshop, taking place Sunday, October 9th from 2:00 to 4:30 PM at the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Attendees receive instruction on how to properly develop compelling, comprehensive and complete Philanthropy Tank applications. They’ll also meet philanthropist-investors and hear from 2016 Philanthropy Tank winners about their experiences, both within the competition and as funded, mentored leaders of their respective community initiatives. Attendees should RSVP for the workshop by October 7th by e-mailing rsvp@philanthropytank.org.