AFP-NNE Demont Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy
Demont & Associates has partnered with the Association of Fundraising Professionals Northern New England (AFP-NNE), to award a $5,000 grant to an individual aged 8 to 23 who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the community through direct financial support, development of charitable programs, volunteering, and leadership in philanthropy. This is not a community service award. Rather it is a publicly and professionally recognized honor for a young person who has both personally and through the inspired efforts of others raised a relatively impressive amount of charitable support for the development of an important service or initiative in Northern New England.
In the words of President Robert Demont, “We are delighted to recognize the efforts of an outstanding youth philanthropist with this award. We know that there are many very deserving kids doing inspirational work raising funds for many worthwhile programs in our region.”
The purpose of the Youth in Philanthropy Award is to foster greater interest among youth in the fundraising profession. We know that there is no greater joy than to work in a field where you can make a lasting difference for good, and we are ready to learn and grow from young individual’s involvement and their example.
The recipient of this annual award is chosen from a pool of nominations by a New England Region Philanthropy Committee comprised of development professionals working in the fields of education and youth services in Northern New England. Each year, in November, the recipient is announced at AFP-NNE’s annual conference during its National Philanthropy Day awards ceremony. Teachers, non-profit leaders, development professionals, and others working with young people are encouraged to submit nominations for this award.
For Demont's Youth in Philanthropy Award criteria, click here. To submit a nomination on behalf of a deserving youth, click here.
Nomination applications may also be submitted via the AFP-NNE scholarship web page at http://www.afp-nne.org/youth-in-philanthropy-nomination-form.html.
2024 Recipients: Bryce and Riley Deshaies
The 2024 AFP-NNE and Demont Associates $5,000 Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Grant went to two brothers, Bryce (17) and Riley (15) Deshaies of Parsonsfield, ME. From an early age, the boys were raised to always do the right thing. When Bryce was turning three, his mother believed that the Maine Cancer Foundation’s annual state-led bottle drive, “Cans for Cure," would be a great way to teach the importance of giving back. Fourteen years later, the boys have raised over $85,000 and hope to hit their goal of $100,000 in their fifteenth year. The funds they raise support cancer prevention, early detection, and access to care. Raymond Ruby, Executive Director of the Maine Cancer Foundation, states that the action of these boys continues to motivate Foundation staff.
To see past YIP recipient videos, click here.
Previous Award Recipients:
2023 Brayden Bashaw, Edward Little High School, Auburn, ME
2022 Kasey Jordan, Mount Desert Island High School, Bar Harbor, ME
2021 Kelsey Eastman, Merrimack Valley High School, Concord, NH
2019 Tommy Hosmer, Bangor High School, Bangor, ME
2018 Nicholas Poitras, Madawaska Middle School, Madawaska, ME
2017 Victoria Reed, Alburgh Community Education Center, Alburgh, VT
2016 Riley Callen, The Dorset School, Dorset, VT
2015 Celia Andrews, Westford Elementary School, Westford, VT
2014 Gabbie St. Peter & Alice Willette, George J. Mitchell School, Waterville, ME
2013 Lanie Howes, Madison Memorial High School, Athens, ME
2012 Lyssa Jackson, The Putney School, Keene, NH
2011 Brandon Hamel, Laconia High School, Laconia, NH
2010 Sophie McKibben, The Northbranch School, Ripton, VT
2009 Rachel Blair Friedman, Portland, ME
2008 Jake Gallagher, Yarmouth High School, Yarmouth, ME
2007 Torie Catrett & Dezirae Brewer, Mahoney Middle School and Memorial Middle School, South Portland, Maine