TOLEDO—Teenagers involved in Youth in Philanthropy Encouraging Excellence (YIPEE) recently granted more than $18,000 to 11 organizations in northwest Ohio that affect the lives of youth.

Members of YIPEE consist of high school juniors and seniors who have completed the Youth Leadership Toledo program. The students raise money throughout the year through fundraisers, corporate donations, organization support, individual solicitations and personal funds, and accept grant proposals from local nonprofits that positively affect the lives of teens. One hundred percent of the funds raised go to the organizations the students deem have the greatest impact.

Twenty teenagers participated in YIPEE this year, including five students from area Catholic high schools: Trevon Gaston of Toledo St. Francis de Sales, Meredith Miller of Notre Dame Academy, Kaila Blanchard and Bethany Diacou of Toledo Central Catholic High School and Wil Muller of Toledo St. John’s Jesuit High School.

The organizations that received YIPEE funds this year were: Aids Resource Center of Ohio, American Red Cross — Greater Toledo Area Chapter, Erie Shores Council (Boy Scouts), Madd Poets Society, Mobile Meals of Toledo, Sunshine Foundation, Sylvania Partners in Education, The Learning Club of Toledo, University YMCA, Western Avenue Family Center and Youth Opportunities Program through YMCA.

The YIPEE program is funded in part by the Toledo Community Foundation and facilitated by the staff of Leadership Toledo. The goal is to establish a foundation for lifelong commitments to leadership, volunteerism and philanthropy in teenagers.