"If given the opportunity, our youth will use their creative energies and time to serve the community." This is the motivating principle behind the GTO Awards program. Established in 1993, the GTO program is a peer- designed and led community service program in Morgan County. Since 1994, the Volunteer Center has partnered with MCSAN in sponsoring the GTO Program This program awards grants of up to $200 to youth groups to implement community service projects that address a broad range of community needs.
There are two categories of awards: GTO Prevention Grants and Community Service Grants. The GTO Prevention Grants must be used to implement youth designed projects that work toward (1) reducing the incidence of drinking and driving in our community ,(2) promoting the use of seatbelts and (3) prevention of the use of tobacco. Community Service Grants must be used for projects that will make a positive difference in the community. Projects in both categories require youth to work over an extended period of time on the design and implementation of meaningful community projects.
Grants are awarded to any elementary through high school age youth group (e.g., school clubs and classes, Boys and Girls Clubs, scouting troops, and church youth groups) that designs and plans to implement a qualifying program. Applicants must complete a written application (often with the assistance of an adult leader) describing (1) the proposed project; (2) who and how many people in the community will be impacted by the project; (3) how many young people will participate in implementing the project; and (4) a proposed budget.
A panel of 3 judges (representing a cross-section of the community) reviews and ranks each application, and determines which projects will be funded. Awards are granted on the basis of the project's merit and the extent to which the project is designed and will be implemented by youth (rather than adult leaders). Projects that obviously are not designed by youth or will not be implemented by youth are not funded. Grants are announced and awarded at an annual awards luncheon.
