Davie Community Foundation focuses its unrestricted dollars on youth in several ways; one of these is by sponsoring a youth grant-making board called the S.U.R.F. (Students Understanding Real Futures) Board.
The S.U.R.F. Board is a group of high school students who raise money and award grants to youth-led projects in Davie County. This is an opportunity for young people to learn about philanthropy; giving of their time, talents, and treasures to make life better for others. Board members learn about needs in the community, the responsibilities that go along with giving, as well as important leadership skills that will serve them well into adulthood.
In 2020 S.U.R.F. granted $8,050 to four projects benefiting Davie County Foster Care; Project Sunburn through Davie County High School Motorsports Club; Stockings for Schools through Davie Hunger Fighters; and Bundles of Love for the Dragonfly House through the Early College NHS.
The 2020-2021 S.U.R.F. Board
Roxanna Barney, Stephanie Bueno, Mary Cain, Tatum Childress, Kyndall Correll, Morgan Creason, Whitney Deloach, Kristian Lyons, Mya McGowan, Makenna Groff, Dylan Hanes, Brooklyn Lakey, Caroline Lakey, Jack Nixon, Keelyn Oakes, Maddie Owen, Louis Pope, Madi Rogers, Cren Rosenbaum, Luke Stillson, Ashley Tatum, Bonnie Jo Taylor, Avery Yount
The S.U.R.F. Board meets each summer for a team building retreat to get to know new members and develop a trusting relationship with each other. SURF meets monthly following the retreat.
In the fall, SURF joins youth grant makers from all over the state at a Youth Giving Summit. The board spends the day learning and growing together with other youth.
The Board releases a request for proposals (RFP) for youth-led projects in the fall. This is an application for groups who wish to receive grants. The groups that apply for grants are school clubs and organizations, church youth groups, and other groups of youth who want to serve but need funding to make it happen.
In the winter, SURF makes grant decisions. They exercise good stewardship in the granting of funds and perform regular follow-ups to see that grants are successful.