Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities. Meet Nathan (16) from Chapel Hill, NC. Nathan is a youth volunteer mechanic for the ReCYCLEry NC and used his award to get more youth involved with the ReCYCLEry. The ReCYCLEry’s mission is to encourage bicycle use by community members for either transportation or recreation, and to support bicycle culture as an affordable and environmentally-friendly form of transportation. Additionally, volunteers at ReCYCLEry teach biking safety and assist kids with disabilities in learning how to ride bikes; donate bikes to kids in need; teach life skills; and develop young leaders. For this particular project, high-school age volunteers promoted the organization to students during lunch at schools. The volunteers also taught mechanic classes and introductory bicycle skills to 30-40 community members.

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities. Meet Ferdinand (17) from Baltimore, MD, founder of Treasures for Teachers & Students. He & his nonprofit used his award to execute a backpack building event within the Pikesville community. The event served as an outreach program for Pikesville High School in collaboration with Young Engineers, Key Club, Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Math Honor Society. A diverse group of students/clubs, teachers, staff, and parents was involved in preparing 30 backpacks filled with school supplies for 30 students. In coordination with the Kids in Need Foundation, the backpacks and supplies were bought in bulk.

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities. Meet Alannah (11) from Duluth, GA who used her award to provide care packages to seniors at the Hightower Manor Assisted Living Facility in Atlanta, Georgia. Alannah chose to summarize her project in her own words!

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities. Meet Maraya (16) from Canoga Park, CA who–along with the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley’s Keystone program–used her award to give back to her community in the areas of mental health awareness and emotional wellness. The group created an event connected to their local animal shelter called PAWSitivity. At PAWSitivity, community members signed up to visit & interact with shelter animals certified as therapy animals as well as participate in a wellness fair. Beyond creating a therapy event, the group also hoped the project would inspire more adoptions of the animals at the shelter. Maryaya chose to summarize the event in her own words!

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities. Meet Brooke (17) from Woodstock, GA who used her award to host a field day at a local elementary school. From each student who participated, she collected $5 which she used to purchase holiday gifts for children in a hospital.

Karma for Cara Foundation awards microgrants to youths 18 years of age and younger who spearhead exceptional service projects in their communities. Meet Anna (17) from Loretto, TN the founder of her school’s Recycling Club. Along with other Recycling Club members, she used her award to refurbish the recycling shed to make it easier and safer to use. The shed is used by everyone in their school and in the greater community. The newly created Recycling Club includes a branch of the UDL (Special Needs) class, and it was important for the club to include them in this project.

Meet Karma for Cara Foundation microgrant recipient Passion (14) from Kenosha, WI. She and other students in the ACE Program created blankets for the elderly and children in foster care. Alternatives to Corrections Through Education (ACE) is an alternative for youth, ages 12-17, who would otherwise be placed in a state correctional facility.

Meet K4C microgrant recipient Molly (10) from Washington state. She and a 4H Club used the award to gather & assemble personal care items–such as fleece blankets & toiletries–for children in the local foster care program.