Youths Can Work To Earn Grants

Here’s the deal: 500 hours can earn you $5,000.

Harold K.L. Castle Foundation’s Windward Youth Leadership Fund puts a spin on the traditional grant-giving model, asking youth groups to conduct a service project in the area before receiving any money.

Grants are open to any public school or nonprofit Windward Oahu organization — including hula halau, sports teams and scout troops — that have at least three members under age 18.

Previous applicants have assisted Hui o Ko’olaupoko, Windward Oahu Community Policing Team, ‘Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi and Na Ala Hele, among others, doing everything from cleaning parks to restoring He’eia Fishpond to working with needy kupuna.

Grants range from $500 to a maximum of $5,000, depending on the group’s request and number of hours worked. At least 500 hours must be logged by youth members to receive the full amount. Applicants will be selected based on degree of youth involvement, group need, their proposal, and its creativity, utility and difficulty.

Among past awardees are Kalaheo Project Grad, Hawaii Education of the Arts, Kawaihoa Foundation, Oahu Church of Christ and the AYSO U12 Boys Team.

For details, visit castlefoundation.org/windward-youth-leadership-fund.