Seattle International Foundation (SIF), whose mission is to connect Seattle to the world through giving, announced today the launch of the Central America Youth Fund (CAYF), a new grant-making fund to advance awareness and giving for projects to empower youth in Central America. The Fund will invest $1 million dollars in programs expanding opportunities for young people in the region, as well as serve as a resource and intermediary for other donors seeking to support youth in Central America.
“Youth in Central America face many challenges: violence, lack of educational opportunities, and very limited job opportunities. The recent wave of unaccompanied minors entering the U.S. from Central America underscores the lack of opportunities and violence young people face in the region. We need to invest in young people so they can create safe, productive lives in their home countries,” said Mauricio Vivero, CEO of SIF.
The CAYF will provide financial and technical support to young adult leaders in Central America to implement innovative projects within their organizations that are designed to demonstrate measurable impacts on girls’ equality and/or adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. This fund is also made possible by the support of The Summit Foundation based in Washington D.C.
SIF’s commitment was announced at the 2014 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting. Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, CGI convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The CGI Annual Meeting is held each September in New York City.
“SIF is proud to launch the Central America Youth Fund with such a prestigious group,” shared Vivero.
For more information about the CAYF or this announcement at CGI, please contact SIF’s Director of Programs, Michele Frix, at mfrix@nullseaif.org.
Seattle International Foundation: Established in 2008 by Bill and Paula Clapp, SIF seeks to increase global philanthropy from the Pacific Northwest and serve as a resource for donors supporting projects and organizations internationally. Since 2008, SIF has awarded more than $15 million in grants to more than 150 partners working in 60 countries. Seattle International Foundation (SIF) is affiliated with The Seattle Foundation, the local community foundation.
The Clapps have more than 15 years of experience in international development and philanthropy. In 1994, they co-founded Global Partnerships and have been involved in founding a number of other Seattle-based nonprofits including Global Washington, Initiative for Global Development and Stolen Youth. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, the Clapps appreciate the generosity of spirit and the inclusiveness towards others present throughout the region.
The Seattle Foundation: The Seattle Foundation’s mission is to foster powerful and rewarding philanthropy to make King County a stronger, more vibrant community for all. Their goal as a community foundation is to simplify giving and strengthen the impact of philanthropy for the more than 1,200 individuals, families and businesses their serve. The Seattle Foundation awards more than $60 million in grants each year and offers an online Giving Center at www.seattlefoundation.org to provide current information on community issues and nonprofit organizations.
The Clinton Global Initiative: Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 180 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date, members of the CGI community have made more than 2,900 commitments, which are already improving the lives of more than 430 million people in over 180 countries.
CGI also convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States, and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow them on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.
