MADISON — Madison Area Memorial High School junior Lanie Howes will be honored by the Northern New England Chapter of the Association for Fundraising Professionals for her fundraising accomplishments on behalf of Make-A-Wish Maine. The organization is a nonprofit that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Since her freshman year, Lanie has raised $24,000 for the organization, about enough to grant four wishes.

The Make-A—Wish board of directors supported her nomination by saying in a press release, “In addition to her fundraising efforts, Lanie has educated teens and adults alike about the challenges of children with serious medical issues and has been an eloquent public speaker for Make-A-Wish at summer camps, on local TV and with school groups. Her passion is evident.”

Howes first learned about the role of philanthropy while a freshman at Skowhegan Area High School, enrolled in Jobs for Maine’s Graduates. Each year, JMG embarks on the Jumpstart Our Youth program founded by the Unity Foundation in Unity, ME. JOY teaches the approximately 3,500 JMG participants statewide about how nonprofits serve communities and how grant funding is critical to nonprofit mission. Armed with $1000 in grant funds provided by the Unity Foundation and funding partners Maine Community Foundation and Unitel, Inc., the students examine community needs, distribute RFP’s to nonprofits, examine applications for funding, host in-class presentations, and finally decide how to award the grant. Many raise additional funds to supplement the $1000 award.

Taking her new-found knowledge of nonprofit needs many steps further, Howes organized garage sales and community auctions and asked for contributions to Make-A-Wish in lieu of Christmas and birthday gifts.


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