CASA Youth Ambassadors Land $1,000 DCF Grant to Mentor Kids

This holiday season, each of 15 volunteer board members recommends a $1,000 grant for a special cause.

DCF Board member Lisa Moorhead, left, presents a $1,000 grant to Kara Goode and Alan Weiss of Dearborn County Citizens Against Substance Abuse (CASA). Photo provided.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - They train, they host, they lead. And now the members of CASA’s Youth Ambassador Program have extra funding to mentor kids in the quest to build a drug-free community.

The group received the grant as part of the Dearborn Community Foundation’s annual program, through which each of 15 volunteer board members recommends a $1,000 grant for a special cause.

The grants to organizations that serve Dearborn County residents are funded through Unrestricted Endowment Funds, established by donors to provide flexibility as community needs change throughout the years.

“I have known about Dearborn County CASA (Citizens Against Substance Abuse) and the Youth Ambassador program through my years in the field of education,” said DCF Board member Lisa Moorhead, who made the recommendation. “It was great to see the youth ambassadors training session recently held at the Ivy Tech Riverfront Campus.”

The ambassadors annually host a youth summit. They also lead other substance abuse prevention activities with elementary and middle school students throughout the school year.

“It is a valuable experience for the high-schoolers to help educate their younger peers in building a drug-free community,” said Moorhead, who is Vice Chancellor- Enrollment Services and Student Success at Ivy Tech Lawrenceburg/Batesville Service Area.

The Dearborn County Youth Ambassadors Program focuses on substance abuse prevention and positive youth development. Students, in grades 6-12, host events and provide leadership opportunities and services. To learn more or join, visit admin@dearborncountycasa.com.

Meanwhile, anyone can contribute to a DCF unrestricted endowment to help make impact grants like the 15 DCF board members are recommending in 2025. For a list of the unrestricted endowments and to learn more about the Foundation, call 812-539-4115 or visit the Foundation website at dearborncf.org. Visit DCF’s “Give Now” page on the website to donate online and to learn about other giving options.