Nonprofit receives record donation

SANDUSKY — Teen Leadership Corps and Waterstreet Financial announced how their recent partnership has resulted in a record donation to support the nonprofit's mission of teaching high school students leadership skills through service-based learning. The Raymond James Charitable Foundation awarded the corps with a $15,000 donation to support its mission to "lead, serve and inspire the world." Waterstreet Financial, a Sandusky-based financial and wealth management company, and the corps jointly applied for this grant to grow and expand opportunities for the students involved in this program. Teen Leadership Corps is a program that teaches high school students leadership skills. It was founded in 2007 by a former Huron High School teacher, Mary Ann Creamer. This $15,000 donation represents the largest single monetary contribution in this organization's history. Regarding Teen Leadership Corps, more than 700 students in 31 schools around the state of Ohio are involved with the corps. "This generous contribution from Raymond James Charitable will allow our students to spend more time developing and working on service projects to make their community a better place to live," said Teen Leadership Corps executive director Matt Old, who also serves as an Erie County commissioner. Old personally thanked Dustin Ness, a managing partner at the financial institution and his team "for helping us secure this grant." "All of our funding comes from corporate and individual sponsors," Old added. "This grant will go a long way to growing our program." Ness then commented. "The team at Water Street believes in the mission" of Teen Leadership Corps, Ness said. "One of our partners, Keith Sweigert, engaged the philanthropic endowment board of Raymond James Charitable Trust. The board of trustees affirmed the belief of what TLC provides our area with a substantial gift." For nearly 20 years, Raymond James Charitable has supported many charities nationwide, collectively providing $450 million in grants to further, among other areas, youth development. "We are excited to see these funds reach individuals that will make an impact on our community," Ness said. "Waterstreet will continue to assist in supporting our area in all ways positive, uplifting mentorship and providing connectivity at its best." People can visit facebook.com/teenleadershipcorps or call 419-602-7815 for more information.