By Ashley M. Casey
Staff Writer
How many teenagers know how to conduct meetings according to “Robert’s Rules of Order,” coordinate fundraising and awareness events and use their social media accounts for the greater good?
Through the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York, several local high-schoolers have learned these skills on the Youth Advisory Board. Founded in the 2013-14 school year, the YAB is based on other Ronald McDonald Houses’ youth boards.
“They were offering a unique perspective for the organization,” said RMHCNY Executive Director Beth Trunfio.
Trunfio’s daughter, Olivia, and Matthew Payne, the son of the RMHCNY board of directors’ then-president Garry Payne, wanted to be on board. The two teens, now college students, researched how other Ronald McDonald House youth boards functioned, developed criteria and an application for YAB membership and planned the board’s initial orientation and meeting agendas.
Now, the RMHCNY YAB boasts members from across the county: Allie Baldwin, a senior at Skaneateles High School; Abbey Bombard, a sophomore at Bishop Ludden Junior-Senior High School; Erica Byrne, a junior at Skaneateles High School; Cassie Galusha, a senior at Jamesville-DeWitt High School; Alexis Martin, a sophomore at Cicero-North Syracuse High School; and Elsa Shafer, a senior at Fayetteville-Manlius High School.
“The idea was to bring high school-age students from other schools in the county together … to create projects and educate members of the community about Ronald McDonald House and philanthropy and volunteering,” Beth Trunfio said.
Garry Payne mentors the group, which coordinates events within their own schools and for the community at large. Trunfio said the students’ outreach extends to their classmates: in February 2015, they held a “Reach One, Teach One” pancake breakfast in which YAB members each invited a friend to volunteer and learn about RMHCNY.
“Now it’s kind of evolved so that the members themselves reach out [to recruit new members],” Trunfio said.
The YAB will assist with RMHCNY’s Bella Casa Fashion Show fundraiser, which takes place April 12 at the Holiday Inn on Electronics Parkway in Liverpool. Trunfio said between 400 and 500 people are expected to attend.
“Typically, our seniors are invited to model, but our senior is on [his school’s] lacrosse team and has a game that week,” Trunfio said.
With today’s teens often scrolling through Instagram and Twitter, YAB members use their tech savvy to spread word of RMHCNY’s mission and events through social media platforms.
“The Youth Advisory Board works together to help provide a ‘home away from home’ for guest families,” Trunfio said. “The students are positive role models in school and at the CNY Ronald McDonald House and the experience helps instill the value of leadership skills and a passion for giving back to the community.”
Last year, the YAB planned a Cinco de Mayo celebration for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. They also baked Thanksgiving pies and threw a Super Bowl party.
“We always hear how grateful the families are that members from this community — including these youth advisory members — take the time to come to the Ronald McDonald House and volunteer to prepare meals for them and engage them in activities that give them a break,” Trunfio said.
The kids on the Youth Advisory Board are part of the hundreds of volunteers that provide 221 volunteer hours per week for RMHCNY. Trunfio said the hard work of volunteers saves the organization more than $100,000 every year.
“There is nothing like having youth engaged in anything one does. They have a fresh perspective, a great energy and positivity,” she said. “It’s inspiring to see the compassion and maturity in these youth.”
RMHCNY is looking for applications for the 2016-17 YAB. Email Beth Trunfio at [email protected] for an application. Applicants must be high school freshmen, sophomores or juniors in good academic and disciplinary standing. Students must provide a reference from their school and a personal recommendation. The deadline is June 1.
