Youth in Philanthropy Encouraging Excellence will grant $17,500 in funds to 13 organizations in Northwest Ohio that affect the lives of youth.

YIPEE members are high school juniors and seniors who have completed the Youth Leadership Toledo program and training in the elements of philanthropy. The students work throughout the year raising grant dollars through fund-raisers, corporate donations, organization support, solicitations, and personal contributions.

Students accept proposals from nonprofits that positively affect the lives of teens. All funds raised go to organizations the students deem have the greatest impact.

The grant ceremony will be Thursday at the University of Toledo SSOE Seminar Room. Networking is at 7 p.m.; the ceremony begins at 7:30. The event is free and open to the public.

Receiving funds will be AIDS Resource Center Ohio, Judan Judo of Toledo, Lutheran Social Services of NWO, Madd Poets Society Inc., Mobile Meals of Toledo, Monroe Street Neighborhood Center, NAOMI Transitional House, Old Orchard Elementary School, Planned Parenthood, The Daughter Project, The LEARNING CLUB of Toledo, The Mentoring Collaborative, and YMCA Youth Opportunities Program.

YIPEE is funded in part by the Toledo Community Foundation and facilitated by the staff of Leadership Toledo.

Members are Taylor Babcock, Evergreen; Jamie Luster, Start; Megan Boyk, Eastwood; Niket Parikh, Sylvania Southview; Allie Brandt, Evergreen; Christian Porter, Anthony Wayne; Jacob Brehmer, Swanton ; Alberto Serrano, Maumee; Meg Crippen, Springfield; Aaron Siedler, Springfield; Chris Evola, St. Francis de Sales; Luke Sims, Toledo Christian; Lemar Daniels, Emmanuel Christian; Adam Spegele, St. Francis de Sales; Lauren Diehl, Perrysburg; Kara Vickers, Whitmer; Kara Guyton, Bowsher; Alison Yang, Sylvania Southview; Kelsy Hernandez, Clay, and Zach Zamichow, Springfield.

First Published May 11, 2011, 4:30 a.m.