About Us
Uplift Our Youth Foundation empowers youth to achieve success and live healthy productive lives. We provide funding to smaller and under funded non-profit organizations and programs that directly impact youth in Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties.
We provide grants and sponsorship to causes, organizations, and programs that have a primary focus of youth achievement and success with an emphasis on serving “at-promise” youth, diversity inclusion, education, culture, employment and life skills management. Youth are considered up to 18 years old. Our grants are awarded at our Annual Grant Award Reception.
All contributions to Uplift Our Youth Foundation are tax deductible. We highly encourage matching gifts and or additional funding sources.
Our Mission
To uplift youth to reach their full potential and shape their future by giving them opportunity and vision to believe in themselves and succeed in life.
Our Vision
To be a catalyst for Greater Lansing that inspires hope, produces financial support, and impacts youth in such a way, it affects a generation to keep on giving.
Core Values
Understanding – We seek to understand diversity and cultural differences
Passion – Our aim is to be passionate about what we do
Learning – We desire to always be learning
Integrity – Integrity is the foundation of our morals
Faith – We believe that we can and will make an impact
Tenacity – Giving up is not an option
Our History
Uplift Our Youth Foundation a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt non-profit established in 2002 by Founder Larry L. Leatherwood. The Foundation was created under the auspices of the Capital Region Community Foundation (CRCF) through the cooperative efforts of Paulette Granberry Russell and with the support of Patricia Reynolds, who at the time was President of CRCF.
Mr. Leatherwood created Uplift Our Youth Foundation to be a funding vehicle for smaller 501© (3) tax exempt organizations and or agencies that either didn’t receive funding or suffered from insufficient funding in the greater Lansing area.