By Youth for Youth awards $26,130 to Dane County youth programs

In April 2026, the By Youth for Youth committee awarded $26,130 to nine local youth programs and projects. By Youth for Youth is a committee of Dane County high school students that make local investment decisions to support youth-led programs and projects in Dane County. The BYFY program is a collaborative effort between UW-Madison Extension’s Positive Youth Development Institute, the Dane County Youth Commission, the City of Madison and United Way of Dane County. Funding for BYFY is provided through a combination of City, County and United Way funds, with a special thank you to the Madison Civics Club for awarding the BYFY program with a generous endowment in support of continuous youth leadership.

This year’s BYFY cohort included 24 Dane County high school students from ninth to 12th grade, spread across the county from 11 different high schools including Belleville, Cambridge, Edgewood, Madison Country Day, Middleton, MMSD (East, La Follette, Memorial, West), Sun Prairie and Waunakee.

By Youth for Youth’s chosen funding priorities for 2026 focused on addressing mental health (anxiety, depression, suicide ideation and self-harm), positive experiences inside and outside of school (belonging, equity and inclusion, bullying), food security (food access, nutrition for low-income youth), immigration (accessing services and resources), sexual assault prevention (accessing services and resources) and climate change.

Funding highlights

• Wisconsin Heights School District: BYFY is proud to fund the “Closegap Initiative,” supporting the training and implementation of a daily digital check-in for students that enables early mental health intervention in school settings.
• Oregon High School: BYFY is proud to fund the “Run-Walk for Sexual Assault Awareness Month” event hosted by the Imagine Club, a youth-led educational fundraiser supporting survivors of sexual violence. Proceeds are donated to local organizations in Dane County.
• Rooted, Inc.: BYFY is proud to fund the “Rooted in Community Gardens” project, where youth update and fix existing garden beds that are used for local families to grow their own personal produce.

Full list of funded organizations and programs

• Dairyland Dancing Diamonds: “Nourish & Flourish Initiative”
• Wisconsin Heights School District: “Mental Health Closegap Initiative”
• Rooted Inc.: “Rooted in Community Gardens”
• East High School’s WAVE Club: “Menstrual Equity Project”
• Oregon High School’s Imagine Club: “Run-Walk for Sexual Assault Awareness Month”
• Cardea: “American Heart Association & National Alliance on Mental Illness 5K Run”
• Elver Park Neighborhood Center: “Team Building Through Art Experiences”
• Meadowood Neighborhood Center: “Plates with Purpose”
• MTZ Charitable Organization: “Planted with Purpose”

Supporting partner statements

“By Youth For Youth gives the next generation of community leaders an opportunity to make a real impact at a young age. These inspiring teens are learning how to collaborate, communicate effectively and accelerate results, all in order to help more people and change more lives. We are proud to mobilize Dane County’s up and coming thought leaders.” – Renee Moe, President & CEO of United Way of Dane County

“By Youth For Youth is a one-of-a-kind youth program, and the City of Madison is proud to partner with them. BYFY puts decision-making power in the hands of young people in real and structural ways, allowing participants to fund other youth programs, preparing them to be community leaders and participate in policy-making and funding decisions. BYFY supports young people in understanding and exercising the power they have to better their communities.” – Satya Rhodes-Conway, Mayor of Madison

“We are honored to provide funding to By Youth For Youth each year. This program provides Dane County high school students the experience of allocating tangible funds that positively impact youth county-wide. It’s a unique and wonderful experience for youth interested in making a difference in their communities.” – Melissa Agard, Dane County Executive

2025–2026 BYFY committee members

• Zoha Adnan, Madison Country Day
• Hannah-Kay Amuzu-Gassou, Edgewood High School
• Fatima Romero Alvarado, Madison La Follette High School
• Amogh Avadhani, Middleton High School
• Brandon Ballweg, Waunakee High School
• Brooke Ballweg, Waunakee High School
• Ruth Bawithadim, Sun Prairie West High School
• Aditya Behara, Middleton High School
• Jailen Clark, Madison La Follette High School
• Denise Espirito Santo Dias, Waunakee High School
• Sophia Downs, Cambridge High School
• Hanshika JaiPravinKumar, Sun Prairie West High School
• Angelina Li, Waunakee High School
• Sharon Medina, Madison West High School
• Andry Negovan, Madison Memorial High School
• Kobe Ni, Waunakee High School
• Christian Rubio Robledo, Madison La Follette High School
• Frances Schaller-Davis, Madison East High School
• Jinal Shah, Middleton High School
• Lily Shapiro, Madison West High School
• Evelyn Soukup, Waunakee High School
• Jill Thompson, Cambridge High School
• Faith Waefler, Belleville High School
• Yesenia Naomy Villagomez, Madison La Follette High School

By Youth for Youth staff

• Nathan Beck, City of Madison
• Taylor Seale, UW-Madison Extension
• Michelle Van Asten, United Way of Dane County

About United Way of Dane County

United Way of Dane County mobilizes the caring power of our community to close gaps and open opportunities so all can thrive. From advancing health and education to strengthening livelihoods and local resilience, we connect people to possibility. With a mission to unite the community to achieve measurable results that change lives, we work collaboratively with local nonprofits, businesses, community leaders, donors and volunteers to multiply impact and solve big-picture issues no one person or organization can address alone. United Way holds ourselves and our partners accountable for effective use of resources and measurable results. Together, we are The Power of Caring. Working for All. Visit www.unitedwaydanecounty.org to learn more.