The Adam Hanson Youth Philanthropy in Action program students at North Marion Middle School presented a $500 check to Florida Thoroughbred Charities’ Executive Director Tammy Gantt on November 2. 

In 2011, a local Community Foundation partner determined during a nonprofit annual strategic planning session that they wanted to help start a philanthropy education program in the schools. Understanding the magnitude of the project, they reached out to the Non-profit Business Council under the umbrella of the Community Foundation of Ocala/Marion County to launch the program.

The philanthropy education program is designed to teach middle school students the importance of philanthropy and how they can make a difference in their community even at their age.

Since its inception, AHYPIA is a specialized six-week program that is brought to the schools through the foundation. Students are introduced to philanthropy, learn about the workings of a nonprofit organization, hear from guest philanthropists and create their own mission/belief statement. As a culminating project, students are grouped based on their common interests and researching nonprofits related to the topic. The class chose animal nonprofits and then was divided into group that were asked to choose their own charity within that category. 

Each group was tasked with raising an imaginary $500 and presented a case for support to peers. The students voted by secret ballot determining a winning group and nonprofit. The director of the nonprofit then is invited to speak to the class. The surprise at the end of the session is that both the students and the nonprofit leader are informed that the $500 is real and a check is presented through a grant from the Community Foundation.

Since 2012, more than 2,364 students have received the YPIA curriculum in public and private middle schools throughout Marion County with $53,000 in grants given to nonprofits. The 2026 award is the first grant from the program for Florida Thoroughbred Charities. The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association was named the Nonprofit Business of the Year in 2015 by the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership thanks in part to its charity work through FTC.

Return to the November 4 issue of Wire to Wire