Last month, the By Youth For Youth (BYFY) Committee – a collaborative program through the Dane County Youth Commission, United Way of Dane County, the City of Madison Community Development Division and UW-Extension Dane County’s Positive Youth Development Institute – awarded $26,130 to 10 local youth programs and projects! This year’s group represents 10 Dane County high schools. 

BYFY is a unique volunteer opportunity for Dane County high school youth to be leaders in our community. BYFY members identify critical issues impacting local youth, establish funding priorities, review grant proposals and recommend funding from County, United Way of Dane County and City Grants to support projects developed and implemented by youth to serve youth.  

“This is my third year on the BYFY committee, and I have loved every second of it. I have had the opportunity to learn more about issues in the community and ways to solve them which had never occurred to me before. I believe that youth are the future and BYFY is allowing me to take that first step in helping youth take things into their own hands by supporting meaningful projects which give back to the community.”  – Adriana, 2025 BYFY Committee member