Greetings GRIL Partner,
You are making a significant difference in our city. Your gift is an investment in developing the next
generation of civic-minded leaders. You are sowing seeds into the lives of individuals who are learning
how to lead and transform our community. Thank you for your generosity! We invite you to continue
this important work by making a gift today.
We’d like to share the story of one of our 2022-23 GRIL U graduates: Jacobi Soward. This year, Jacobi is a high school senior at
Grandville High School. Through our 9-month leadership training program, he discovered
his purpose, recognized his leadership potential, and learned how to create an impact on
those around him.
Thanks to the tools and empowerment he received at GRIL, Jacobi has stepped up to take
on more leadership roles and use his voice to inspire others. At Grandville High School, he
serves on the Senior Class Executive Board, as a National Honor Society Officer, as a
member of the Community Student Union, and in the Student Voice Group that meets
regularly with the principal and superintendent.
Jacobi’s personal mission statement is to “create spaces for growth by being authentic.”
He shares, “The most important life lesson I learned from GRIL is the significance of
understanding who you are and whose you are.” This authenticity allows Jacobi to
confidently engage with his peers and have a more impactful and effective presence in his
school community.
To date, nearly 500 teens and adults have completed the GRIL experience. We consistently
hear how this program profoundly shapes their identities and deepens their belief in their
ability to make a difference.
We believe in the power of GRIL to unlock potential, which is why we’ve expanded our
offerings to reach even more young people. This year, we launched a summer leadership
summit, hired a new program coordinator, and increased partnerships with both
secondary and post-secondary educational institutions. The investments you’ve made in
this program are already bearing fruit through life-changing transformations in individuals
like Jacobi.
We can’t do this work alone—and we don’t want to! We invite you to join us in
continuing to shape future leaders by making a gift this December. Your generosity
will help us strengthen both teens and adults who are answering the call to lead and
transform their communities.
Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 before the end of the year. Your gift of $100, $200, or
more will have a lasting impact on lives today and communities tomorrow.
Please scan the QR Code Below to support
Thank you again for your unwavering support.
