Lorraine Belcourt Love in the Community Scholarship

As a member of the National Honors Society and a co-chair for my high school’s Philanthropy and Youth committee, giving back is very important to me. Our PaY club mission statement last year was: “As a PaY family, we strive to inspire future generations of female leaders to show compassion and have an impact on our community.” We focused mostly on women and mental health. Thanks to our funding from the Barry Foundation, we were lucky enough to donate to multiple non-profits, a few of which included the Jeremiah Program and Addie’s Angels. Our donation helped these non-profits continue their missions of impacting women in the community. Addie’s Angels provide therapy services during and after pregnancy as well as counseling for families impacted by child loss. The Jeremiah program used our donation to end the cycle of poverty for mothers and their children. Personally, I give back by volunteering at the YWCA in Fargo with my mom. I chose the YWCA because I’m very passionate about empowering women and I wholeheartedly support their mission to be a place for women and children to go when they’re trying to escape violence, homelessness, and crisis. I’m so grateful to have been given the chance to participate in our Philanthropy and Youth committee. I'm honored to be able to make a difference for women and children in my community. Volunteering and community service are things I plan to continue in college. In fact, I’d like to devote more of my time than I do now. I played volleyball for six years and student coached for my club, Volt Volleyball, for one season. Although unlike the volunteering I’ve done in the past, I’d like to be a volleyball coach for a local youth team. My coaches from sixth and seventh grade largely influenced my love for the sport, and I’d like to do the same for the next generation of young players.