In March, Denise Fries and Fries Financial Services announced that they would be matching the funds raised by the United Way’s Youth Leadership Cabinet dollar-for-dollar through a $16,000 match. With this match from Fries Financial Services, the Youth Leadership Cabinet was able to grant more than $32,000 to 38 nonprofits serving the Brazos Valley in the areas of health, education, and financial stability. In addition to the $16,000 match, Fries Financial Services sponsored the first Live United Scholarship. Youth Leadership Cabinet members of all grade levels were invited to apply for the $1,000 scholarship opportunity. The scholarship recipient was announced in May and was presented the week before classes began.
“[Fries Financial Services] decided to sponsor the scholarship because I was exceptionally impressed by the hard work that the Youth Leadership Cabinet carried out over the year to benefit others,” says Fries. “Many of these students’ financial situations might have dictated that they spend their time working to benefit themselves or their own families, but instead they put their time into helping someone else. I wanted to reward a worthy student with scholarship funds to help them pursue their education.”
Kalynn Briles-Moore is this year’s Live United Scholarship recipient. She is a graduate of Bryan Collegiate High School and is attending Texas A&M University this fall as a freshman.
“I reviewed all of the scholarship applications and Kalynn’s essay really spoke to me. I asked the applicants to describe the importance of compassion and how it feels to both receive compassion and to give it,” says Fries. “She is an incredible young woman and Fries Financial Services is very pleased to play a small role in her future success.”
The United Way Youth Leadership Cabinet is a group of passionate high school students making a positive impact throughout the community through United Way of the Brazos Valley. Students from Allen Academy, A&M Consolidated High School, Bryan Collegiate High School, Bryan High School, College Station High School, College View High School, and Rudder High School unite to lead the way volunteering, raising funds, and helping others in the Brazos Valley. These students meet weekly to engage in service opportunities and develop leadership skills.
For more information about the Youth Leadership Cabinet, contact Maggie Gray at mgray@uwbv.org or by phone at (979) 696-4483 ext. 118 or visit www.uwbv.org/youthleadershipcabinet.
United Way of the Brazos Valley fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in the Brazos Valley.
