Denison Venture Philanthropy (DVP), a unique Denison University student program organized around philanthropy, will present $10,000 and 200 volunteer hours to the Look Up Center in Newark. The Look Up Center is a nonprofit organization, which provides several services, including a dental clinic and after school care.
“We are looking to make a large impact on the community by building Look Up’s capacity with technology,” said Denison student Jake Dennie ’17, president of the group. The grant will purchase a printer and ink for flyers, a few computers for the after-school program and updated computer software for the office, which will improve the staff’s capabilities.
In addition to the funds, Denison students will provide about 200 hours of volunteer hours. Students will work with staff members to help them become better versed in computer technology, and they will work with children in the after school program to help them with their technology skills, helping to keep those children on par with their peers.
“Another important aspect of this program is the assessment process,” says faculty advisor Regina Martin, an assistant professor of English at Denison. “The students spend many hours considering applications, which this year reach a record number —17. And after they administer the funds and the volunteer hours, they do a second assessment to determine if the project was successful and how to determine an even better outcome the next year.”
To date, more than $47,500 and 1,100 student hours have been invested in the Licking County community by the DVP. Prior programs that have been awarded grants include the Licking County Humane Society, Licking County Coalition for Housing and Pathways of Central Ohio, among others.
Grants for the Denison Venture Philanthropy program are mostly funded through the generosity of David Kuhns, a member of the Denison class of 1968. In 2008 Kuhns challenged Denison students to organize an effort based around philanthropy – but one that also required an investment of student time as well as dollars. The DVP creates strong ties between the college and the community and offers students experience with real-world issues.