Oakland County and Leadership Oakland are proud to announce the second round of the Acorn2Oak Youth Grant Program, with eight young entrepreneurs receiving grants of up to $1,000 to fund their innovative projects and business initiatives, as well as community give-back activities and other empowering ventures.
Since its launch in February 2024, the Acorn2Oak program has been dedicated to fostering the growth and development of the county’s youth, ages 8 to 18, by financially supporting their aspirations. The initiative aims to turn dreams into achievable goals by nurturing innovation, education, and creativity.
In May, 31 grants were awarded to youth across the county.
There are four focus areas students can apply under:
- Business and Entrepreneurial Development: Supporting young entrepreneurs to kickstart their ventures.
- Community Impact: Funding projects aimed at enhancing social enterprises, nonprofits, or community initiatives.
- Educational Achievement: Engaging in academic programs, educational competitions, or specialized training.
- Extracurricular Investment: Supporting one-time investments in activities aligned with the program’s mission.
The August 2024 Grant Awardees:
- Avi Nayar, LetzRefresh – The Social Media Platform for Kids. Avi is 15, from Troy
- Sanjith Sambath, Writing for a Cause. Sanjith is 16, from Rochester Hills
- Saanvi Uppar, Care Campaign: Enriching Senior Lives. Saanvi is 17, from Novi
- Javontae Anderson, Bug Lenz Media and Photography Company. Javontae is 16, from Auburn Hills
- Arianna Head, Learning Upright Bass. Arianna is 13, from Pontiac
- Shaelyn Simms, History Heroes: Brining Local Legends to Life with Graphic Novels. Shaelyn is 15, from Royal Oak
- Sanjith Sambath, Ad Astra. Sanjith is 16, from Rochester Hills
- Elijah Mason, Nightfalls Apparel. Elijah is 17, from Southfield
“We are incredibly proud to support the next generation of leaders and innovators through this grant program,” said Susan Hollady, Executive Director of Leadership Oakland. “The inspirational youth we are honoring today embody the creativity, and determination that will drive meaningful change in our communities and beyond. Their achievements are a testament to the power of vision and hard work, and we look forward to seeing the remarkable contributions they will make in the future.”
In this second round of the grant program, 15 local students applied. In the first round, 45 youths applied.
The next deadline is December. 15.
The awarded grants are a testament to the potential of Oakland County’s youth to inspire and drive change within the community. It specifically excludes funding for tuition, ongoing expenses, sporting equipment, or team registration fees.
To learn more about each of the winners and their projects or business, follow Acorn2Oak on Facebook or Instagram.