Youth Service Fund Fundraising Spurred by New Logo

By Tom Gillen

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 3, 2010/GBOD/ — The Youth Service Fund, a unique youth-led ministry of the United Methodist Church, is using a newly designed logo to lead its charge into a new decade of raising money to support youth projects around the world.

Overseen by Young People’s Ministries, a division of The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, YSF is completely led by youth. They contribute the money and decide what projects receive the money, and the projects supported are youth-designed, youth-led and benefit youth.

“Young People’s Ministries is eager to see excitement and growth in this ministry,” says Rev. Michael Ratliff, YPM’s associate general secretary. “The Youth Service Fund is offered because people in the United Methodist Church understand the need for youth to give in order to help youth in mission and ministry.”

Money for the fund is raised at local youth events or by church youth groups in the U.S. annual conferences. The annual conference youth organization designates 70 percent of the money for projects, and the rest is used to finance projects around the world.

In 2009, the YSF supported 21 United Methodist affiliated and non-affiliated projects. Ten were U.S.-based and 11 were international.

The new YSF logo was designed by Daniel Lee, 17, who attends Korean United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, N.M. His depiction of a modern dove with the unique flame of the United Methodist Church was selected from entries in an online contest in 2009.

“I had fun designing a logo for United Methodist Youth Service Fund, and I might apply to a fine art school next year,” says Lee, a senior at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque. “The fire represents the Holy Spirit and the young dove represents the fruit of the Holy Spirit.”

The logo is available for promotional use.

“With every new year comes change, and this logo is a significant one for the Youth Service Fund. We are excited and hopeful for YSF to reach many more people in countries throughout the world during this next decade,” says Sarah Smith, YPM’s grants and scholarships administrator.

For more information about donating to the fund or applying for a YSF grant, go to www.gbod.org/youngpeople/grants/grants.htm or contact Smith by phone at (877) 899-2780, ext 7184, or by e-mail at ssmith@gbod.org.