POTSDAM -- The Northern New York Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Council has expanded to partner with the Potsdam Central School District.

The organization has also added $10,000 in community grants available for 2014, for a total of $20,000.

The Community Foundation will work with Potsdam Superintendent Patrick Brady and High School Principal Joann Chambers. Student participants in the program will be selected at the end of the school year, with the grant making process to begin in the fall.

The program aims to increase youth awareness of community problems and provide them with leadership opportunities. It also gives organizations insight into how the next generation of grantors views the world.

“This is the type of work that organizations like ours need to be supporting. Nurturing the next generation is an important part of making sure our communities have a continuity of leadership and care that has served collectively so well for so long,” said Rande S. Richardson, foundation executive director.

The additional $10,000 made available for Potsdam Central School students will also be used for grants to nonprofit organizations in St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis counties.

The program allows students to review grant proposals based on community quality of life. The foundation recently awarded $10,000 in grants.