The Piedmont Community Foundation (PCF) is pleased to announce "The S. Murray Rust and Mary H. C. Rust Student Philanthropy Project." The project honors the principle of encouraging youth philanthropy, an aspect of giving that was of high importance to Mr. and Mrs. S. Murray Rust during their lifetimes.

The youth philanthropy project is established as a permanent charitable endowment and is seeded by the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Sterling Murray Rust and Mary Hilton Coburn Rust. S. Murray Rust was the youngest and 16th child of Ida Lee Rust and Colonel Armistead Thomas Mason Rust of Leesburg, Virginia.

The project encourages student volunteerism and philanthropy by engaging young people in decision making about the distribution of grant dollars while developing skill sets of philanthropic leadership and stewardship in each generation of students.

The goal is to promote permanent strategic student philanthropy through an on-going annual grant-making program, advised and self-perpetuated by upper school students in Fauquier and Loudoun counties.

The Rusts, a large and diverse family, are one of Virginia's earliest pioneer families who have figured prominently in the affairs of the commonwealth since 1654. Many philanthropic projects in our area have the Rust name involved as benefactors.

The Piedmont Community Foundation is pleased to have the support of the S. Murray Rust family descendants to help launch this significant community outreach program.

A steering committee of students will advise the PCF directors on a minimum of $5,000 in grants annually for local youth driven service projects that must involve young people in planning, implementing and evaluating the project. Responsibilities for the students include assessing the needs of their communities as perceived by their age group; determining how and where to advertise the project to attract proposals; act as spokespersons; review grant proposals submitted by school clubs, youth groups and nonprofits; conduct site visits and interview applicant organizations; and make the appropriate funding decisions to submit to the PCF directors who must have final approval of all funding. Students will have the requests for proposals out in the community in December 2006 with a grant application due date of February 1, 2007.

Youth philanthropy promotes positive youth development, builds diverse interpersonal connections, enhances community by engaging youth voice, strengthens community resources and provides a positive view of young people. Participation increases students' chances for community roles in the future and has a lasting effect on young people and the adults involved with them.

Those interested in helping support the new project should contact PCF executive director, Karen Krei at 540 687 5223.