Nurturing our future leaders is a key priority for the CMA Foundation. Our Youth Advisory Council kicked off their school year with energy and purpose with their first meeting on September 16, 2025! These student leaders, ranging from 8th to 12th grade, set their 2025–2026 Health & Wellness Priorities that will guide their grantmaking and shape healthier futures for our community.

The Council welcomed a new member who is currently the only 8th grader in the group. The remaining council members are four high school seniors, three juniors, and four sophomores. The group also established the upcoming year’s Health and Wellness Priorities, which will set up the guidelines on which grants they will consider funding in their community. These priorities will also be featured on the CMAF website.  

The 2025-2026 Health and Wellness Funding Priorities are: 

• Mental Health  
• Social Disparities 
• Substance Abuse 
• Bullying and Peer Pressure 
• Basic Needs 
• Body Image and Self Esteem 
• Sexual Health and Healthy Relationships
• Suicide and Self Harm Prevention 

The council has room for additional members. If you know of a Columbus area student grade 8-12 interested in learning more about philanthropy and making a difference in the community, contact us at youthcouncil@cmafohio.org.