Clair Young Workforce Development Fund Created

March 18, 2009: Often, when loved ones pass on, family members seek a way to memorialize the contributions their loved one made to the community. Most of the time that memorial is realized through a college scholarship granted to a student at his or her alma mater. While the Young family believes that higher education is important, they also felt that some deserving students were being left out. That's why, when establishing the Clair Young Memorial Endowment, they added a few special words to that sentence: For Youth Workforce Development.

It was important to Marie Young and her son John that graduates of Blue Ridge High School who aren't planning to attend college be rewarded for their efforts, just like their classmates who are continuing their education. With the help of John Manchester, recently retired Principal of Blue Ridge High School, and Peter Quigg of the Community Foundation of Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties, the Youngs established a fund that is directed toward Blue Ridge High School students who can receive workforce development assistance through TREHAB.

Clair Young, a principal at Blue Ridge from 1969-1982, made a lasting impact on the students he oversaw and dedicated his life's work to ensuring that the kids in his school achieved their goals. He realized, and his family remembers, that not all students aspire to professions requiring college degrees and he felt that their choices were no less important because of that fact. To learn more about Mr. Young and his impact on his family and community please visit his Memorial Page on The Community Foundation's web site.

Alumni, staff, and friends with fond memories of Clair Young are welcome to help honor his legacy with tax-deductible donations to his endowment in care of the Community Foundation of Susquehanna and Wyoming Counties.