Future Philanthropists Program teaches high schoolers the art, science, business of giving

Philanthropy isn’t just the process of donating money to worthy organizations. There is an art, science and business to philanthropy that is appealing to students like Calla Andersen, a senior at Oak Park and River Forest High School. She is one of almost 70 students from area schools, including Fenwick, Trinity, St. Ignatius and others, participating in the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation’s Future Philanthropists Program, or FPP. What’s the most important thing she has gotten out of the program? “I feel like it’s kind of given me power,” Andersen said. “I feel like as a young woman, I went into it initially feeling kind of like, whoa, it was a lot. But I feel like as the program has gone on, I’ve gotten better at advocating for myself, or stepping up, because some people are busy. People have other commitments. “So I like that I can be someone who is like, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it, I can take charge.’” Like all FPP students, Andersen had to apply ahead of her jun