It’s not often that eighth-graders hand out money to adults. On South Whidbey, it happens once a year.

Last year, the Youth in Philanthropy class at Langley Middle School gave away $10,000 to nonprofit organizations on South Whidbey and within their school. It was a pilot year for the program, which is funded by the Glaser Foundation. One of last year’s recipients was the South Whidbey Senior Center, which received $1,650 for a new public address system with wireless mics.

“They were just great to work with,” said Margaret Schehovic, the center’s director. “They came out here and checked our old system to make sure we needed a new one. It was a good process.”

Another recipient was the Friends of the Clinton Library. Deborah Colfer, a member of the group, said the gift from the class was welcome.

“We received $650 for children’s book shelves, reader board and bike rack at the Clinton Library — very good additions to the library.”

The class is back again this year, only with a new batch of students and a fresh $10,000 from Glaser. Made up of eighth graders in teacher Susie Richards’ English-communications class, the Youth in Philanthropy class has to do a fair bit of work this year to get the money they want to give away. The class raised a $1,000 match by holding a dance and helping sponsor anti-tobacco activities with the Island County Health Department.

The class does not get to keep any of the money it is granted. All of it must be awarded to organizations focused on children, youth and families.

Richards’ class is not just about giving away money. In conjunction with meeting writing and reading standards for the class, students “asset map” the South Whidbey community, research, learn to do face-to-face interviews and develop the Youth in Philanthropy Web site.

After thoroughly researching and identifying community needs, the class gives away its money. Richards said the grants students give out assist in meeting real community needs and developing civic responsibility.

The program got its start last September when Bill Carlstrom, a trustee Seattle’s Glaser Foundation, offered to give the class a $10,000 grant if the students could raise $500 on their own. Carlstrom also participates with the class on a weekly basis.

Students expressed positive feelings about their involvement in the class this year.

“It really gets us involved in the community and it gives me a feeling of self-respect knowing that we will be helping people,” said Joey Zwink.

His classmate, Jeff Carmichael, agreed.

“The purpose of this grant is to serve youth and families and to help make the community a better place,” he said.

Members of last year’s Youth in Philanthropy program, like Derel Gabelein and Topher Kline mentor this year’s group.

“We were the pilot class for this program so we want to help make things run smoothly so it will continue into the future,” Gabelein said