The grant from the Foundation for Young Australians will set up a Youth Fund within the Wingecarribee Community Foundation.

A challenge grant of $5,000 has also been offered, where money young people raise up to this amount will be matched by the Foundation for Young Australians.

MAD Youth has already begun the process with their successful "Matrix Revolutions" premiere evening last November.

MAD Youth plan to celebrate the launch of the WCF Youth Fund on Friday February 20 in Corbett Plaza from 4pm to 6pm.

There will be live music from local youth, prizes and competitions, a sausage sizzle and an "ideas stand".

On Saturday February 21, MAD Youth will be hosting a Visioning Workshop by the Foundation for Young Australians.

"Young people have so many good ideas, now we have the money to put ideas into practice" said Travis Holland from the MAD Youth Program.

"This is where the process of allocating funds to youth projects can begin."

Claire Chamberlain from the Foundation for Young Australians will be at the Henrietta Rose Room, opposite the entrance to the Bowral Library, from 10am to 4pm to take young people through the process of allocating grant money, the first step in seeing their ideas become reality.

Since February 2002, the Wingecarribee Community Foundation (WCF) has been building a program for youth, based on youth philanthropy.

"Our program has held MAD workshops identifying youth needs and ways of developing those ideas and now MAD Youth have successfully applied for grant money to make a difference for youth in the Wingecarribee," Travis said.

A Youth website and safe play space program for children and their young parents has also begun as part of the WCF Youth Philanthropy Program.

MAD Youth has invited all local young people to be involved in the program and to drop by Corbett Plaza this Friday and come to the Visioning Workshop on Saturday.

For more information call Katharine Clarke on 4862 1466 or email info@wingecarribee community.org.au.