Network aims to help low-income youth

A new network to help low-income young people in the Washington area will be funded by some $13 million from nonprofits, private philanthropists and the federal government, and will reach an estimated 20,000 people over the next five years, Venture Philanthropy Partners announced Thursday.

Venture Philanthropy Partners was one of 11 organizations nationally chosen by the new Social Innovation Fund, an effort, administered by the federal Corporation for National and Community Service, to combine public and private funds to combat challenging problems.

VPP was awarded a $4 million, two-year grant for the new program, youthCONNECT, which will be matched by VPP and the nonprofits involved.

College Summit-National Capital Region, KIPP DC, the Latin American Youth Center, Year Up-National Capital Region, and eventually up to four more nonprofits, will collaborate to help young people with education, job training and social services.

-- Susan Kinzie