Try Pie, a teen employment program in Waterloo, is laying the foundation for long-term sustainability through a new quasi-endowment fund at the Waterloo Community Foundation. The Try Pie Quasi-Endowment Fund will serve as a permanent resource to support the organization’s mission of empowering a diverse group of teen girls with life and leadership skills through meaningful work.
Try Pie’s innovative approach blends work experience in a commercial kitchen and storefront with classroom-based learning focused on four core values: financial stewardship, job skill development, faith development, and reconciling community. Through hands-on pie making and team learning, Try Pie teens are gaining more than just a paycheck—they’re building confidence, life skills, and strong futures.
“It’s the combination of learning a concept and having a chance to immediately apply it that makes Try Pie effective. As a student learns about being a good employee, they go to work and do it. As she learns about the value of investing, she’s able to use the paycheck she’s earned to practice. Space to try out these skills can build life changing habits for the future,” says Sarah Helleso, Co-Director of Try Pie.
Establishing the Try Pie Quasi-Endowment Fund is a significant step in ensuring this impact continues for years to come. Agency Endowment Funds provide organizations with a stable and permanent source of income, supporting long-term planning and ongoing programming needs.
“An endowment fund is an investment in the future of our young women in our community. The sustainability this brings helps us plan with confidence,” continued Sarah.
Community members who wish to contribute to the Try Pie Quasi-Endowment Fund can do so online at https://wloocf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=3115. Checks can also be mailed to the Waterloo Community Foundation, PO Box 1253, Waterloo, IA 50704. All checks can be made out to the Waterloo Community Foundation with “Try Pie” in the memo line.
