Remember our Youth in Government days? We learned how government works and how to bring about change on issues we care about. We also met new friends and developed connections that lasted way past high school graduation.

Now we all have a chance to keep Youth in Government strong by making a modest, tax-deductible donation of $100, $50, $25 or whatever you can afford -- and thanks to two generous donors, all gifts made by YIG alums and supporters in March will be DOUBLED during the month of March (up to $100 per gift, up to $20,000 total).

We have affectionately named the effort "March Match-ness." This gift-matching opportunity comes at an important time as students cannot gather in person for a conference and the Y is struggling to bring in enough revenue to cover its costs.

Nearly 75 years after Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government was created, our world is a different place. Yet the need for helping young people develop the knowledge, skills and motivation to be civically engaged is as compelling today as it was when the program began.

The Youth in Government motto is "Democracy Must be Learned by Each Generation" and with your financial support today, we can make that motto a reality for years to come.