About Us

For over 60 years, the Dunedin Youth Guild has assisted the youth of Dunedin through school and classroom enrichments, youth focused community projects, and both academic and technical scholarships.

Service to the youth of our community is provided through our involvement in the area schools as well as local clothing, school supplies, and diaper drives.

Fund raising continues in a variety of local events including the our hosting of an annual Holiday Tour of Homes and our Spring Scholarship Luncheon and Fashion show.

Our Story

The Dunedin Youth Guild was organized and incorporated in 1964. However, our history started much earlier.

In 1946 the Dunedin Youth Center Auxiliary, known locally as DYCA, was organized to meet the need for increased voluntary service and financial support for the youth center inaugurated the same year.
Mrs. Elizabeth Skinner Jackson, daughter of one of the city's founding families, responded to the needed of the children of the city donating a house and property titles Lee B. Skinner Youth Center.
It was quite popular and within less than ten years the needs outgrew the building. With much community support and fund raising a new building was open in November 1955.
The women of DYCA continued to support the center by raising funds for everything from improved plumbing and ventilation system to a trampoline and other recreational supplies.

Dunedin continued to grow, and three schools had been constructed including Dunedin High School plus an 18-acre park had been purchased and all were in need of financial assistance.

After weeks of deliberation the DYCA disbanded in 1964 and immediately reorganized as the Dunedin Youth Guild for the purpose of serving the youth of Dunedin and furthering the civic and cultural progress of greater Dunedin.
While DYCA was primarily a fund-raising organization, DYG divided its efforts between service and fund raising.

Over the last 60 years we've raised funds, petitioned for land for playgrounds, and provided funds for the playground equipment. The first four playgrounds by 1966.

We helped the high school’s Dad's Club raise funds for the stadium.
Sponsored a Miss Junior Dunedin Pageant and Ball during the Dunedin Youth Festival.
Supplied uniforms for the girls’ softball teams.
Spent time at Mease reading and playing with young patients of working mothers who could not visit them at the hospital during the day and raised funds for pediatric playroom equipment and library cart filled with children's books.
Our Scholarship awards, support of the Nature Study Program, Children's Theatre, Dunedin community celebration events and more are all part of the proud history of The Dunedin Youth Guild.