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Pepsi Refresh Grants | Deadline: Monthly competition, with first awards made in February 2010

Pepsi is looking for ideas from individuals, non-profits and pro-social businesses that can make a positive impact in the community. Ideas should be feasible and completed 12 months from the date you receive the first funds. Each month, up to $1.3 million will be awarded as follows: 2 Grants at the $250,000 level; 10 Grants at the $50,000 level; 10 Grants at the $25,000 level; and 10 Grants at the $5,000 level. Winning proposals are chosen by voters visiting the Pepsi Refresh website. Eligibility: any age.

Learn more at: http://www.refresheverything.com/index

 

Disney/YSA: Friends for Change Grants | Deadline: January 29, 2010

Disney's Friends for Change Grants encourage kids everywhere to work with their friends to help the planet. The Friends for Change Grants will fund kids' projects that help the environment and engage children ages five to 18 as leaders in their communities. Maximum Award: $500. Eligibility: schools, organizations, and individuals planning service projects. To be eligible, projects will need to be done any time during 2010 and should include one service or celebratory component on Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25, 2010.

Learn more at: http://www.ysa.org/grants/announcements/friendsforchange

 

Invention Dimension| Deadline: January 29, 2010

By Kids for Kids (BFKF) has a new invention competition running. They are looking for innovative ideas for new toys, games and sporting goods. Working with Toys“R”Us and leading U.S. toymaker JAKKS Pacific, the Invention Dimension runs through January 29, 2010.

One National Grand Prize winner will receive a JAKKS Pacific Prize Pack valued at $1,000 and a trip to JAKKS Pacific headquarters in Malibu, California for an opportunity to pitch his/her invention to JAKKS’ development team. In addition, a special celebration event will be held at the Toys“R”Us store in Times Square where a $1,000 gift card for a toy lover’s shopping spree will be awarded to the winner. The Grand Prize winner will also be given the opportunity to name the teacher or mentor who was most inspirational in their invention process. That teacher/mentor will receive $500 worth of JAKKS Pacific School/Classroom supplies. BKFK has developed FREE curriculum for toy/game/sporting good inventing.

Learn more at: http://www.bkfk.com/InventionDimension/

 

Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge | Deadlines: Elementary, January 31 '10; Middle, March 15 '10

The Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge is a K-12 sustainability challenge where a class or group of students, work with a teacher/mentor to identify an environmental issue in their classroom or school community, develop a plan, collect data, analyze that data, and share the results they've found.

Maximum award: $5,000 + other prizes. Ages served: elementary and middle schools.

Learn more at: http://wecanchange.com/

 

Toshiba/NSTA: ExploraVision Awards | Deadline: February 2, 2010

All inventions and innovations result from creative thinking and problem solving. The Toshiba/National Science Teachers Association ExploraVision Awards Program encourages kids to create and explore a vision of future technology by combining their imaginations with the tools of science. Maximum Award: $10,000. Eligibility: students K-12. Deadline: February 2, 2010.

Learn more at: http://www.exploravision.org/about/

 

Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation: Christopher Columbus Awards | Deadline: February 8, 2010

The Christopher Columbus Awards Program combines science and technology with community problem-solving. Students work in teams with the help of an adult coach to identify an issue they care about and, using science and technology, work with experts, conduct research, and put their ideas to the test to develop an innovative solution. Maximum Award: $25,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World to attend the program's National Championship Week, plus a U.S. Savings Bond of $2,000 for each student team member. Eligibility: middle-school-age (sixth, seventh, and eighth grade) children; teams do not need to be affiliated with a school to enter.

Learn more at: http://www.christophercolumbusawards.com/

 

Best Buy: Scholarship Program | Deadline: February 15, 2010

The 2010 Best Buy Scholarship Program will award scholarships to students based on their outstanding commitment to and involvement in community service, along with solid academic performance. Maximum award: $1,000. Eligibility: 9–12th grade students from private, public, alternative, or home schools, graduating with plans to enter a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university, or vocation technical school in the U.S. no later than fall 2010.

Learn more at: http://communications.bestbuy.com/communityrelations/scholarships.asp

 

"Get Ur Good On" Grants for Young Volunteers | Deadline: February 22, 2010

Miley Cyrus recently partnered with Youth Service America to create Get Ur Good On, a social network that brings together youth to support each other in their mission to do "good" in their communities. On Wednesday, November 18, YSA launched Get Ur Good On Grants that fund youth-led service initiatives on Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25, 2010. Available to children and youth around the world, YSA's Get Ur Good On Grants will award 100 $500 grants to support projects addressing critical community needs such as poverty, education, and environmental sustainability.Grant applications are due February 22, 2010.

Youth interested in sharing their stories about volunteering and community service, learning about important issues, and making civic-minded friends can visit www.GetUrGoodOn.org. They can upload videos that show how they have made a difference in their local, national, and global communities.

Learn more at: www.geturgood.og.

 

AFN International: Young Eco-Hero Awards | Deadline: February 28, 2010

Action for Nature International Young Eco-Hero Awards recognize the individual accomplishments of young people whose personal actions have significantly improved the environment. Maximum Award: $500. Eligibility: youth ages 8-16.

Learn more at: http://www.actionfornature.org/eco-hero/ecoheroawards.html

 

Caring Institute: 2010 Caring Awards | Deadline: March 1, 2010

The Caring Institute is now accepting nominations for its annual Caring Awards. Nominees should exemplify caring and serve as worthy role models for others. Award criteria include length of service, scope and impact of work, challenges overcome, and imagination and innovation. Maximum award: All winners are honored at a special ceremony, and young adult winners receive funds for college. Eligibility: individuals from nine to 99 years old

Learn more at: http://www.caring-institute.org/caringawards.html

 

DASH+ Contest | Deadline: March 1, 2010

As part of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Education Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the DASH+ national high school contest challenges student teams to use their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills to design a dashboard of the future that incorporates feedback mechanisms and supports behavior change to help drivers maximize fuel efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The Grand Prize winning team has the chance to travel to Motor City for a VIP experience.

Learn more at: http://www.fuelourfuturenow.com/contest

 

The Shortie Awards: Film and News Festival | Deadline: April 9, 2010

The premiere film festival for students ages 7 to 18 and their teachers! Established in 2001, The Shortie Awards: Student Film and News Festival recognizes original digital media productions created by student filmmakers, ages 7-18, and their teachers. The Shortie Awards focuses on nurturing imagination and choice making in students.The Shortie Awards is part of MHz Networks' Education Department. The event grew out of the Department's EAT (Education Arts and Technology) program for young filmmakers in the Washington D.C. area and has since blossomed into a national and even international event, featuring submissions from all over the world.
Entry Categories: Live Action: Narrative, Documentary, Experimental, PSA, Music Video, or Other Animation: Stop-Motion, Claymation, Machinima, Digital, or Other Daily News Program
Age Categories: 7-10, 11-14, 15-18, and K-12 Teacher.

Learn more at: http://www.shortie.org/festival/rules/

 

MIT: Lemelson-MIT 2011 InvenTeams | April 25, 2010

Lemelson-MIT InvenTeams foster inventiveness among high school students. InvenTeams composed of high school students, teachers, and mentors are asked to collaboratively identify a problem that they want to solve, research the problem, and then develop a prototype invention as an in-class or extracurricular project. Maximum Award: $10,000. Eligibility: high school science, mathematics and technology teachers—or teams of teachers—at public, private and vocational schools; intra- and inter-school collaborations welcome.

Learn more at: http://web.mit.edu/inventeams/about.html

 

Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes | Deadline: April 30, 2010

The Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes honors outstanding young leaders who have focused on helping their communities and fellow beings and/or on protecting the health and sustainability of the environment. Maximum award: $2,500. Eligibility: youth 8-18.

Learn more at: http://www.barronprize.org/

 

Earth Island Institute: Youth Award for Outstanding Activism in Environmental and Social Justice | Deadline: May 15, 2010

The Earth Island Institute Brower Youth Award recognizes young people for their outstanding activism and achievements in the fields of environmental and social justice advocacy. Maximum award: $3,000; a trip to San Francisco for the awards ceremony, October 19, 2010; and a wilderness camping trip. Eligibility: youth activists ages 13-22.

Learn more at: http://www.broweryouthawards.org/article.php?list=type&type=54

 

High Tech Camp for Girls | Deadline varies; see website.

Microsoft DigiGirlz High Tech Camp for girls works to dispel stereotypes of the high-tech industry and gives young people a chance to experience firsthand what it is like to develop cutting-edge technology. During the camp, girls are exposed to executive speakers, technology tours and demonstrations, networking and hands-on learning workshops. Maximum Award: camp attendance. Eligibility: girls grades 7-12; must be 13 at the time of attendance. Deadline: varies; see website.

Learn more at: https://www.microsoft.com/about/diversity/programs/digigirlz/hightechcamp.aspx

 

Scholastic Lexus Environmental Challenge | Deadline varies; see website.

The Scholastic Lexus Environmental Challenge program is designed to educate and empower students to take action to improve the environment. The program encourages middle and high school students to develop and implement environmental programs that positively impact their communities. Middle and high school teams comprised of 5 to 10 students and one teacher advisor are invited to participate in four initial challenges, each addressing a different environmental element -- land, water, air, and climate. Maximum Award: $75,000. Eligibility: students in grades 6-12 and their teachers. Deadline: varies.

Learn more at: http://www.scholastic.com/lexus

 

Mix It Up Grants | Deadline: Rolling

The Southern Poverty Law Center is accepting applications for its Mix It Up grants program to support on-going projects led and directed by youth (ages 13 years and older) that challenge the status quo, are creative in their approach to encouraging engagement in socially just behaviors, involve collaborations across social boundaries, and are fiscally responsible.

Maximum award: $500. Ages served: middle and high school.

Visit http://www.tolerance.org