Grant Announcements

Get Into It Grants (Deadline Extended: January 26)
Special Olympics is partnering with Youth Service America to offer Get Into It grants that bring together students of all abilities to fight childhood obesity in their schools and communities through service-learning projects developed using the Get Into It curriculum. The program will award approximately 40-80 grants of $500 or $1,000 to help youth create and implement local, hands-on programs to fight childhood obesity. Get Into It grant projects will launch on Spread the Word to End the Word Day (March 2, 2011) and culminate on Global Youth Service Day (April 15-17, 2011). This grant program is open to youth in schools, after-school programs, and youth development or community organizations. Applicants do not need to have a current connection to Special Olympics or the Get Into It program, but must agree to use the Special Olympics Get Into It curriculum to develop their project. The application must be completed together by a teacher or adult program leader and a unified pair of students (one with and one without an intellectual disability). All 50 states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted by midnight, January 26, 2011 To learn more about this opportunity, download the planning resources offered, and access the online application, visit www.YSA.org/getintoit


Sodexo Lead Organizer Grants (Deadline: February 10)
YSA is accepting applications from organizations to serve as 2011 Sodexo Lead Organizers, supported by a $2,000 planning grant from YSA and the Sodexo Foundation. Sodexo Lead Organizers will work with partner organizations to engage at least 500 youth volunteers in learning about and addressing the issue of childhood hunger in their communities, beginning on Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) (April 15-17), and continuing through Hunger Action Month (September) and Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week (November 14-20).  Sodexo Lead Organizers will also build new partnerships in their community and increase public awareness about the issue of hunger and young people's role in solving the problem. Applications are due by midnight on Friday, February 10. Learn more at www.YSA.org/grants/sodexoleadorganizer


Kids to Kids Go Peru! Challenge (Deadline: February 15)
Win an all-expense paid trip to visit Kids to Kids projects in Peru! World Connect is looking for two youth to represent the Kids to Kids Program in Peru this summer for a trip led by one of their outstanding partners, Putney Student Travel. The two winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Peru to serve as Kids to Kids Field Reporters on a month-long excursion. The trip will combine community service, cultural immersion and multiple site visits to Kids to Kids projects. Applications are due on February 15, 2011. Information on how to apply can be found at www.kidstokids.org/goperuchallenge.php