Youth News from Healthy Communities of the Capital Area

Dairy MAX Expanding Breakfast Grants

Expanding Breakfast Grants are available to schools participating in the National School Breakfast Program. The $1,000 grants will help schools implement their wellness policies through the establishment of an alternative breakfast service method designed to increase breakfast participation. Child nutrition directors from schools participating in the National School Breakfast program are eligible to apply. Application Deadline: December 1, 2009. FMI & Application: www.dairymax.org/expanding_grants.aspx

Green Thumb Challenge 2010

This initiative of the Green Education Foundation calls on classrooms and schools to plant 10,000 inodoor or outdoor gardens during the spring of 2010. GEF's Web site provides gardening instructions; checklists for school approvals; plot location guidelines; container garden suggestions; funding resources; garden plans; and more. Green Thumb Challenge lessons link gardening to science, math, language arts, creative arts, and technology. Summer student internships and community service programs will be available, along with an online professional development course for teachers. Register by December 15, 2009 and be entered into a raffle for free garden kits or cash prizes to jump start and/or fund your garden. FMI: visit www.greeneducationfoundation.org

Fuel Up to Play 60!

Grants are available to Maine schools for implementing healthy eating and physical activity action strategies and promotion events using Fuel Up to Play 60 resources. Two funding levels are available. Grants up to $500 are available for Maine schools implementing FUTP60. Grants up to $750 are available for Maine schools implementing FUTP60 as part of their participation in 5-2-1-0 Goes to School. Application Deadline: December 1, 2009. FMI & Application: www.healthymainekids.org/resources/grants

Dara's Fund The Dara Fund mini-grant applications for service learning are available Spring and Fall. This initiative, inspired by Dara Kaufman's life, is meant to encourage young people in New England to take action to make their schools and communities caring, supportive, and environmentally sustainable places. The fund will support K-12 service learning projects that focus on issues that were important to Dara. Applications are due Fall 2009. FMI: visit www.kidsconsortium.org/minigrants.php

Do Something Awards

Since 1996 Do Something has honored some of America's best young "world changers" with the Do Something Awards. Award winners represent the pivotal "do-ers" in their field, cause, or issue and are rewarded with a project grant, participation in a special award ceremony, media coverage, and continued support from Do Something. Five awards will be given. Four winners will receive $10.000 and one Grand Prize winner will receive $100,000 toward their organization or cause. Registration Deadline: December 15, 2009. FMI: www.dosomething.org/programs/awards

Heinz Wholesome Memories Intergenerational Garden Award

Recognizing the power of gardens to connect individuals of all ages socially, culturally, and emotionally, the Heinz Wholesome Memories Intergenerational Garden Award is designed to foster family-focused garden efforts in communities. The award is open to any adult who wishes to garden with preschool to high school-aged family members and feels that gardening is a great way to build lasting memories. Winning applicants will receive a $500 award package. Registration deadline: January 10, 2010. FMI & Application: visit www.kidsgardening.org/grants/heinz.asp.

Champions for Healthy Kids

Each year, the General Mills Foundation, in partnership with the American Dietetic Association Foundation and the President's Council on Physical Fitness, awards 50 grants of $10,000 each to community-based groups that develop creative ways to help youth adopt a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle. In addition the GMF sponsors up to 50,000 youth ages 6-17 each year to participate in the President's Challenge and earn the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award for their commitment to a physically active and fit lifestyle. Application Deadline: January 15, 2010. FMI & Applications:

www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/champions.aspx

Building Healthy Communities Grant Program

The Home Depot is awarding grants up to $2,500 to organizations that utilize the power of volunteers to improve the physical health of their community. Grants are made in the form of Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools or materials. Applications available:October 15-December 15, 2009. FMI: visit http://corporate.homedepot.com/wps/portal/Grants

Welch's Harvest Grants

Winning schools will receive a customized indoor our outdoor garden package filled with a variety of tools, seeds, educational materials, and mores. Two schools in every state will be selected to receive a Welch's Harvest Grant. Garden Packages are valued between $250 and $1,000. Application deadline February 6, 2010. FMI: visit www.scholastic.com/harvest.

Outdoor Classroom Grant Program

Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper, and National Geographic Explorer! classroom magazine have partnered to create an outdoor classroom grant to provide outdoor, hands-on science education to students in grades K-12 and assist schools in enhancing their core curriculum in all subjects. This year, the program will award grants up to $2,000 to at least 100 schools. In some cases, grants for up to $20,000 may be awarded to schools with major outdoor classroom projects. The grants can be used to build a new outdoor classroom or enhance a current outdoor classroom. All K-12 public schools the US are welcome to apply. FMI & Application: www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=AboutLowes/outdoor/index.html.

Mantis Award for Community & Youth Gardens

Each year Mantis provides the Mantis Awards for charitable and educational garden projects that serve to improve the quality of life for youth and community members. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to turn slim resources into bountiful gardens that increase access to nutritious foods and provide education on the importance of nutrition. Eligible applicants include non-profit charitable or educational programs. Application deadline March 1, 2010. FMI & Application: visit www.kidsgardening.com/grants/mantis-criteria.asp.

Bonnie Plants 3rd Grade Cabbage Program

The Bonnie's Third Grade Cabbage Program distributes free cabbage plants to third-grade classrooms whose teachers sign up to participate. This year 1,200,000 third graders will plant and take care of their own cabbage plants. Learn more about this program, which also awards a $1,000 scholarship to one student in each state at: Registration deadline: April 15, 2010. FMI: visit

www.bonniesplants.com

Fruit Tree 101

The Fruit Tree Planting Foundation brings fruit tree orchards to schoolyards so students can make a positive environmental impact at their school, while creating a source of tasty snacks for decades to come. New this year, Fruit Tree 101 invites parents to submit their children's schools to receive a special schoolyard planting in honor of their child. No matter the location, if the winner family's school is a suitable public school equipped with enough green space to sustain an orchard, you could help the environment and bring tasty treats to your children's classmates. And if your school wins, so does your family. Fruit Tree 101 will also present the winning family an individual fruit tree that can be planted at or near their home and enjoyed for years to come. Rolling Deadline. FMI & Application: www.ftpf.org/fruittree101.htm

Community Impact Grants The Coca-Cola Company and the Coca-Cola Foundation aim to make a greater impact on the communities Coca-Cola serves around the world by being responsive to the priorities of the communities in which we live and work. They are interested in funding organizations in water stewardship, healthy active lifestyles, community recycling, and education. Rolling Deadline. FMI: www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/application_guidelines.html

Annie's Grants for Gardens

Annie's offers a limited number of small grants to community gardens, school gardens, and other educational programs that connect children directly to gardening. These funds may be used to buy gardening tools, seeds, or other gardening supplies. Rolling Deadline. FMI: www.annies.com/grants_for_gardens

Charles Lafitte Foundation Healthy Living Grants

The Charles Lafitte Foundation supports innovative and effective ways for people to help themselves and others around them lead healthy and satisfying lives. The foundation's areas of interest include education, youth advocacy, and medical research. The Foundation prefers projects/programs that provide a permanent solution rather than a temporary bandage. Application deadline Rolling. FMI: visit www.charleslafitte.org.

Volunteer Mentors Needed

Volunteers are needed for the Monmouth Middle School Mentoring Program. The mentoring program promotes productive interactions between students and adults to help students explore the relationship between school, work, and society. Caring adult mentors donate one hour on Tuesdays or Thursdays throughout the school year for a total minimum of 25 hours. The mentoring program offers a variety of indoor games and activities, monitored space for quiet conversations, and outdoor activities. FMI: Florel Steuerwalt at 207.933.7244, Lori Gray at 207.933.2318 or 207.377.7304 or Debbie Bechard at 207.620.7180 X212.

Cigna Foundation Community Grants

The CIGNA Foundation provides grants to projects that focus their efforts on five priority areas including: 1) the health of women, children and families, 2) obesity awareness and prevention, 3) patient/doctor communications and health literacy, 4) elimination of gender and ethnic disparities with health care, and 5) maintenance of healthy minds and bodies. Application deadline Rolling. FMI: visit www.cigna.com/about_us/community/grant_application_details.html

Selecting Evidence-Based Substance Abuse Prevention Programs for Maine Schools

The Office of Substance Abuse has made available a new resource to help K-12 schools select evidence-based programs and curriculum that are the best fit for their unique needs and resources. The Guide is available online at: www.maine.gov/dhhs/osa/prevention/schoolcollege/ Hard copies may be ordered from the OSA Information and Resource Center at 1.800.499.0027 or [email protected]