Youth Service America, Sodexo Foundation Offer Grants for Youth-Led Hunger Service Projects
Deadline: Jan. 31, 2013
http://www.ysa.org/grants/sodexoyouth 

Youth Service America and the Sodexo Foundation are calling on young people to join the fight to end childhood hunger. Sodexo Foundation Youth Grants will provide $500 for youth-led service projects designed to bring together young people, families, Sodexo employees, and other community members to address childhood hunger. Young people between the ages of 5 and 25 in the U.S. are eligible to apply. Projects will take place on or around Global Youth Service Day, April 26- 28, 2013. Visit the YSA Web site for program guidelines, the Service Project Toolkit, and the online application form.   

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Applications Invited for Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award
 Deadline: Dec. 15, 2012

http://www.ala.org/programming/jaffarianaward
 

The American Library Association Public Programs Office is accepting applications for the 2013 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming. Public and private school libraries in the U.S. that served children in in any combination of grades K-8 and conducted humanities programs during the 2011-12 school year are eligible. The library must be staffed by a state-certified librarian.

The library's humanities program or program series can be focused in many subject areas, including but not limited to social studies, poetry, drama, art, music, language arts, and foreign language and culture. Programs should focus on broadening perspectives and helping students understand the wider world and their place in it. They should be initiated and coordinated by the school librarian and exemplify the role of the library program in advancing the overall educational goals of the school. The award consists of a $4,000 honorarium and a plaque.

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Home Depot Foundation Community Impact Grants Program

Deadline: December 12, 2012

http://homedepotfoundation.org/page/applying-for-a-grant

The Home Depot Foundation is accepting applications for its Community Impact Grants Program from nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, public schools, and public service agencies in the U.S. that are using volunteers to improve the physical health of their communities.

The foundation is prioritizing projects designed to help military veterans stay in their homes comfortably. More competitive grant proposals will specifically identify projects for veterans and will include housing repairs, modifications, and weatherization work. Proposals will be considered for a range of community improvement activities, including repairs, refurbishments, and modifications to low-income and/or transitional veteran's housing or community facilities (schools, community centers, senior centers, etc.); weatherizing or increasing energy efficiency of low-income and/or transitional veterans' housing, or community facilities; and planting trees or community gardens and/or landscaping community facilities that serve veterans. Grants must support work completed by community volunteers in the U.S.

Only registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, tax-exempt public schools, and tax-exempt public agencies in the U.S. are eligible to apply. Grants of up to $5,000 will be made in the form of Home Depot gift cards for the purchase of tools, materials, or services. Visit the Home Depot Foundation Web site for complete program guidelines, an FAQ, and the online application.

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Point Foundation LGBTQ Student Scholarships
 http://www.pointfoundation.org/apply.html 

The Point Foundation scholarship application process opened online Nov. 1, 2012.  Point Scholarships are designed to help promising LGBTQ students achieve their full academic and leadership potential despite obstacles. Scholars must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, community involvement, and financial need. Attention also will be paid to students who have lost the financial and social support of their families and/or communities as a result of revealing their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

Point Scholars must agree to maintain a high level of academic performance and to give back to the LGBTQ community through the completion of an individual community service project each year. Some Point Scholars also benefit from internship opportunities related to their fields of study.

Scholarships provide approximately $25,000 per scholar, per year. Each scholar is paired with a mentor and participates in leadership development training with fellow Point Scholars, including an annual leadership conference. After graduating, Point Scholars become part of Point's growing alumni network. Point Scholarships are awarded on a "last provider" basis, providing funding to supplement other scholarships, grants, loans, work/study programs, etc. Point Scholars must secure as much outside funding as possible.  

Students who will be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs for the 2013-14 school year are eligible to apply for the multiyear scholarships. Applications will be reviewed by a team of 45 trained educators, school counselors, and foundation staff and board members. The selection process concludes with face-to-face interviews with Point's staff and Board of Regents during May 2013. The 2013 Point Scholar Class will be announced in June 2013.

Individuals may nominate a student online and download an application information flyer. Applicants will have until 11:59 p.m. PST on January 14, 2013, to submit Part I of the application. Qualifying applicants will be invited to then submit Part II of the application. Part II will made available November 2, 2012, and remain open until 11:59 p.m. PST, January 28, 2013. Applications are only accepted online.

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Fifth Annual Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge 
 http://www.wecanchange.com/
Deadline: March 5, 2013

The annual Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge invites teams of students and their adult advisors to tackle local (K-5), regional (6-8), and global (9-12) environmental problems or issues and find replicable green solutions. The challenge is a collaborative effort of the Siemens Foundation, Discovery Education, the National Science Teachers Association, and the College Board.

The program invites entries from students and team advisors (who must be full- or part-time school employees) in the USA.

A panel of environmental experts and science educators will judge teams based on their research, analysis, and the potential of their solution to be replicated on a larger scale. High school students are specifically challenged to address energy, biodiversity, land management, water conservation and cleanup, or air and climate.

Student and teacher/mentor prizes, which vary according to grade level, include scholarships, savings bonds, school grants, adventure trips, school assemblies, and more. This year's challenge will award prizes totaling more than $300,000.

Program information and resources are available at the We Can Change Web site.

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Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards
 Deadline: Dec. 16, 2012

http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/awards/sondheim/
 

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is seeking nominations for the 2013 Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards, a series of annual grants that recognize inspiring teachers in the U.S.
 

Now in their third year, the awards were created in honor of American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who frequently attributes his success to the teachers in his life. The awards are presented each year on Sondheim's birthday - March 22 - to a handful of teachers, kindergarten through college, who are nominated via the Kennedy Center Web site.
 

Nominees must be legal residents of the U.S. Nominations must be based on experience as a full-time classroom teacher in a K-12 school in the U.S. or as a college or university instructor in the U.S. Nominators must be at least 18 years of age and have been a student of the nominee. Nominations for teachers by peers, parents, relatives, or other individuals based on non-teacher-student interactions will not be reviewed.

 Last year, 10 teachers were recognized for their outstanding influence on students. The recipients each received a $10,000 prize and their stories, as told by the nominating student, were featured on a Web site dedicated to inspirational teachers.

Complete program information and the online nomination form are available at the Kennedy Center Web site.

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