$500 Disney Mini-Grant

Youth Service America and Disney are pleased to offer the Disney Minnie Grants to fund children’s efforts to improve their communities. These grants of USD500 are for children (ages 5-14) or the organizations that engage them, to implement youth-led service projects that address the issues of Poverty, Hunger, Education, Environment, Global Citizenship, Sustainable Community Development, and Disaster Prevention & Relief.  Applications are accepted from all over the world.  Projects will take place in the months of September-November 2009. Apply online at www.ysa.org/awards.  Accepting applications:  April-June 15, 2009.  Questions?  Email MinnieGrant@ysa.org

Explicit Lyrics

I came across this article about a parent complainng about the music played at an afterschool dance in Virginia and it got me to thinking, “who decides what explicit is and who is supposed to enforce it”?

I remember having my mother talk to me about the lyrics of music I listened to, and setting me straight about a few things, when I was younger. She made it a point to explain what the lyrics meant, how they may be applied to me, and how others might view me as a consequence of me repeating those lyrics. With that upbringing, I went on to work in afterschool during undergrad. I distincly remember students wanting to play music that I didn’t deem “appropriate” for them thought I listened to it myself. The argument was usually something along the lines of:

Student, “I listen to it at home.”

Me, “Then go home and listen to it”

Student, “But my mom knows I listen to it. It’s not a big deal.”

Me, “Great, then listen to it at home. Let’s try something new while we’re here.”

Needless to say, I won out because 1) I wouldn’t budge and 2) I was in charge. After introducing them to music that I deemed “appropriate” for them to listen to, I would drive away listening to the same songs that I didn’t think they should have heard. Am I a hypocrite?

When I heard parents complain about the work that educators do/ enviornment that their child is in, I wonder how many of them are adhearing to the same standards at home. How do the kids know to request those kinds of songs in the first place?

Congrats THINK Together- $150,000 in Grants!

SANTA ANA, CA, April 16, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ — Randy Barth, founder and CEO of THINK Together (www.THINKtogether.org), announced today that the non-profit organization which provides free after-school programs to 35,000 Southern California students has received a total of $150,000 from foundations associated with two prominent Southern California families: a $100,000 grant from the Peter & Virginia Ueberroth Family Foundation; as well as a $50,000 grant from the Marion Knott Foundation.

“Such generosity from the Ueberroth and Knott families has helped THINK Together emerge as the largest and one of the leading academically-focused after-school providers in California. Later this month, the work we’re doing at THINK Together will be recognized at a national conference in Washington, D.C.,” said Barth in his announcement.

“It’s Community leaders like Peter and Ginny Ueberroth and Marion Knott who make our good work throughout Southern California possible.”

Barth noted, “These new funds will help us enhance our program quality and continue building a regional system of support for over 35,000 educationally at-risk students and their families.”

Peter Ueberroth, an international businessman, is past chairman of the U.S. Olympic Committee and currently its honorary president. He was the sixth Commissioner of Major League Baseball. From 1980-84 he served as president of the highly successful Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. Ueberroth is managing director of Contrarian Group, Inc., and also serves as a director of The Coca-Cola Company, The Irvine Company, and Aircastle.

Virginia Ueberroth is chairman of the Ueberroth Family Foundation and a director of First American Corporation. Among other things, she is a trustee for Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and serves on the advisory council for Sage Hill School in Newport Coast, CA.

Additional details about the Peter & Virginia Ueberroth Family Foundation can be found at www.ueberroth.org.

Marion Knott, a businesswoman and philanthropist, is the daughter of Knotts Berry Farm theme founders Walter and Cordelia Knott. She is a Trustee Emeritus of Chapman University in Orange, CA; and has long been a supporter of THINK Together after-school programs.

About THINK Together

THINK Together, a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, is now one of the largest providers of quality academically-focused after-school programs in California; providing educational services to more than 35,000 at-risk students at 200+ sites throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

Specifically, THINK Together serves students at schools and community sites in the following Southern California communities: Azusa, Baldwin Park, Banning, Cabazon, Calimesa, City of Industry, Costa Mesa, Duarte, Jurupa, La Puente, Lake Elsinore, Mira Loma, Norwalk, Ontario-Montclair, Orange, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Riverside, Romoland, San Bernardino, Santa Ana, Santa Fe Springs, Tustin, Whittier, Wildomar and Yucaipa.

THINK is an acronym: Teaching, Helping, Inspiring & Nurturing Kids.

Additional details about THINK Together can be found on the Web at www.THINKtogether.org.

Using Sports to Motivate Youth

I read this article about a program in India and how they have used football as a way to reach kids. It reminded me of Champions and the work they do with afterschool.

We all know that providing kids with access to structured programs is a great way to teach discipline, fair play, compassion, etc., etc. The question I have is: how many of us take the time to make sure that our kids are involved in these programs?

Would anyone like to share information on a great afterschool program that they know about?

Money Management in 1 Minute – Vampire Energy

Good Magazine's Vampire Energy Chart

We are always looking to save a few pennies around the office. One of the best ideas we’ve heard of has to do with vampire energy usage. No, no it has nothing to do with black capes and pointy teeth.

Vampire energy is what is happening when you turn off your appliances. Though the appliance is off, it is still pulling energy from the wall so that when you flip the switch the power is there. View the chart about to find out how much money you can save by buying a surge protector that cuts the power completely. Did you notice how much money you’re plasma is wasting when it’s OFF?