News Articles

Friday August 29, 2008
September is National Hunger Action Month

Thirty days hath September, and we have 30 ways you can participate in the first annual Hunger Action Month. Whether you are a newcomer to the issue of domestic hunger or you have already been involved, we have some fun, useful, easy and even artistic suggestions for ways for you to join in the effort to provide hunger relief to Idaho families. One idea is for you to watch "Sunday Night Football." How easy is that? Check out the list. If you act on just one, or attempt all 30, you can make a difference!

For more information, call The Idaho Foodbank.
In Boise - 336-9643, in Pocatello - 233-8811, in Lewiston - 746-2288.

To see the complete list of 30 exciting ideas of how you can help feed Idaho's hungry, just click here.

Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation -- Children's Tylenol National Child Care
Teacher Awards
Application Deadline: December 5, 2008
Description: Awards acknowledge the critical role of child-care teachers in providing quality early care and education. Fifty teachers will be selected for their commitment and dedication to the children they serve. Of the top ten recipients, one will be selected to receive the Helene Marks Award. As part of the application process, each
applicant is asked to design an enhancement project for the children in his or her classroom, and illustrate the educational, social, and emotional benefits of the project. Funding Amount: Each of the fifty award recipients will receive $1,000 -- $500 as a stipend acknowledging each child-care teacher's special dedication, and $500 to fund his or her classroom enhancement project. The recipient of the Helene Marks Award will receive an additional $1,000. The winners will also be honored at an awards ceremony in Pennsylvania on April 1, 2009, with hotel and transportation provided for the recipients by
the foundation.

Who May Apply: Child-care teachers from all fifty states and the District of Columbia are invited to apply. For more information click here.

Disney Minnie Grants for Global Youth: Service Day 2008
SUMMARY: The Walt Disney Company and Youth Service America are excited to announce grants of up to $500 to support youth-led service projects. These grants support youth (ages 5-14) in planning and implementing service projects in their community. Teachers, older youth (15-25), and youth-serving organizations are also eligible to apply, if they engage younger youth (5-14) in planning and implementing the project. A significant part of the service must take place on GYSD 2008, April 25-27. We encourage youth to address important issues such as climate change, malaria or other diseases, human rights, literacy, or others.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Applications are welcome from all countries. While grant information will be available in: Español (Spanish), Français (French), Russian, Chinese, and Hindi, applications will be accepted in English only (an online translation tool is available at the YSA website). Applicants from China, India, and Russia are especially encouraged to apply. Past Disney Minnie Grantees are also eligible to apply.

DUE DATE: January 21, 2008
AWARD AMOUNT: Up to $500
INFORMATION: E-mail: MinnieGrant@ysa.org
For more information click here.

National Endowment for the Humanities - - We the People Bookshelf Program
SUMMARY: The We the People Bookshelf is a set of classic books for young readers from kindergarten through high school. Each year, the National Endowment for the Humanities identifies a theme important to the nation's heritage and selects books that embody that theme. This collection of theme-related books is the bookshelf. In addition to introducing young readers to good literature, the bookshelf promotes understanding of abstract or general ideas through the power of particular stories. This year's theme is "Created Equal." ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Any U.S. public library or K-12 school library in the United States and its territories. School libraries include public, private, parochial, and charter schools. Libraries with collections that circulate to the general public and offer readingbased programs for the general public are eligible to apply. A library system or school district may apply on behalf of its member schools or branches.

DUE DATE: January 25, 2008
AWARD AMOUNT: The program will award 3,000
libraries a set of classic books.
INFORMATION: Tel: (800) 545-2433, ext. 5045
E-mail: publicprograms@ala.org
For more information click here.

Action For Nature's International Young
Eco-Hero Awards
SUMMARY: Action For Nature, a nonprofit organization that encourages young people around the world to carry out individual environmental action projects, presents the International Young Eco-Hero Awards to recognize the individual accomplishments of young people (ages 8-16) whose personal actions have significantly improved the environment. Action For Nature will award cash prizes of up to $500 each to young Eco-Heroes for their outstanding accomplishments in environmental advocacy, environmental health, research, or protection of the natural world. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: The applications will be judged according to several criteria, including but not limited to originality, difficulty, organization, length of time devoted to the project, influencing/educating others, use of outside resources (e.g., library, experts, media, community leaders), degree of success in reaching goals, and the impact on the environment.

DUE DATE: February 28, 2008
AWARD AMOUNT: Up to $500.
For more information click here.