YOUTH SERVICE AMERICA'S NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY OPPORTUNITIES

YOUTH ORGANIZED FOR DISASTER ACTION GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE
The Institute for Global Education and Service Learning and the National Dropout Prevention Center are pleased to announce a second round of funding for Learn and Serve America- Youth Organized for Disaster Action grants. The goal of the Youth Organized for Disaster Action (Y.O.D.A.) program is to address disaster preparedness and community safety concerns by engaging students in service-learning activities in their schools and communities. In addition to the physical damage to homes and property, disasters also affect young people's sense of security, their relationships with their schools, communities, and in some cases even their families. Y.O.D.A. also aims to cultivate resilience and developmental assets in youth while enhancing academic achievement, developing workplace-readiness skills, and demonstrating active citizenship. Open to all Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina school districts (including Charter Schools), eligible applicants may apply for a maximum award of $5,000 during year one 3/07-8/07) and $10,000 during years two and three. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2007. To learn more about the download the RFP at http://www.igesl.org

REGISTER FOR ACT! SPEAK! BUILD! WEEK 2007
Act! Speak! Build! Week is Habitat for Humanity's international, student-initiated week of advocacy. Act! Speak! Build! Week empowers young people to educate themselves and their communities and move people to social action. Young people, ages 5 to 25, work in partnership with local affiliates to plan and host events. To learn more, visit http://www.habitat.org/youthprograms/actspeakbuild/

A LION IN THE HOUSE COMMUNITY SERVICE GRANTS: DEADLINE FEBRUARY 1
Youth Service America is proud to offer A Lion in the House Community Service Grants. Complementing the highly acclaimed film by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, these grants of $300 are designed for youth (ages 12-25) and youth-serving organizations (schools, youth groups, clubs, etc.) to design service projects addressing pediatric cancer. Projects should be youth-led and take place as part of National and Global Youth Service Day, April 20-22, 2007. To learn more, visit http://www.YSA.org/awards

NOMINATE AN OUTSTANDING NONPROFIT FOR THE LEADERSHIP "IS" AWARD
Independent Sector seeks your help in identifying a nonprofit organization that exemplifies a culture of investing in the people of the nonprofit community to be considered for the 2007 Leadership IS Award. The award recognizes organizations that emphasize the development of staff, board, and volunteer leadership. Nominations are due by February 15, 2007. Anyone may nominate an organization for the Leadership IS Award. The award will be presented at the 2007 Independent Sector Annual Conference, which will be held in Los Angeles, October 21-23. For more information about the award, including an online nomination form, visit the IS website at http://www.independentsector.org/programs/leadership/organizationalaward.htm or contact Jennifer Edwards at leadershipis@independentsector.org

APPLICATIONS BEING ACCEPTED FOR PROJECT IGNITION:
Project Ignition is a partnership between NYLC and State Farm to promote teen driver safety. The winner of Project Ignition receives a $10,000 grant from State Farm, 25 applicants receive a $2,000 grant and the top 10 receive a $5,000 travel stipend to the National Service-Learning Conference to see who will win the Best of the Best. The deadline for submissions is April 15. To learn more, visit http://www.sfprojectignition.com/

SERVE UP A "SOUPER" BOWL OF CARING
The Souper Bowl of Caring is a youth-led, grassroots movement of caring, the result of thousands of young people joining together to fight hunger and poverty in their communities by collecting donations in soup pots. Since 1990, $33 million has been raised for charities across the country. On or during the weeks leading up to Sun, Feb 4, join young people from 15,000 churches, schools and other organizations to participate in the 2007 Souper Bowl of Caring. In addition to collecting donations, youth are encouraged to serve at the charity of their choice Saturday before the big game. In January 2005, over 13,000 young people joined the Service Blitz and over 11,000 organizations generated $4 million for charities across the country and world. To learn more, visit http://www.souperbowl.org/


The Merits of Marketing (marketing.scouting.org) is a resource for local councils, developed by the Marketing & Communications Division of the National Council, Boy Scouts of America.