Build a playground - $6M available in matching funds

Triple M Recreation announces that local governments, schools and non-profit agencies may be eligible for matching grant funds for new playgrounds under a program sponsored by Game Time, a leading manufacturer of playground equipment.  Triple M Recreation represents GameTime products and has local offices in Arizona, Colorado, NM & W. Texas.

The “Fighting Obesity Through Play,” matching grant program helps fund the purchase of playground equipment to encourage children’s physical activity and to replace playgrounds that are old and unsafe.

All orders for matching funds for playgrounds must be received no later than Nov. 14, 2008. For more information and an application form, call 800-235-2440, or go to www.gametime.com

North Carolina High School Students administer $160,000 dollars in grants

On Saturday, October 25, 2008 more than 300 high school-aged youth from across North Carolina will come together in Greensboro for the Third Annual North Carolina Youth Giving Summit.   Entitled “The Art Of Giving”, the Summit is designed to prepare how and where these high school students will grant over $160,000 to help their communities. The funds have been donated from philanthropic organizations across the state and will be entrusted to these youth for allocation.

The North Carolina Youth Giving Network (NCYGN) is a statewide collection of 17 different youth philanthropy sites, from as far East as Rutherford County to as far West as Northampton County.  The NCYGN is coordinated by Leading To Change, a nationally recognized training organization based in Charlotte, in partnership with NCGives.  NCYGN members at the Youth Giving Summit will learn strategies to assess the needs of their communities, techniques to effectively facilitate meetings, and methods to further develop resources in their communities. Community leaders and churches selected youth from their areas that are committed to giving back to the community for participation in the Summit.

The Summit draws youth from over 25 counties, including Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Mecklenburg, Vance, and Wilkes Counties.  Additionally, the statewide organization NCNAYO (North Carolina Native American Youth Organization) will also participate with youth representing over 20 tribal communities throughout NC.

This Summit marks only the third ever convening of all of these counties for youth philanthropic efforts. Sponsors of the event include NCGives, Foundation for the Carolinas, North Carolina Community Foundation, the Winston-Salem Foundation, Communities In Schools, Generation Engage, and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro.

Paralyzed Soldier returns home to family and friends

You’ll enjoy this local TV report about a paralyzed soldier returning home to the cheers and support of his local community.

Local TV station builds a wheelchair ramp for returning paralyzed soldier, Wes Hixon.   The soldier who was paralyzed by a roadside bomb in Iraq, returned home Thursday night to a crowd of family and friends. KXLY4’s John Langeler reports.

YouTube fights global poverty with ‘In my Name’

YouTube announced an effort with a strong line-up of celebrity and non-profit partners to campaign countries in an effort to end global poverty.

Celebrities and organizations that are involved include Will.i.am, of Black Eyed Peas fame, Scarlett Johansson, John Legend, Fergie and nonprofit organizations Oxfam, GCAP, Save the Children and Comic Relief.  Collectively with YouTube “In My Name” aims to be a global effort to raise awareness around the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

These eight time-bound, measurable goals were set in 2000 to combat global poverty.  In My Name is meant “to give you the opportunity to tell your leaders to do more.  World leaders need to hear from you.” stated YouTube via their website.

From now through November 1, visit www.youtube.com/inmyname to upload a video stating your name, your home country, and your simple message to your government about the need to meet the MDGs. Be as creative, compelling, simple, or wordy as you like — this is your chance to join the video petition to end world hunger.  Once that date has passed, YouTube will create a mash-up of the most powerful submissions from around the world and broadcast it directly to the United Nations General Assembly.

Neighborhood clean-up picture wins Outstanding Photo

When people listen to the radio today it conjures up thoughts of music, shock jocks, and talk radio.  Imagine a radio show that inspires people to clean up their neighborhood.

PCI-Media Impact, a not-for-profit organization that produces social change television and radio programs around the world, was recently awarded Outstanding Photograph by InterAction for James Rodriguez’s snapshot of Guatemalan children participating in a clean-up of their neighborhood in San Pedro, Guatemala.

To address the unhealthy waste management practices in rural Mayan-Quiche speaking Guatemala, PCI-Media Impact partnered with local radio stations and local organization La Asociacion Juventud Kiche to produce the radio serial drama Jach b’al Re Loq’ b’al K’u'x (The Love Recycle). The drama featured two of PCI-Media Impact’s most recognizable character types: Chelly, an 18 year old woman who wants to improve the earning potential of her father’s farm, and Don Tavo, Chelly’s father who become ill after struggling to make the farm a success. The drama unfolds as the Tavo family attempts and fails in attempt after attempt to raise different crops. With no success, the family starts recycling inorganic materials and finally establishes a secure income for the family.

The program mobilized local youth, who listened to the program in school each day, to organize a clean up of their towns. The award-winning photograph captures one of those initiatives.

Source: CSR Wire, PCI-Media