Waystohelp.org

Waystohelp.org was founded in 2009 by a small group of people from eBay, JP Morgan Chase, McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, the Posse Foundation, Ronald McDonald Charities and Stanford University.

Waystohelp.org engages, inspires and enables high school students to make a positive difference in the world. We do this by making it easy for students to learn about, and take action against, sixteen of today's most pressing social issues.

At the highest level, Waystohelp.org connects teens with options to make a change in multiple issues such as:
- saving the environment
- fighting hunger
- democracy and equality
- health & wellness
- elderly care
- animal welfare

Students can apply for $500 to support their project.  "Simply tell us about your grant idea in 5000 characters or less.  Be sure to summarize your idea, how it will involve others, who it will help, what effect you expect to have, when you want to
start and how you expect to spend the money you're requesting."


App Inventor for Android

This particular App Inventory tool can be downloaded for free.  Students could develop apps that focus on service projects they have done, or social issues they would like to tackle.  The App can be created on a computer through this software, which
is linked to Google.  In order to finish, they would need an Android phone to test.  If one is not available, you could explore getting one loaded through a cell phone company.

The App created would only be available to Android phones; however, it will be fairly easy to convert it to other platforms.  Research would need to be done to see what the cost will be to convert and if there is a person or company who would like
to sponsor the App and make it available to more devices and possibly through the App Store.

Information about the App Inventory program can be found at  appinventory.googlelabls.com.

Project Ignition

- DEADLINE:  November 15, 2010

Project Ignition is a service-learning grant program focused on teen driver safety, but the ripple effect the program creates is anything but simple.  Student campaign teams find their inspiration close to home, but their powerful messages reach
across town, counties, and state lines.  The challenge is this:  Work together to develop a campaign to address the issue of teen driver safety in your community.

Public schools (including public charter and public alternative schools) that educate students in grades 9 through 12, ages 13 and older, are eligible to apply. Applications require a teacher and principal signature. Participation is not limited to
service-learning schools, but schools already implementing service-learning in their curricula are encouraged to participate. Twenty-five high schools will be selected to receive grants of $2,000 each to support implementation of their programs
between January and April 2011. Those 25 recipients will then complete for Top 10 status and will receive funding for a second year as a Leader School and will have a special role at the National Service-Learning Conference in 2012.

More information can be found at www.sfprojectignition.com.