AWARD OPPORTUNITIES

Banking on Youth is an exciting opportunity to showcase your great idea for a venture that directly benefits society. As a young entrepreneur you have so much more than a great idea and the ability to make money—you have the power to make a positive difference! If you are age 13-20, show us your venture idea to compete to win one of 33 different $1,000 seed money prizes provided by our sponsoring banks to bring your idea to life. You can also compete to win a $5,000 or $15,000 award.

The STOP Hunger Scholarships, a program of the Sodexo Foundation, recognize students who are driving awareness and mobilizing youth to be catalysts for innovative models and solutions to eliminate hunger in America. Selected students (kindergarten through graduate school) receive a $5,000 scholarship AND a $5,000 grant for their hunger-related charity. In addition, each national scholarship recipient is recognized at the annual Sodexo Foundation Dinner in Washington, DC. Application period: January 1 - February 18, 2011

The Heart of America Foundation sponsors two youth scholarships to highlight inspirational young people who enrich the lives of others. The Christopher Reeve Award honors high school students who demonstrate tremendous compassion and caring in their community through a life of service and dedication. The Gee Whiz Kids® Award recognizes children ages 12 and under who represent what The Heart of America Foundation is about --caring and compassion.

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is the United States' largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. The program's goals are to applaud young people who already are making a positive difference in their towns and neighborhoods, and to inspire others to think about how they might contribute to their communities.

The AXA Achievement Scholarship in association with U.S. News & World Report provides $670,000 in annual scholarships to young people throughout the nation.

Sharing your time and talents for the benefit of others is an important part of the Congressional Award program. This requires sensitivity, perception of need, determination, perseverance and dedication. Volunteer Public Service activities must be performed without pay, compensation or school credit.

Open to youth aged 7-17 who reside in the U.S., the contest awards kids giving back to their communities through volunteer work. For 2012, Farm Rich will recognize quarterly winners as well as an annual grand-prize winner who will receive $10,000 for the charity of his or her choice. A first-, second-, and third-place winner will be chosen each quarter to receive donations of $3,500, $1,500 and $1,000, respectively, for their chosen charities. Honorable mentions each quarter get a "Pat on the Back" gift card of $250. The grand-prize winner, chosen through a public online vote next January, will receive a gift of $10,000 to donate to a selected charity or charities.

The Power of Children Awards: Making a Difference is an annual event intended to honor and further empower middle and high school students (grades 6–11) who have made a significant impact on the lives of others, demonstrated selflessness and exhibited a commitment to service and the betterment of society.

A national grant opportunity celebrating volunteers can result in a major grant for your youth program. The NASCAR Foundation funds the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Awards which honor outstanding volunteers by providing cash awards to the youth programs where they volunteer. People who are nominated for the award must be NASCAR fans and must have made a significant impact on the lives of children through volunteer and other charitable work during the last five years. Award range: $25,000 - $100,000. Deadline: July 18, 2011.