2005 YP Jam:  Building Leaders for Life
Brochures are now available for the 2005 YP Jam:  Building Leaders for Life.  An electronic version is available by clicking on http://www.ypin.org/philcal.html.  This exciting, first class event will be held on July 6-7, 2005 at Franklin College to help grow young leaders and active citizens who give time, talent and treasure for the common good.  Great workshops, dynamic speakers, and fun events are planned for the two-day event.  Anna Scally, an international motivational speaker from Santa Rosa, California, will be one of our keynote speakers.  Jam participants will share with the group about a great grant or service activity they have supported and one lucky winner will receive recognition and a grant to continue their good work!  If you have questions, or would like more information, contact us at info@ypin.org.


Kohl's Kids Who Care
Kohl's Department Stores invite you to nominate kids "with a whole lot of heart." Children and youth between the ages of 6-18 are eligible for nomination who go beyond and above what is normally expected as a community volunteer. His or her volunteer efforts should have resulted in a positive community outcome within the past 12 months. There are three levels of winners: Local Store level ($50 gift card, certificate, and recognition), Regional, ($1,000 scholarship, certificate and recognition), and National, ($5,000 scholarship, plaque, contribute $1,000 to charity of your choice and lots of recognition). Nominators must be 21 or older and forms are available in local Kohl's stores and on the Kohl's Web site. Deadline is March 15th!

The Power of Children Awards
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is seeking to nurture and recognize youth across Indiana who have demonstrated selflessness, exhibited a commitment to community service and the betterment of society, and who have had a significant impact on the lives of others. Awardees will receive a cash award of $1,000 and possibly a matching amount to further the recipient's philanthropic work. They will also receive a renewable scholarship for $2,000 a year for post-secondary education at an Indiana institution of higher learning and recognition for a year in the museum's "The Power of Children" exhibit. The Children's Museum is giving six "Power of Children Awards" in late summer of 2005; three to middle school students and three to high school students. Award criteria will focus on need addressed, achievement, impact, and empowerment. Nomination deadline is April 15th. For information on the nomination process, go to www.ChildrensMuseum.org/powerofchildren.htm to download forms or call the museum's Customer Service Center at 317-334-4000 for information.

YOUTH VOLUNTEERING VS. POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Research shows that young people are leading the way in volunteering, but falling behind in political participation. A recent research paper, "From the Horse's Mouth: A Dialogue Between Politicians and College Students" by Christopher Beem of the Johnson Foundation, suggests that one way to increase youth involvement in politics may be to develop more models that allow students the opportunity to engage in realistic political exercises through their schools or other places of civic education. Students noted that working in a soup kitchen prepared them for service work, but it did not prepare them to advocate for policies to decrease homelessness. To work on these policies, students need more opportunities to engage in the realities of politics, including partisanship, without advancing one side or the other. Several other recommendations and insights can be found in the paper.

To download the paper click here: http://www.civicyouth.org/research/areas/comm_partic.htm

COALITION OF COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS FOR YOUTH
Community foundations are invited to join the Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth. Membership is free and there are many benefits. CCFY is a network of more than 250 community foundations dedicated to improving conditions for children, youth, and families. With all the great youth philanthropy programs in Indiana, our state is underrepresented at CCFY. Founded in 1991, the purpose of CCFY is to connect the community foundation field with the intellectual, technical and financial resources needed to improve outcomes for children, youth and families.

It's easy to join by completing an online membership application at www.ccfy.org. Members may attend CCFY learning activities at no charge, are eligible to apply for technical assistance and capacity-building grants, as well as travel scholarships, and have access to information, ideas, and strategies to accelerate learning and promote a new and deeper understanding about issues affecting children, youth and families. For more information, contact ccfy@ccfy.org.


MTV AND YOUTH VENTURE TEAM UP TO OFFER TSUNAMI RESPONSE GRANTS
MTV, in partnership with Youth Venture, is awarding Tsunami Response Grants of up to $1000 each to teams of young people who have creative projects designed to help people affected by the earthquake and tsunami in South Asia and Africa. MTV is currently airing an MTV News special to help continue to raise awareness of the tragedy in Southeast Asia and empower its audience to support fund-raising efforts worldwide. Applications are being accepted NOW. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis until December 5, 2005.

For more information on MTV-Youth Venture Tsunami Response Grants and to access an application go to: http://www.youthventure.org/index.php?tg=articles&idx=More&article=772&topics=296

NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY: APRIL 15-17, 2005
Spread the word about National Youth Service Day to youth! 2005 Planning Tool Kits, Service-Learning Curriculum Guides, and posters are available in print and online. To download materials or order free printed copies, please visit: www.ysa.org/nysd/resource/nysd_resources_parent.cfm. Please remember to register your National Youth Service Day 2005 Project and it will be featured on Youth Service America's extensive US Planning Map and highlighted through the national media campaign. Please visit: www.ysa.org/nysd/partner/profile/login.cfm.

United Way seeks volunteers to participate in 2005 Youth Day of Caring; Fri., Mar. 18 is sign-up deadline

United Way of Central Indiana is seeking youth ages 10-18 to participate in the 10th annual Youth Day of Caring from 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Fri. Apr. 15 and Sat. Apr. 16, 2005.

The deadline for volunteer registration is Fri., Mar. 18. For registration forms or more information, please call 317.921.1204 or visit http://www.uwci.org/youth_caring.htm

Youth will be matched with service projects at United Way agencies and other community partners. Community projects will be located in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan counties. Groups are welcome. Adult supervision is needed. Volunteers may participate one or both days.

Past projects have included painting, neighborhood beautification, interaction with children, office work and general cleaning. More than 2,700 youth participated in the 2004 Youth Day of Caring.

"The biggest thing I learned from this experience was teamwork. Within teamwork came trust and communication," said Ayisha Tahir, 2004 volunteer. "It gives you a chance to work with friends and meet new people," added Andrew Warshaauer. "After a short day of work, we did a lot to make the garden at Joy's House more appealing and useful to their guests," reflected Brad Casselman, who also participated last year.

Program contact: Adrian Foster, 317.921.1204 or afoster@uwci.org

Media Contact: Mary L. Kinney
317.921.1224
Kinney@uwci.org

Please forward the E-Chronicle on to others or send e-mail addresses to us and we will see that they are added to our list. If you received this as a forward and want to be added to the list, please send a message to ypii@aol.com. If you no longer wish to receive emails from YPII, just send a message to ypii@aol.com.

For more information, contact:
Jerry Finn, Program Manager (812) 923-2065
The Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana (YPII)
32 East Washington Street, Suite 1100
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
317.715.6709, YPII@aol.com, www.YPIN.org

Do you have a story that you would like to submit for the E-Chronicle? Send your story to Sarah Geis at sgeis@indianagrantmakers.org.

...growing lifelong philanthropists who give of their time, talent, and treasure for the common good.

Supporters of the Vision
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, Community Partnerships with Youth, Emmis Communications, Indiana Association of Cities and Towns Foundation, Indiana Association of School Principals, Indiana Association of United Ways, Indiana Commission on Community Service & Volunteerism, Indiana Dollars for Scholars, Indiana Grantmakers Alliance, Indiana Humanities Council, Indiana Pacers Foundation, Indiana Youth Services Association, Indiana Youth Institute, Indianapolis Colts, The Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, Junior Achievement of Central Indiana, Inc., Leadership Fort Wayne, Legacy Fund Community Foundation, a CICF affiliate, Learning To Give-Indiana, Mary E. Ober Foundation, MCCOY, Moore Foundation, South Madison Community Foundation Youth Commission, Y-Press, Youth As Resources/United Way of Central Indiana, Youth as Resources of Wayne County, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, Youth Connections, and 4H Youth Development.