In This Issue:

YPII News

  --  Encouraging Youth Philanthropy at the Spirit & Place Festival

  --  National Philanthropy Day Ideas

  --  Next Ambassador Training: January 23, 2009

  --  YP Trainings Available to Meet Community Needs

Young Hoosier Philanthropist

  --  Brandilyn Muir

Tools & Resources

  --  Increasing Civic Engagement through Video Games
  --  IYI Annual Conference

Ways to Give & Serve

  --  Hoosier Heroes

Funding Resources

  --  SeaWorld/Busch Gardens Environmental Excellence Awards

  --  Captain Planet Grants for Environmental Understanding

Encouraging Youth Philanthropy at the Spirit & Place Festival
The Power of Children: Imagine Kids Helping Kids  was the theme for a special event held at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis and facilitated by YPII for the Spirit & Place Festival on Saturday, November 1.    

Young Hoosier Philanthropist: Brandilyn Muir
Earlier this year, Brandilyn Muir received a Gold Acorn Award from the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana.  Brandi was nominated by Youth Count, an organization working to help youth succeed in Floyd County.  Here's what they had to say about her community service:

Brandi is busy - not only with her schoolwork as a student at New Albany High School, but with the array of volunteer projects and responsibilities she assumes.  She is one of Youth Count's earliest volunteers, having helped plan the Youth Summit and Tailgate Party, and participated in the Community Celebration.  Currently, Brandi is helping to plan the 2009 Community Celebration and Workshops. 

In addition, Brandi is a founding member of S.U.R.F. (Students United Radically for Floyd County) Board, which offers safe and fun events for middle school and high school students.  She is president of the Junior Class Student Council and a member of Key Club, Be a Better Bulldog, Reading Rocks, Prom Committee and St. Stephens Baptist Church.  On top of all this, she also volunteers at her church and a local medical office.  She certainly models positive behavior and attitudes to other youth!

Increasing Civic Engagement through Video Games
Apparently, not all video game time is a waste.  According to Teens, Video Games, and Civics, 44 percent of youth play games that teach them about a problem in society, while 52 percent think about moral and ethical issues as a result of gaming.  Download the report (PDF, 725KB) to learn how modeling civic and political life in the virtual world can create more active citizens in our communities. 

IYI Annual Conference
IYI will celebrate its 20th birthday at this year's Kids Count in Indiana conference.  Youth workers, teachers and others who work with children and families are invited to attend.  The conference takes place December 2-3 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.  It will feature Coach Ken Carter and offer many workshops for those involved in philanthropy.  Sessions like Tomorrow's Leaders Today, How Generations Give Differently, Fundraising in Today's Economy and The Magic and Power of Philanthropy are just a few of the many top quality sessions being offered.  Learn more

Hoosier Heroes
Hoosier Heroes® is a program of Indiana Dollars for Scholars created to provide an opportunity for Indiana junior and senior high school students to identify Indiana citizens who have made significant contributions to society and who serve as role models and inspirational figures for youth.  Honorees and their nominators will receive cash prizes to benefit students and schools. The deadline for submission is January 31, 2009.  Learn more

Partner Network.  The Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana (YPII) is a network of over 40 organizations with the common goal of engaging youth in giving and serving. See a list of YPII's partners at www.ypin.org/partners.htm.