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YOUTH -
defined as ages six to twenty-one, kindergarten through college.
Projects must focus on young people as the primary participants or beneficiaries. |
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Athletics |
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What We Believe |
Athletics
include a wide range of individual and team sports, with an emphasis
on the value of sports for lifelong participation. School-sponsored intramural and after school
sports programs have been greatly reduced, and middle-school aged
youth have been most affected. After school athletics can be the
incentive that gets kids involved in programs that also have
educational and cultural components. Demand is increasing for
athletics programs and facilities in rural areas and inner cities. More girls are getting involved in
sports, requiring additional programs and space. Coaches are key to a
positive experience for young people, and good coaching requires
training.
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What We Support |
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Sports programs, facilities and equipment, for both boys and
girls, where youth populations are underserved.
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After school and off-hours sports programs making better use of
existing facilities.
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Development of more and better coaches.
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Our Current focus |
Programs, facilities and equipment, for both boys and girls, which are:
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In rural areas
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Serving minority groups such as Native Americans, Latinos, and
other people of color
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Serving ages 8-15 with special emphasis in getting
younger children introduced to the value of sports for lifelong
participation.
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Culture |
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What We Believe |
Culture includes art, music, dance, literature, theater, ethnic and
regional heritage. Positive experiences in culture are essential in
educating the whole person and should be an integral part of the lives
of youth. Young people can use cultural experiences as creative
resources to build self-esteem, promote personal growth, and preserve
traditions. Arts and culture programs in the schools are being reduced
or eliminated, and many communities, both urban and rural, have
limited access to cultural resources.
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What We Support |
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Cultural
programs in underserved areas.
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Active participation of young people in music, art, dance,
literature.
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Projects that celebrate the heritage and cultural diversity of a
community.
Our Current Focus
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Projects where youth are interactively engaged in the production
of some art form or event.
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Programs where youth are producing cultural programs for others.
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Education |
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What We Believe |

All young people should have the opportunity to fulfill their
potential. Education happens best when youth direct their learning
and engage in compelling problem-solving and critical thinking.
Teachers need support to play a vital role in assisting youth to
investigate their passions and explore new interests. Rural schools
often have less access to resources and curricula than urban
schools. Both public and private schools need support.
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What We Support |
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Programs that require the active engagement of
students in learning that has significance and meaning through
students’ eyes.
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Innovative programs which can supplement and enhance
classroom learning and experience by engaging students in the world
outside the school.
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Developing and testing programs that can become models
for use in other schools.
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Efforts in rural school districts, small schools, and
public school districts doing innovative work.
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Programs that engage students in understanding and
applying workplace standards in meaningful ways and assessing the
quality of their own school work.
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Our Current focus |
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Student-directed or inquiry-based learning where
students have a clear role in designing and evaluating projects and
learning activities.
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Support for teachers to learn and apply new methods of
performance assessment and teaching models for student directed
learning.
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Programs that promote skills for critical thinking,
problem-solving and applied learning.
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Promotion of youth voices in the governance of
schools, classrooms, and the community.
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Programs that build a strong sense of community in a
school by developing mutual responsibility, accountability, and
loyalty among student, parents and staff.
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WILDLIFE
AND HABITAT PRESERVATION |
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What We Believe |
As
development pressures increase, the stewardship of vital ecosystems is
critical for protecting wildlife populations and habitat. The effort
must be based on solid conservation biology, recognizing the
complexity and interdependence of all life. Conservation of critical
habitat and species requires comprehensive strategies and
collaboration among partners working in the region, recognizing the
limitation of funds available. Stewardship is the shared
responsibility of empowered citizens, engaged scientists,
collaborating foundations, informed business and property owners, and
an accountable government. Wildlife and habitat must be preserved
through sound government policies and other conservation approaches
including acquisition and easements. The principle of
sustainability requires that environment, economics and equity are
considered together to protect the quality of life at every level.
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What We Support |
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Only those organizations whose missions are dedicated to preservation,
protection or perpetuation of wildlife and/or habitat.
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Projects that are part of an established or larger design addressing
ecosystem health.
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Our Current focus |
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Engage the public and stakeholders in projects that can
demonstrate measurable improvements in conservation of habitat and
wildlife.
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Energize grassroots action in projects to own and solve
protection challenges in critical watersheds and habitats.
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Projects that protect and preserve marine and estuarine
habitat.
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Projects that protect and preserve freshwater resources
that support wildlife and habitat.
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