As a young girl I was crazy about Barbie Dolls. I still have them stashed in my parents’ attic. I gave my imagination quite a workout while playing with those toys. To me, Mattel was a very magic company and I owe it a lot of happy hours in my youth. It is no wonder Mattel has continued to make kids happy by providing grants to United States organizations that benefit children.

This week’s pick: Mattel (http://www.mattel.com) and the Mattel Children's Foundation have a domestic grant program that directly supports children. To be eligible, organizations must be a child-serving 501 © 3 non-profit impacting children in need. Main areas of concentration are:

• Learning
• Health
• Girl Empowerment

Applications for program and operating support will be considered. Awards range from $5,000 to $25,000 and the deadline for this grant is July 15, 2008. To see the criteria and application form visit the Mattel web site.