My earlier Grant Gazings have talked about the love of literature among our staff here at the Improve Group. This type of respect for the written word often begins at home when we are children. We see our parents’ example or we have an inspiring teacher that brings us the joy of reading. Sometimes it is the work of one special book or an exciting library storybook hour that helps grab our interest. This exposure to reading and literacy skills is essential to produce upcoming readers and writers, and in creating an educated society. The funders today want to encourage our youth to involve themselves in a quest to honor and expand literacy in our country.

This Week’s Pick: Youth Service America (YSA) in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts awards funds for student-lead projects through their Youth Leaders for Literacy initiative. This program started in 2001 to “encourage and celebrate literacy service of our nation's young people, and to provide them with resources to conduct reading-related activities that benefit others.”

Projects are evaluated by their ability to show leadership, provide youth involvement, show the ability to administer the grant and provide outcomes (an evaluation report is required from those who are selected). Twenty grants of $500 are awarded. Applicants 21 years of age or younger may apply and this year’s deadline is October 30, 2008. To get more information click here.

FYI: The NEA's Read Across America Day starts March 2, 2009 and concludes on Global Youth Service Day 2009 on April 24-26, 2009