Eligibility Criteria
This competition is open to youth, parents, teachers, service providers and the general public in the Pittsburgh region. We will consider all entries that:
- Meet at least one of the identified competition goals of Under 4ft Tall: Through the eyes of young children. We are challenging youth, parents, teachers, child services providers and the general public to think creatively to develop ideas that focus on raising awareness and creating opportunities for the voices and needs of young children to be heard in our community.
- Are innovative. We are looking for new ideas for projects that have not yet been launched or built in the Pittsburgh region. Projects that replicate projects or programs existing in locations outside of the Pittsburgh region may be considered but must have a Pittsburgh twist (something that makes it stand out amongst the existing programs and creates specific value in Pittsburgh).
- Identify a nonprofit organization partner to work with youth to develop the idea into a feasible project. Individuals interested in applying must identify an organization to work with and a staff member or community volunteer who will serve as a supervisor or mentor. If you need help finding a nonprofit organization, please see the resource list of local agencies and experts. The Pittsburgh Foundation can work with you to identify and connect to an appropriate partner. Nonprofit organizations serving youth are HIGHLY encouraged to work with their youth constituents to develop and enter projects.
- Are located in and will take place in the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Service Area: We are looking for participants that are located in Allegheny County or one of the six surrounding counties (Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Washington or Westmoreland).
- Complete the entry Form: Entries must be fully completed and submitted before the deadline of May 26, 2010 at 6 p.m. Individuals are encouraged to submit an entray as early as possible - this allows the community to comment on each entry and entrants can incorporate the feedback as they feel is necessary. Changes can be made to published entries at anytime prior to the deadline.
- Are submitted in English.
Goals
Participants are asked to design a project that meets at least one of the following goals:
- Builds upon the importance of "play" in the healthy development of young children through active and/or creative interaction;
- Creates opportunities for the "voices" of our youngest citizens to be heard and/or acted upon by our policymakers;
- Raises awareness of the impact of children's early life experiences on the economic development of the region by creatively engaging businesses and/or the general community in dialogue and action; or
- Celebrates young children and their remarkable abilities to learn and grow as expressed through new media and/or other unique means of storytelling
All projects must have an activity where young children are the focus of the project and where the project has the potential to impact positive early life experiences for all young citizens in our community.
Disclaimers
VOICES OF YOUTH Disclaimer—Compliance with Legal Regulations
Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations that are defined as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. In order to be eligible for a grant from the Community Endowment, nonprofit organizations must be located within Allegheny County or demonstrate that the population served resides in Allegheny County. The Pittsburgh Foundation does not award grants from Community Endowment funds to individuals, nor does the Foundation generally award grants for annual operating costs, sectarian purposes, private or parochial schools, individual public schools, individual hospitals, organizations addressing the needs relating to single diseases, endowment campaigns, capital costs, special events, conferences, scholarships, internships or awards.
