The program's primary goal is to implement healthy eating and active living initiatives that support healthier communities for children and families across the United States. The program places special emphasis on reaching children who are at highest risk for obesity on the basis of race/ethnicity, income, and/or geographic location.

The annual Intel Schools of Distinction Awards recognize U.S. schools that implement innovative, replicable programs that inspire their students and lead to positive educational outcomes in the areas of math and science. In order to be considered as an Intel School of Distinction, schools must develop an environment and curricula that meet or exceed benchmarks, including national mathematics and science content standard.

Now in its third year, Heinz invites schools nationwide to help students make a big splash in the world of art by participating in the 2009 Heinz Ketchup Creativity Contest. This artistic, educational and rewarding program allows students to put their love of Ketchup and creativity to the test for a chance at having their art printed on nearly 19.5 million Heinz Ketchup packets. In addition, packing more excitement into every packet with activities that make learning about food/nutrition fun and exciting will reward winners with a cash prize for the creative achievement.

The American Association of University Women Community Action Grants provide seed money to individual women, AAUW branches, and AAUW state organizations, as well as local community-based nonprofit organizations for innovative programs or non-degree research projects that promote education and equity for women and girls. The program offers grants to fund innovative programs or non-degree research projects that promote education and equity for women and girls.

Groups of two to four K-12 students in partnership with a classroom teacher and a mentor are eligible to apply for the ExploraVision Awards. To participate, teams of students select a current technology and research to prepare an in-depth report exploring what the technology could be like in 20 years. Members of the four first-place teams will also win a trip to Washington, DC, to be honored.

This opportunity is for public and private nonprofits, including literary centers, libraries, museums, colleges and universities, art centers, historical societies, arts councils, tribal governments, humanities councils, literary festivals and arts organizations. Applicants that are not libraries must partner with one and chose one of the 27 available book titles or one of the three available poets.

AmeriCorps members work to improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Priorities in 2009 are mobilizing more volunteers, ensuring a brighter future for America's youth, engaging students in communities, harnessing baby boomers' experience, and helping communities recover from and prepare for disasters.

A new mini-grant is available from Youth Service America for service-learning projects addressing childhood obesity. These grants support teachers, service-learning coordinators and students in the health professions to implement service-learning projects around childhood obesity and engage children and youth ages 5 to 25 as volunteers. They encourage semester-long projects that launch in February, and celebrate Global Youth Service Day, April 24-26, 2009.

Music Matters Grants for 2009 will focus on educational reform in school music programs and independent nonprofit music programs. Music education — vocal or instrumental — must be the key component of any music program requesting funds. Schools and programs must already employ a music educator(s) and have an existing music program in place. Priority will be given to music education programs involving innovative educational reform, programs serving economically disadvantaged children, programs having established collaborative partnerships with parent-teacher-student associations and other community groups, and programs including the basic need of music instruments and educational materials.