Earlier this week, President Obama sent his Fiscal Year 2011 budget request to Congress, including proposed funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service and its programs. The Corporation's FY 2011 budget request of $1.4 billion will strengthen our nation's volunteer sector, foster innovation and civic engagement, and mobilize more than six million Americans to solve critical problems through national service. This is an increase of $266 million over last year, including a $216 million increase for AmeriCorps programs.

Pepsi is looking for people, businesses, and non-profits with ideas that will have a positive impact. Look around your community and think about how you want to change it. Pepsi is accepting 1000 ideas every month. Applications will be accepted from the 1st through the 15th, or until we receive 1,000 ideas, whichever comes first. The February application period has closed, but you can begin preparing to submit beginning March 1. www.refresheverything.com/myidea/idea

Mobilize.org has partnered with the Goldhirsh Foundation, MTV, the McCormick Foundation, and ServiceNation: Mission Serve to explore the unique issues facing our returning Millennial veteran population. Mobilize.org will hold a summit in Los Angeles on April 1 - 3, and bring together 100 returning Millennial veterans to use interactive keypad voting technology to debate, discuss and work collaboratively to propose veteran-led, veteran benefited projects in our communities and on our campuses.

Addison is a Girl Scout who does lots of volunteering and keeps busy with community service projects. Four year ago, as a Girl Scout, she rallied her troop to participate in a "One Warm Coat" coat drive - which she saw listed in a Girl Scout guide, of suggested community service projects. Early on it was clear that she would be a leader on this project, as she was excited to learn she could directly help the needy by connecting them with a warm coat - even one from her own closet.

Do you know a young leader between the ages of eight and 18 who is making a difference in his or her community or around the world? Now through February 26, Build-A-Bear Workshop is accepting entries for its seventh annual Huggable Heroes® program, which recognizes everyday young people who go to extraordinary lengths to make life better for others.

$500 prize for each category winner!

Could you use $100,000 to change the world? The Do Something Awards celebrate young people 25 and under who are tackling a problem and changing the world. Five nominees will be rewarded with a $10,000 community grant, participation in a live VH1 TV show, media coverage and continued support from DoSomething.org. The grand prize winner will receive $100,000 during the live broadcast! Application closes March 1st, 2010. Apply or nominate someone today at www.DoSomething.org/awards

Historically February is the toughest month for nonprofits to recruit volunteers and volunteer leaders. However, throughout the past year, Americans have answered President Obama’s call to service like never before and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) there was a significant increase in the number of volunteers and the volunteer rate in 2009.
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