Annie E. Casey Foundation

In general, the grant-making of the Annie E. Casey Foundation is limited to initiatives that have significant potential to demonstrate innovative policy, service delivery, and community supports for children and families. Most grantees have been invited by the Foundation to participate in these projects.

The Foundation does not make grants to individuals, nor does it provide grants for capital projects, medical research, direct services (with the exception of Baltimore City) or work outside the United States. Much of its current funding is targeted to our Making Connections Initiative and its 22 sites. The Foundation annually declines a very high percentage of otherwise worthy proposals that do not meet these guidelines.

Organizations wishing to send a proposal to the Foundation should submit a letter of no more than three typewritten pages describing the organization, its programs, the amount of funds requested, and a brief explanation of how the proposed work fits within the mission of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. There are no submission deadlines. Please do not send video tapes, computer disks, binders, or other bulky materials. Foundation staff members will review the material and reply in writing after approximately 30 days.

Please take a moment to visit the AEC Foundation website to determine if this is a grant opportunity that your chapter would like to apply for in conjunction with BETF. We operate on a first-come; first-served basis. Please respond as soon as you've had a chance to review the AEC Foundation website.

Grant Proposal: Walgreens Foundation (Baltimore)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) and BDPA Baltimore chapter submitted a $5,000 grant proposal to Walgreens Foundation. The funding is needed to support the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in Baltimore.

Our online grant application will be reviewed by the Walgreens Chartiable Giving team. We expect to receive a response within six to eight weeks.

Do you know anyone that works at Walgreens?

Grant Recipient: BDPA Baltimore ($500)

The BDPA Foundation approved $ 500 grant funding to BDPA Baltimore chapter. The funds are allocated so that the chapter can provide snacks and refreshments for the students and volunteers involved in the weekend Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) training program.

BETF provided full funding for this SITES funding request sent by the BDPA Baltimore chapter president Michael Tyson and chapter VP-Finance Gina Smith.

Our hope is that YOU and other cyberspace supporters will consider making a tax-deductible donation to the BDPA Foundation so that we might continue to fund these programs in the future. We need your financial assistance in this tough economic year in order to advance the careers of African Americans in the IT industry from the 'classroom to the boardroom'.

What are you waiting for? Please make a small donation right now!

JPMorgan Chase Employee Giving Campaign

The JPMorgan Chase Foundation informed us that employees of JPMorgan Chase (JPMC) have selected BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) as one of the organizations to which they have elected to make a one-time or recurring donation through the 2009 Good Words Employee Giving Campaign. The campaign is conducted annually to by JPMC to allow its employees to support the charities of their choice through one-time or reoccuring charitable donations. Employees can direct their funds to any nonprofit organization.

Payout of the funds to BETF is scheduled to begin in early 2010.

We are excited to see that more BDPA members or supporters are working with their employer to establish donations via payroll deductions. We need this support to continue funding scholarships and youth education programs for K-12 students around the nation.

There are alot of JPMC employees who support BDPA. Are any of 'em in your chapter? If so, make sure that they read this blog post!

Letter of Inquiry * Amgen Foundation

BDPA Los Angeles chapter partnered with BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) to submit a letter of inquiry to Amgen Foundation. We asked for permission to submit a full-blown grant proposal in support of the LA chapter's Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program.

The Amgen Foundation seeks to advance science education, improve quality of care and access for patients, and support resources that create sound communities where Amgen staff members live and work. The Amgen Foundation carefully considers each grant application it receives, seeking out diverse organizations whose philosophies, objectives and approaches align with the Foundation goals and mission.

Grant Proposal: Yahoo Employee Foundation (New York)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) joined with BDPA New York chapter to submit a grant proposal to the Yahoo Employee Foundation. We were blessed to have Eric Hamilton as our employee champion within Yahoo.

The funding is needed for the BDPA student programs in New York.

We will keep you informed on the response to our grant proposal. In the meantime, please let us know if you have any other fundraising ideas to share with us!

Message from New York Chapter President

Dear BDPA Family and Friends,

One national mandate for BDPA chapters is to ensure that we participate in Black Family Technology Awareness Week (BFTAW). Thanks to our sponsors, National Grid, our chapter “showed up and showed out” to deliver to our community an outstanding 2010 BFTAW program.

Leading up to BFTAW, on February 4th, BDPA member and Yahoo! Engagement Manager, Eric Hamilton, joined us to deliver an outstanding presentation titled "Social Media Branding in the Age of Obama". The technology students of Winthrop Beacon and Bildersee Community Centers, located in Brooklyn, NY, loved his presentation. BDPA-NY thanked the students for participating by raffling his new book of the same name, “Social Media Branding in the Age of Obama”. Also a new member joined that evening - Welcome Aboard Ike Jurawan.

For our February 13th BFTAW Program, our Master of Ceremony was BDPA-NY’s Alain Leroy. He opened the program by sharing his experience of going from the classroom, as a former participant of HSCC in 1989, to the boardroom, as a current employee of WellPoint, a position he obtained through attending the 2009 National BDPA Conference Career Expo.

Highlights of the 2010 BFTAW program were:

• Presentation by our sponsor, National Grid, on their Products and Services, presented by National Grid employee and former BDPA National President Renee McClure.
• Presentation by BDPA member, Roxanne Clinton on "Netsmartz: Internet Safety for Our Youth". The purpose of this workshop was to increase children's safety awareness and self-confidence whenever they go online, enhance their ability to recognize dangers on the Internet and increase communication between adults and children about online safety.
• Panel Discussion on "Cost Effective Solutions for Business Owners", with panelists Eric Hamilton, Founder, The Web Academy, Maisha Walker, President, Message Medium, and Eula M. Young-Guest, COO, Griot's Roll Film Production & Services Inc. and expert in On-line Marketing, Video Consultant & Public Relations Social Media expert. The discussion allowed business owners the opportunity to share with National Grid and the community how they use technology to build and support their businesses.
• Lieutenant Commander Daniel Ortiz of the United States Navy shared with our audience more about US Naval ROTC scholarship programs as well as the discussed the exciting engineering and technology careers that the U.S. Navy offers.

Another highlight was the BDPA-NY Youth Technology Showcase. The goal of this presentation was to introduce to our community some of the exciting science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) projects that our youth participate in. We started this part of the program by introducing teams who are participating in the US FIRST 2010 Competition. The students of Eagle Foundation Academy are high school students who participate in the FIRST Robotics Competition by building a robot of their own design. The Girl Scouts of Westbury/New Cassel are middle school students, who participate in the FIRST Lego League, by designing, building and programming robots using LEGO MINDSTORMS® technology. Both teams are currently preparing for the upcoming FIRST competition and we were fortunate to have them for stop by and share their robot experiences.

BDPA SITES students presented their experience with BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) and IT Showcase. New York SITES students shared their experience of earning Bemley Scholarships with their 5th place performance at the 2009 National HSCC championships held in Raleigh NC. They also shared their experience attending the Teragrid Computing Conference. Also one student shared and described his experience being a student intern at UBS at their Stamford, CT location.

Finally, there was a technical presentation given by the 2009 BDPA IT Showcase winners from BDPA Northern Delaware. This dynamite team demonstrated their research and theories on advanced computing topics. Audiences were floored by presentations on topics such as Microprocessor meets Athletics Performance; Global Warming Impacts and Solutions (Saving the Polar Bear through Technology); and Buildings Wobble But They Don’t Fall Down (Skyscaper Swaying)

The day was phenomenal and I have to give a special acknowledgement and BDPA hug to:

• Community Leaders: - Ramon Ray, Technology Evangelist and author of "Technology Solutions for Growing Businesses”; William Diaz and Jim Harrison of Eagle Foundation Academy; and the Disney “Give a Day, Get a Day” Volunteers, who gave their time and talent to assist with the program
• BDPA Leaders: - National Grid Corporate Champion and former BDPA National President, Renee McClure Mills; Karen Smith, BDPA Northern Delaware President, who drove her SITES students after a snowstorm that crippled much of the East Coast; Eric Hamilton, who doesn’t hesitate to volunteer as a speaker and presenter; Roxanne Clinton - many, many thanks for stepping in to present on Netsmartz workshop; Councilman Coram Rimes, BDPA New Jersey President -- When I shared with him a story about one of our HSCC students, who couldn’t afford a computer at home and was saving his money to buy one for college in the fall, Councilman Rimes stopped by and delivered a brand new laptop for the student; BFTAW Chairpersons, Damon Holmes and Cheryl Nedwell, for organizing this year’s event; and the BDPA New York Executive Board for ensuring that the program was a success.

Thank you all once again. Please visit us on Facebook or Fotki to see pictures of our events. Also please come out to network with BDPA members and other IT Professionals at our upcoming Meet-N-Greet at B. Smith’s Restaurant on February 24.

If you are interested in learning about how you can volunteer or sponsor an event in the future, please send an email or call (212) 802-5341 or visit our website.

With BDPA Love,
Judaea Yarde Lane, President
BDPA New York
“Taking BDPA to the STEM Level”
phone: (212) 802-5341

Koret Foundation

An entrepreneurial spirit guides the Koret Foundation in addressing societal challenges and strengthening Bay Area life. Investing in strategic, local solutions, they help to inspire a multiplier effect – encouraging collaborative funding and developing model initiatives. In the San Francisco Bay Area, Koret adds to the region’s vitality by promoting educational opportunity, contributing to a diverse cultural landscape, and bolstering organizations that are innovative in their approaches to meeting community needs.

Combining policy analysis with a grantmaking program that supports reform measures with the greatest potential to stimulate improvement in the K–12 public school system, Koret works to effectively enhance educational quality.

Koret welcomes grant proposals by invitation and by application.

By Invitation: Their program staff proactively surveys nonprofit organizations engaged in innovative, exemplary work in areas of interest to Koret, and invites those with compelling projects to submit grant applications. In addition to allowing them to partner with organizations that are addressing societal challenges and strengthening Bay Area life, this process helps them to leverage their funds, creating collaborative partnerships and planning for dissemination of replicable models.

By Letter of Inquiry: Just as they value long-term partnership as a pathway to making the greatest impact, they understand that their eyes and ears cannot see and hear the breadth of creative activity underway in the diverse Bay Area’s nonprofit sector. For that reason, Koret Foundation welcomes letters of inquiry within their program interests. They invite interested applicants to review those program areas and complete a letter of inquiry in order to initiate a dialogue with their staff.

Related articles

• Koret Foundation taps Tina Frank as COO

Grant Proposal: SunTrust Bank Foundation (Atlanta)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) and BDPA Atlanta chapter submitted a grant proposal to the SunTrust Bank Atlanta Foundation.

SunTrust Bank Atlanta Foundation is funded entirely by contributions from the earnings of SunTrust Bank Atlanta, formerly known as Trust Company Bank of Georgia. The Foundation makes grants to non-profit organizations in Metropolitan Atlanta.

The geographic focus of this fund is Metropolitan Atlanta ONLY. Community benefit and return on investment are primary considerations in distribution decisions.

The Trustees will consider requests for grants for capital improvements such as buildings, furniture and equipment, and alterations to existing structures. Applications will be considered for special projects of a community nature, special studies, surveys, research and pilot programs which do not commit the funds to recurring expenditures.

Grants from the Foundation are made by the Distribution Committee to non-profit Metropolitan Atlanta organizations that have legitimate needs and a worthwhile purpose. This fund will not consider requests for general operating support such as salaries, maintenance, and debt service, and requests by political organizations, churches or individuals. Usually grants will only be made to organizations with records of successful operation without a deficit for at least a year.

Other Committee considerations include:

• Emphasis on Metropolitan Atlanta
  
• Organization/community coordination and support
  
• Timeliness and precedence
  
• Organization management and governance
  
• Grant multiplier effect
  
• Human value and self-help emphasis
  
• Ultimate benefit to the community
  
• Financial management
  
• Implementation of a Strategic Plan

All proposals submitted to the SunTrust Bank Atlanta Foundation are automatically considered for funding from the English, Marshall, Woolford, Rich, Elkin, and Greene-Sawtell Funds. Only one application form is needed to apply to all seven funds.

Grant Requests and Inquiries should be mailed to:

Mr. Raymond B. King, Senior Vice President
Community and Government Affairs
SunTrust Bank, Atlanta
P.O. Box 4418, Mail Code 041
Atlanta, GA 30302

For telephone inquiries, please call Ms. Kay Miller at (404) 588-8250.

BETF Provides Scholarships

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) provides scholarships to high school students that made the excellent choice to participate in BDPA training initiatives. BETF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that exists solely to support the 21st century student education and technology initiatives of 45 BDPA local chapters across the United States.

“I built websites for my school and became a Graphic User Interface Programmer for the High School Computer Competition team, discovering the vast creative perspectives in the field of IT on a nationwide competitive level.” -- Darius Gaines (Detroit, 2006) Darius won a Bemley Scholarship in 2006 that he used at Lawrence Technological University

“I received a scholarship award from Bank of America that has greatly benefited me in my college career. The most memorable thing from my years participating with HSCC is all of the friends that I have made. I have met so many unforgettable people not only from Richmond, but from across the country.” -- Karole Johnson (Richmond, 2006) Karole won a Bank of America Scholarship for BDPA Students in 2006 that she used at High Point University

“I cannot put into words how much I grew as an IT professional, but just as a person interacting with an organization that had a family feel to it. There are so many positives about being on a HSCC team, I do not even know where to begin. You learn team-building skills, working with a deadline, presentation skills, leadership development, research/creative skills, networking skills… the list is almost endless." -– Evan Hilliard (Charlotte, 2000-2001) Evan is an example of 'classroom to boardroom' cycle. He is now an IT professional returning to BDPA Charlotte as the chapter's 2010 HSCC co-coordinator

“They taught me that companies are looking for leaders and you have to be able to go out there and present yourself. Thanks to HSCC, I am now more sociable and outgoing than I ever thought I would be. I have been practicing my networking skills with the faculty around the school as a senior this year, and I can honestly testify to you that opportunities definitely comes to those who seek!” -- Monique Jones (Charlotte, 2008) - Monique challenged us to provide scholarships to more students in the future

BETF has given out more than $170,000 in scholarships in our brief history. Our students are achieving their dreams and developing the necessary skills to compete in the global workplace of tomorrow.

However, none of this is possible without the support of individuals, corporate foundations or other nonprofit foundations that want to see these young people succeed. We've been blessed in the past to work with Bank of America, Eli Lilly and Ernst & Young to provide scholarships to our young people. Who is going to step up in 2010 to provide scholarship funding?

Tax deductible, BETF donations can be done online, thru company matching programs and thru payroll deductions at your place of employment.

Please call BETF on (513) 284-4968 if you would like to support our scholarship programs in 2010 or beyond.

Grant Proposal: C3 Conferencing (BETF)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) applied for a $5,000 Enhanced Communications Grant ($2,500 cash & $2,500 in-kind donation) from C3 Conferencing.

Soulclap to Deborah Elizabeth Finn and Judaea Lane for pointing us to this grant opportunity.

C3 will provide a $2500 gift card for discounted audio, video and web conferencing services to the grant recipient to be used within a one-year period. C3 will provide complimentary training as needed. BETF plans to use the services to support collaboration on a geographic (45 chapters) and generational (20 years of HSCC alumni) basis.

C3 will also provide $2500 cash grant to be used for the purposes of enhancing communication. C3 is looking to hear examples of how an organization can increase internal communication, communication between donors, clients and communities or effective communication strategies in times of crisis or other large scale campaigns.

C3 has elected to have all grant submissions reviewed by third-parties; a team of nonprofit professionals, foundation professionals and individual community members. This team will determine (at their sole discretion) the recipient of the grant & donation.

The grant selection announcement is scheduled for March 1, 2010.

Letter of Inquiry * Starbucks Foundation

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) submitted an online letter of inquiry to the Starbucks Foundation. The Starbucks Foundation will contact us if they want us to request a full grant proposal for our nationwide Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program.

The Starbucks Foundation solicits applications from organizations that provide young people a continuum of services in developing creative approaches to address pressing concerns in their communities.

Successful grant applicants will exhibit all of the following qualities:

1. Deliver services to youth, ages 6 - 24; Preference will be given to organizations that focus on young people in the age range of 12 and older, when they are able to take independent action


2. Provides opportunity to combine learning with action that support communities and further global citizenship


3. Deliver services, disseminate information, provide training or build broad networks


4. Provide opportunities for Starbucks partners and multiple stores to be engaged in community service.

The Starbucks Foundation reviews the submissions on an annual basis; letters of inquiry submitted between October 1, 2009 and January 30, 2010 will be reviewed and considered for the spring 2010 grant round. Organizations selected to advance in the process will be notified to complete a full application by February 15, 2010.

We will keep you informed of our progress.

In the meantime, we would be very interested to hear from you about other funding sources that might help us deliver the SITES program on a local or national level. Any ideas?

2010 Science and Engineering Indicators Report

The National Science Board released its Science and Engineering Indicators 2010 report.

According to the report, produced every two years, the state of U.S. science and engineering is still strong, but our nation’s global primacy in science and engineering has significantly dropped in recent years, largely because of rapidly increasing capabilities among East Asian nations, particularly China.

The detailed report also presents information about elementary and secondary science and math education, the science and engineering labor force, and public attitudes and understanding about science and technology, among other things.

Any thoughts on how the findings in this report should influence the direction of BDPA programs and services over the coming year?

Take Five: Donald X Campbell (Philadelphia)

Earl Pace and David Wimberly are the co-founders of National BDPA. DX later served as BDPA Philadelphia chapter president and National BDPA chief information officer. He is a brother that takes care of business in Corporate America as well as in his volunteer passions.

I was very pleased when he agreed to participate in our Take Five interview series. DX is the first person to provide a video response. I hope you enjoy the insights from DX:




What insights did you gain from Donald's interview?

Grant Proposal: Gannett Foundation (Middle Tennessee)

BDPA Middle Tennessee agreed to partner with BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) on a grant proposal to Gannett Foundation. Our grant proposal was sent to publisher of The Tennessean.

The Gannett Foundation is a corporate foundation that gives grants to organizations in the communities in which Gannett owns a daily newspaper or television station.

The Gannett Foundation's mission is to invest in the future of the communities in which Gannett does business, and in the future of our industry. They value projects that take a creative approach to fundamental issues such as education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation and cultural enrichment.

Our grant proposal focused on the 2010 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program being held in Nashville. Wish us luck!

Young Professionals Get Involved in Philanthropy

By Bess Langbein. Bess Langbein is the executive director of the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County. She can be reached at bess@cfaac.org

Young professionals do actually meet face-to-face, not just on Facebook. Now that isn't to say we don't use Facebook - we do. We know it is a tool we can use to build our network as well as find opportunities to get involved in our community and connect with like-minded peers. And, okay, I will admit, we also use it to post pictures of ourselves looking spiffy at weddings.

Many young professionals are seeking an opportunity to learn more about the community in which they live and to give back in a fun, meaningful and productive way. They can connect with causes and charitable efforts through Facebook, but the real work is done offline.

"I think it is important to educate ourselves and our peers on the issues in our community, learn more about philanthropy and get involved," said Hall Chaney, project manager at Chaney Enterprises and a founding member of Next Gen of Anne Arundel County, a new giving circle comprised of young professionals hosted by the Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County. Recently, Next Gen hosted a kick-off event at The Grandview, located at the Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole. All of the advertising for the event took place on Facebook, and more than 70 people attended to learn more and join the giving circle.

Read the rest of the article here.

Association of Small Foundations

The Association of Small Foundations (ASF) is a membership organization of more than 3,000 foundations with few or no staff. They provide their members with peer learning opportunities, targeted resources, and a collective voice in and beyond the philanthropic community.

These 3,000 foundations are located all over the nation.

• Alabama - Florida


• Georgia - Montana


• Nebraska - South Dakota


• Tennessee - Wyoming

Check it out to see the ones located in your state who might be potential funding sources for your chapter!

Take Five: Harvetta Kashka (Los Angeles)

Harvetta Kashka is a long-time BDPA member. She was a key volunteer on a number of national conference teams as well as a part of the original financial team for the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF). She has spent the past few months helping create the SITES Endowment Fund within BETF.

She agreed to participate in our Take Five interview series:

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1. How did you get involved in working with BDPA? - A BDPA Los Angeles meeting announcement was placed on the company bulletin board; since I was looking to do volunteer work, I went to the meeting. I worked in downtown Los Angeles, and the meeting was held at one of the downtown businesses. The memorable thing about my first meeting was the number of people in attendance, especially Blacks in IT. Historically, I had found myself to be the only Black IT person attending many IT training classes and conferences.
   
   I felt that I could contribute to the organization, so I joined the LA Chapter in 1983. I went on to be the LA Chapter Treasurer in the 1983 election (since I had a BS degree in Accounting); and I helped the chapter with the National BDPA Conference held in LA in 1984. You might say, the rest is history as I later served as National BDPA Finance Chair, National BDPA Conference Finance Chair, and was on the BDPA Team that formed the BETF, and served for a number of years as the BETF Treasurer.


2. What is the most rewarding aspect of working with BDPA? - Since I was a project manager when I joined BDPA-LA, I was able to be a resource to others looking for IT jobs. It was very rewarding to reach out and help other Blacks in IT. In BDPA, I really learned the true meaning of networking. Over the years, I have made friends from coast-to-coast and border-to-border. Some of my closest and life-long friends, I met through BDPA. Being a member of the financial BDPA team, it was especially rewarding to be able to acquire funding for the high school computer competition (HSCC) teams. Words can not express how rewarding it is to see all the youth that attend the National BDPA HSCC championships each year.


3. Tell us about a defining moment in your life? - During the 20+ years I was an active member of BDPA, it is difficult to find a single defining moment. However, I have developed friendships with people in BDPA that have been with me through thick and thin.


4. Who is your hero and why? - I have 2 heroes in BDPA, Earl Pace and Gerri McClamy. I’m just in awe, when I think of the vision Earl had to create an organization like BDPA during a time when Blacks in IT were few and far between. Earl is a gentle giant, and has always offered his professional expertise to BDPA Chapters, National office, and the BETF.
   
   Many in BDPA are not aware of the contributions Gerri made to the National BDPA Conference. As a member of her conference team for 5 years, Gerri introduced BDPA to national companies that had previously shunned the organization, and obtained their support.


5. Any advice for people considering donation to BETF? - With the advent of H1-B visas and international outsourcing, Blacks in IT lost a lot of ground in corporate IT shops. BDPA and BETF have been instrumental in keeping our plight in front of the lawmakers and corporations. During these hard economic times, it is very important to help fund the programs that support Blacks in IT. Since BETF is the 501(c)3 charitable arm of BDPA, it makes good business sense to donate to BETF, by whatever means possible. For the baby boom generation who are nearing retirement, think about leaving a charitable donation to BETF in your “will”.

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Harvetta's interview reminded me of some of the great times in BDPA. I hope you enjoyed her interview just as much as I did!

2006 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Rankings

The National BDPA HSCC championships were held in Los Angeles CA in 2006. The west coast venue proved to be too costly for some teams to attend. As a result, the level of participation dipped down to 19 teams. Nevertheless, the battle for supremacy amongst the high school students was intense.

The HSCC team trained by BDPA Southern Minnesota tried valiantly to defend the national championship won the year before. However, this was the year for the HSCC team trained by BDPA Chicago chapter to finally break through for the gold medal. It was a remarkable effort by four truly remarkable young people (Joseph Huggins, Lee Reed, Andreaus Robinson and Maurice Shelton), their coach (Gibran Adejele) and chapter president (Yvette Graham).

Here are the rankings for all 19 teams that competed in 2006 national HSCC championships with the scholarship winnings for each student in parenthesis:

1. Chicago ($2500 Bemley Scholarship)
   
2. Southern Minnesota ($1500 Bemley Scholarship)
   
3. Washington DC ($500 Bemley Scholarship)
   
4. Chattanooga
   
5. Central Illinois
   
6. Richmond
   
7. Austin
   
8. Hartford
   
9. Cincinnati
   
10. Los Angeles
    
11. Charlotte
    
12. Philadelphia
    
13. Detroit
    
14. Twin Cities
    
15. Dayton
    
16. Dallas
    
17. St. Louis
    
18. Atlanta
    
19. Rhode Island

This was the only year since 2002 where we didn't have HSCC teams trained by Cleveland or New Jersey chapters in the competition.

Our foundation seeks to increase the number of students that receive Bemley Scholarships in 2009 and beyond. To do so, we need your help. Please consider making an online donation to help us interest young people in science and technology.

Anyhow, were any of you at the 2006 National BDPA Technology Conference held in Los Angeles, CA? Do you remember the HSCC championships? Do you remember any of the workshops or speakers from that year's conference?

National Conference on Science Education—Philadelphia 2010

I encourage BETF-Blog readers to check out what’s in store for science education next year, teachers and administrators can count on unmatched face-to-face professional development through NSTA’s annual event. The conference scheduled for March 18-21 in historic Philadelphia, program strands include:

• Meeting the Unique Needs of Urban and Rural Science Learners
  
• Connecting Content: Between, Within, and Among Subjects
  
• Closing the Digital Generation Gap Between Teachers and Students
  
• Rekindling the Fires of Science Teaching and Learning

The kickoff begins on Wednesday, March 17, with ten content-driven, in-depth institutes (PDIs) and their follow-on pathway sessions along with a research dissemination conference called Keeping Elementary Primary: Current Research and Best Practices for Quality Instruction.

Attendees can find symposia with follow-on web seminars and intensive short courses meant to build content knowledge in a wide range of topics critical to teachers in all science disciplines. Nearly 2,000 concurrent sessions are available for every grade band and for the newest preservice teacher to the career professional who writes curriculum or policy. Add to that, the NSTA conference offers terrific field trips, networking with peers and pros, and speakers like Bill Nye the Science Guy and Greg Marshall, a scientist, inventor, and filmmaker, who developed the Crittercam.

Find BDPA Volunteers in HandsOn Network

Krystal Cooper was on the 1991-1992 high school computer competition (HSCC) teams trained by BDPA Los Angeles. It turns out that she graduated from the same college (University of California, Riverside) as the BETF executive director. Cooper is currently an arts patron and visual effects professional who enjoys pop culture, advocacy and community service.

Anyhow, she contacted BDPA about Disney for a Day program created to inspire one million people to volunteer and celebrate volunteerism with a free ticket to a Disney theme park.

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) ended up participating in this program through the HandsOn Network. HandsOn Network provides a remarkable process for any BDPA chapter to identify volunteers.

BDPA Orlando was the first chapter to take advantage of this program. Chapter president Pablo More wrote,

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BDPA Orlando signed up thru the BDPA Foundation to participate in the Hands on Network Give-A-Day-Get-A-Disney-Day program. This program has been very successful for us in getting volunteers for various program meetings as well as for next month's Black Family Tech Awareness Week activities. We have received more than a dozen responses from potential volunteers in the first 2 weeks of the year. I would like to thank John Malonson, BDPA Los Angeles chapter President, for making us aware of this program, as well as Wayne Hicks (BDPA Foundation) for coordinating this fantastic program!

I encourage other chapters whom are in need of volunteers to take a look at this program and also search out other similar programs in your area that can be utilize like this for volunteers. I believe that we will see this model replay itself with other non-profit organizations and private enterprise giving the economic climate and the call for more community action and volunteering to help our neighbors and those less fortunate.

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So far we have three chapters -- Los Angeles, New York and Orlando -- participating in this program. Who's next?

Goldman Sachs Foundation

The Goldman Sachs Foundation was funded in 1999 with a $200 million donation from The Goldman Sachs Group. The Foundation’s mission is to promote excellence and innovation in education worldwide. The Foundation is an important extension of the tradition of philanthropy and public leadership at Goldman Sachs.

The company is considering new charity rules to soften criticism over the size of its bonuses, which are expected to be among the largest on Wall Street, bringing average pay to about $595,000 for each employee — with far higher amounts for top performers.

Grants have been awarded in excess of $114 million since its inception, providing opportunities for young people in more than 20 countries.

Their Program Interests - Funding priorities are determined by a periodic assessment of needs and opportunities in the field of education. Current priorities are:

• To develop the abilities of promising high potential youth worldwide
• To support high quality education for young people in leadership, entrepreneurship and business education
• To enhance academic performance and prospects for life achievement of students at the secondary school level

Candidates for Funding - The Foundation makes only a small number of large grants to effective, high quality organizations that:

• Implement achievement oriented education programs
• Produce substantial, measurable results
• Possess a well delineated plan for broad dissemination and outreach
• Demonstrate exceptional promise
• Employ strong leadership
• Command distinguished records of accomplishment
• Evidence a clear capacity to expend sizable grants wisely

The Foundation is able to respond favorably to an extremely small fraction of the requests that it receives. Rarely will a grant be made in response to an unsolicited proposal.

Letter of Inquiry - Prospective applicants are invited to explain their ideas informally by submitting to the Foundation a short letter (of about two pages) describing the program or organization for which a grant is sought, its mission, accomplishments, budget size and current funding needs. Documentation of results achieved to date is highly desirable. Submission of published program descriptions or brochures also is encouraged. On the basis of this information, staff will determine whether additional materials are required and contact prospective grantees accordingly.

Deadlines - With few exceptions, there are no fixed deadlines. The Foundation makes grants throughout the year.

Grant Inquiries Should be Directed to:

The Goldman Sachs Foundation
85 Broad Street, 22nd floor
New York, NY 10004

Matching Gift: Prudential Foundation

Each year, The Prudential Foundation invests over $25 million in grants in efforts that support the revitalization of communities and support Prudential employees' community engagement efforts.

Coram Rimes is a Prudential employee who made a generous donation to the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) last year. He took the next step of applying for the 180% matching gift from the Prudential Foundation. BETF recently deposited a $225 check from Prudential Foundation into our Jesse Bemley Scholarship Fund on behalf of Coram.

I hope that other Prudential employees that are supporters of BDPA will make this same move in 2010. In fact, I hope that all BDPA supporters working in Corporate America will take a moment to find out whether or not their employer has a matching gifts program. If so, please let us know!

Top Rated Charities by City

GreatNonprofits published the first-ever "top charities" lists based on user ratings and reviews. BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) was very interested in the top-rated charities focused on support of youth programs.

GreatNonprofits also identified the highest-rated charities in 13 cities:

Top Nonprofits by City:

1. Boston
2. Chicago
3. Los Angeles
4. Twin Cities
5. New York
6. Bay Area
7. Philadelphia
8. Pittsburgh
9. San Diego
10. San Francisco
11. San Jose
12. Seattle
13. Washington, D.C.

Do you see any corporate foundations or nonprofit foundations on the youth or geographic lists that may find synergy with our Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program?

Do Any of the Outstanding Science, Math, Engineering Teachers or Mentors Support BDPA?

Did you see where President Barack Obama named more than 100 science, math, and engineering teachers and mentors as recipients of two prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence? I wonder if any of these educators are aware of the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program implemented by BDPA in 45 cities around the nation?

Anyhow, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, awarded each year to individuals or organizations, recognizes the crucial role that mentoring plays in the academic and personal development of students studying science or engineering and who belong to minorities that are underrepresented in those fields. By offering their time, encouragement and expertise to these students, mentors help ensure that the next generation of scientists and engineers will better reflect the diversity of the United States.

Candidates for the Presidential Mentoring Award are nominated by colleagues, administrators, and students from their home institutions. The mentoring can involve students at any grade level from elementary through graduate school. In addition to being honored at the White House, recipients receive awards of $10,000 to advance their mentoring efforts.

The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to the best pre-college-level science and math teachers from across the country. The winners are selected by a panel of distinguished scientists, mathematicians, and educators following an initial selection process done at the state level. Each year the award alternates, going either to science and math teachers in grades K through 6 (as it did in 2009) or to those teaching in grades 7 through 12.

"There is no higher calling than furthering the educational advancement of our nation’s young people and encouraging and inspiring our next generation of leaders," President Obama said. "These awards represent a heartfelt salute of appreciation to a remarkable group of individuals who have devoted their lives and careers to helping others and in doing so have helped us all."

The individuals and organizations receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring in 2009 are:

• Frank T. Bayliss Jr., San Francisco State University, CA
• Laura Lynne J. Bottomley, North Carolina State University, NC
• Goldie S. Byrd, North Carolina A&T State University, NC
• Suzzette F. Chopin, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, TX
• Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, University of Central Florida , FL
• Patricia A. DeLeon, University of Delaware, DE
• Nancy L. Elwess, SUNY College, Plattsburgh, NY
• Benjamin C. Flores, University of Texas, El Paso, TX
• Susan M. Kauzlarich, University of California, Davis, CA
• Philip Kutzko, University of Iowa, IA
• Cato T. Laurencin, University of Virginia, VA
• Jerzy R. Leszczynski, Jackson State University, MS
• Mary Anne Nelson, University of New Mexico, NM
• Steven B. Oppenheimer, California State University, Northridge, CA
• Stacy Phelps, Chief Executive Officer, The American Indian Institute for Innovation, SD
• Ashanti Johnson, University of South Florida and Institute for Broadening Participation, FL
• Kennedy J. Reed, Lawrence Livermore Natl. Lab. and the University of California, CA
• Kenneth S. Sajwan, Savannah State University, GA
• Richard N. Zare, Stanford University, CA
• Leadership Alliance, Providence, RI
• Maria Mitchell Association, Nantucket, MA
• Project Exploration, Chicago, IL

The individuals receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2009 are:

• Vickie Ahlstrom, Lehi, UT
• Charles Bertsch, Polson, MT
• Mary Black, Dubuque, IA
• Georgia Boatman, Kennewick, WA
• Michele Brees, SeaTac, WA
• Stacie Broden, Southbury, CT
• James Brown, Albany, NY
• Sharon Brown, Middle River, MD
• Jane Callery, East Hartford, CT
• Susan Carter, University City, MO
• Cary Cermak-Rudolf, Roseburg, OR
• Melissa Collins, Memphis, TN
• Kathleen Conroy, Charlotte, NC
• Zan Coonce, Reno, NV
• Jo Anne Deshon, Newark, DE
• Jeri Doane, Edmond, OK
• Kari Dombrovski, Saint Cloud, MN
• Keri Dowdy, Mayfield, KY
• Christa Duthie-Fox, Charlotte, VT
• Candy Ellard, Austin, TX
• Amy Ellis, Starkville, MS
• Gay Lynn Erb, Caldwell, ID
• Kathryn Eyolfson, Aurora, CO
• Diana Fesmire, Alamogordo, NM
• Erin Flynn, Roslindale, MA
• Karen Fredricks, Newark, DE
• Christi Fricks, Anderson, SC
• Sharon Hall, Maineville, OH
• Lana Hansen, Centennial, CO
• Angela Hansen Cook, Fargo, ND
• Michelle Harris, Anita, IA
• Sherry Helus, Wamego, KS
• Kathleen Hill, Whitefish, MT
• Rebecca Holden, Chattanooga, TN
• Laura Ann Hulsebus, Eagle River, AK
• David Ireland, Rapid City, SD
• Dana Islas, Tucson, AZ
• Haley James, Toney, AL
• Kristen Jarboe, Frankfort, KY
• Linda Kehr, Klamath Falls, OR
• Sandra Kelish, Fredericksburg, VA
• Barbara Kelley, Grapevine, TX
• Rebecca Kitts, Pierre, SD
• Amy Knerr, Carmel, IN
• Susan Kunze, Bishop, CA
• Anne Magaha, Rydal, PA
• Mildred Marin-Torres, Yauco, PR
• Loreen McMains, Omaha, NE
• Mary Beth Meggett, Charleston, SC
• Teresa Minogue, Canterbury, NH
• Patricia Morgan, Norman, OK
• Kimberly Mueller, Lumberton, NJ
• Susan Naylor, Parkersburg, WV
• Karen Nesbit, Franklin, WI
• Cathleen Newton, White River Junction, VT
• Jennifer Norford, Charlotte Amalie, VI
• Monica Norwood, Little Rock, AR
• Suzanne O'Brien, Macomb, MI
• Halley Page, Athens, GA
• Sally Pellegrin, Cleveland, OH
• Carrie Persing, Chester, VA
• Jon Phillips, Waterford, MI
• Suzanne Pilon, Hilton, NY
• Sara Rebecca Pittard, Ormond Beach, FL
• Susan Poage, Berkeley Heights, NJ
• Kendra Pullen, Shreveport, LA
• Amy Radden, Evansville, WY
• Charles Reynes, Castro Valley, CA
• Debra Reynolds, Baton Rouge, LA
• Kamilla Riek, Saint Louis, MO
• Jennifer Rising, Lake Forest, IL
• Natalie Robinson, Pleasant Grove, UT
• Patia Rountree, Brooklet, GA
• Regina Scott, Franklin, IN
• Deborah Seaver, Milford, MA
• Wendy Shelden, Rockledge, FL
• Cheryl Silcox, White Mountain, AK
• Jeanette Simmons, Pontotoc, MS
• Kimberly Spencer, Yarmouth, ME
• Barbara Stoflet, Minnetonka, MN
• Melinda Storey, Mountain Brook, AL
• Carol Swink Wooten, Raleigh, NC
• DeAnn Swofford, Gardner, KS
• Liane Tanigawa, Aiea, HI
• Pamela Thompson, Madison, ME
• Nola Wilkinson, Decatur, IL
• Seanyelle Yagi, Honolulu, HI

Do you know any of these educators or mentors honored last year? If not, we have a chance to make a difference ... the deadline for nominating an educator in your city to receive this award is still a few months away!

President Profile: BDPA Charlotte (Markus Beamer)

BDPA Charlotte chapter recently elected Markus Beamer (Bank of America) to serve as its president in 2012-2013. Markus shared the following profile on his chapter's website:

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My name is Markus Beamer. I was born in Tacoma Washington but was raised in Columbia South Carolina. I come from a family of 4 boys and 2 girls and thus am used to a very hectic environment. “Never a dull moment” is certainly the motto for our home growing up. That’s probably why 11 years ago I turned to technology for a career, “Never a dull moment” sums up its progress quite nicely.

During my college years, at the College of Charleston, my first exploration into technology was as a web developer for a software licensing firm. I started out typing HTML and Javascript into a simple notepad window. Through the years I touched upon CSS, Java, Visual Basic, PHP, mySQL, Photoshop, Access, Oracle and MS SQL Server in that exact order. However, I find it quite amusing that to this day when I want to write a bit of code I reach for my notepad application first ... no matter the language. Needless to say, I found a love in technology. No matter how much I knew, I never was bored, as something new was but a day away. Change was always going to come.

Of course change can come when you grow the family. Currently my family is in Charlotte North Carolina. I am the lucky husband to one fine lady and the proud father of two rambunctious boys. I am happy to say that my household carries on the tradition of “Never a dull moment”. My oldest son is crazy for electronics and all things technical. My youngest son is definitely the outdoor, rough and tumble kinda fella. They both attract their fair share of friends and our house has become the “neighborhood” house. (much to my wife’s dismay!)

I currently work at Bank of America as a Business Process Consultant. When asked, I tell friends and family that my role is to help “leadership” make the best use of technology and in truth this is what I do. However the role affords me much more than that, I am at a crucial nexus where the needs, desires and ambitions of the business meet the calculations, formulas and algorithms of technology. It’s a great place to be and I don’t think I’ll change it for some time to come.

But…

At times one gets bored with the day to day. It is in those times that I turn to my hobby of game building. Like most hobbies it is silly yet fulfilling. I build small games that can be played in a browser; my specialty is to build them with JavaScript so they do not require any plug-ins or downloads to play. Sometimes the games are role based, sometimes they are card based, other times they are ... different. I have been doing this since 1999. I laugh when I think of the number of games I have written and thrown by the wayside (at last count 24). But that is what a hobby is ... a wasted time that allows the mind, body and soul to reset.

I hope that having learned a little more about me, you will reach out and shake my hand. I am always happy to meet new folks.

Thanks for reading.
Markus Beamer, president-elect
BDPA Charlotte Chapter
Blog: http://mobeamer.blogspot.com/

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Share some love with Markus using the COMMENT option below!

Nissan Foundation

Nissan Foundation, established in 1992, supports educational programs that celebrate and foster appreciation and understanding for our diverse cultural heritage.

The Nissan Foundation seeks Letters of Intent from potential grantees in the Fall of each year.

Requirements:

• Have 501 (c)(3) non-profit status
  
• Support projects compatible with one of the Nissan Neighbors focus areas
  
• Serve communities surrounding Nissan's affiliate locations: Southern California (Location of Nissan Design America); Middle Tennessee (Location of Nissan North America Corporate Headquarters and Nissan North America - Manufacturing); South Central Mississippi (Location of Nissan North America - Manufacturing); Dallas/Ft. Worth (Location of Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation); Detroit (Location of Nissan Technical Center North America); New York (Location of Nissan Technical Center North America); and Atlanta (Location of Nissan Technical Center North America)

Funding Cycle - The Nissan Foundation awards one-year grants in June of each calendar year. Letter of Inquiry can be sent between November-December of the prior year. In support of a greener environment, the Nissan Foundation application process is administered electronically online. In an effort to reduce paper waste, hardcopy and paper applications are no longer accepted.

P.O. Box 685009
Mail Stop B-5-B
Franklin, TN 37068

Contact: Foundation Administrator
Telephone: (615) 725-3406
Fax: (310) 516-7967

Are you interested in sending a Letter of Inquiry in support of your 2011 program?

Top 10 BDPA Chapters (Membership, Feb 2010)

The lifeblood of any professional association is its membership. The incoming administration composed of the elected and appointed officers, BDPA Founder and the Executive Director developed a short and long term strategy that aligns with the BDPA mission and brings the organization to focus on the primary product of the organization, its members and membership by executing a shared vision of: “Taking Membership to the Next Level”.

This new and powerful vision is critical for our organization. We have less members than at any time since Feb 2002.

Personally, I plan to help the incoming administration raise morale and engage the membership in ways that allow BDPA to flourish again. We can ill-afford another two years as rough as we experienced in 2008-2009.

The 45 BDPA chapters in BDPA-nation average 39 members (down 10 from last quarter).

There is some good news in the membership numbers. We welcome two new entrants into the top ten. BDPA Southern Minnesota (president, Charlie Perkins) joined the top ten list for the first time since May 2008. BDPA New York (president, Judaea Lane) entered the top ten list for the first time since Sep 2009.

BDPA Dallas (president, Chris Johnson) and BDPA New Jersey (president, Coram Rimes) each rose one spot in the rankings since last quarter.

BDPA Cincinnati (president, Wanda Gray) dropped one spot to 8th place. BDPA Richmond (president, Jamar Arvin) and BDPA Washington DC (president, Perry Carter) each dropped off the top 10 list this month.

Finally, we celebrate the fact that BDPA Chicago (president, Pamela Sexton) maintains its place as the largest chapter in the nation for the 34th month in a row!

The top ten chapters in terms of membership as of 2/1/2010 are:

1. Chicago - (chapter president shown in photo)

2. Triangle
3. Philadelphia
4. Atlanta
5. Southern Minnesota (rose 8 places since Nov 2009)
6. Detroit
7. Dallas - (jumped one place since Nov 2009)
8. Cincinnati - (dropped one place since Nov 2009)
9. New Jersey - (jumped one place since Nov 2009)
10. New York - (jumped one place since Nov 2009)

The first three (3) chapters on this list are in the BDPA Century Club with at least 100 members. BDPA Chicago chapter tops the list with 282 members!

BDPA Education & Technology Foundation provided over $175,000 in funding last year to support the programs and services carried out by these chapters at local level. Our hope is that you will consider making a donation to BETF this year. You can securely donate online or you can give BETF a call on (513) 284-4968 to discuss your pledge offline.

What are your thoughts on membership in BDPA?