1. Winners Of Verizon YouthTech Contest Honored
2. Teaming for Technology Helps Bring Millions to Philadelphia Families
3. Upcoming Trainings
4. Agency of the Month: The Lighthouse, Inc.
5. The School District of Philadelphia Digital Service Fellows Recognized
6. Community Technology Centers (CTC) Grants Program

1. Winners Of Verizon YouthTech Contest Honored

On Wednesday, April 28, 2004, forty-two 9th through 12th graders from Philadelphia high schools were honored for using technology to transform their communities in innovative ways. In November, the Verizon Foundation, in partnership with United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania and the School District of Philadelphia, launched a pilot program, entitled the "Verizon YouthTech Essay Contest" that challenged young people to find ways to use technology to improve their communities by engaging and utilizing technology. Forty-two talented and creative students were chosen as winners and the top three essay winners will be given a chance to see their ideas come to reality.

"United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania's Teaming For Technology initiative will provide guidance and implementation assistance to help the top three first place winners bring their innovative ideas to life," Stephen Rockwell, Director of Teaming for Technology at United Way announced. "Students will meet with T4T staff as part of the planning process to implement their visions to make their communities a better place."

The Philadelphia student contest winners were presented with awards for first, second and third places. The 10 first place contest winners received a new personal computer, the 18 second prize winners received a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA), and 14 third prize winners received refurbished personal computers.

"The contest was successful in getting students to think about how technology can help build strong communities in different ways and showcases an exciting partnership between Verizon, the School District of Philadelphia and United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania," stated James A. Reed, Director - External Affairs, Verizon Pennsylvania. "Verizon Foundation looks for opportunities to encourage innovative thinking among today's youth - our leaders of tomorrow. This essay contest offered a learning experience on a subject chosen by the students and the results reflect how each one excelled in expressing their desire to make progress each day in their home communities. It has been quite an experience and today, we will enjoy the enthusiasm of the awardees as well as the pride of their families and teachers." Click here for a complete list of winners.

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2. Teaming 4 Technology Helps Bring Millions to Philadelphia Families

T4T provided over 1000 hours of tech support to the Campaign for Working Families, a Philadelphia coalition that delivered to taxpayers over $12 million in tax credits and refunds. Through its Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Program, the Campaign mobilized and trained volunteers to prepare taxes for free at 19 sites around the city. Volunteers filed over 10,000 returns and connected many clients to other public benefits and asset-building resources.

The Campaign provided Philadelphia residents with free tax filing assistance, relieving them of the burden of having to pay high fees to commercial taxpayers. It also increased the number of Philadelphia residents who file for the EITC, a tax benefit for working people who earn low and moderate incomes. The Credit can be up to $4,200 per year. It reduces the tax burden on workers, supplements their wages, and helps families pay bills or save for the future.

In addition to providing tech support to the Campaign’s free tax sites, T4T helped advertise the service through the Beehive’s money section.

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3. Upcoming Trainings

May's classes are now underway. Some upcoming classes are:

Basic Web Design Using HTML- May 4-5
The Internet for Early Childhood Educators- May 10
Practical Web Design Using Dreamweaver- May 11-12
Newsletters in Publisher- May 12
Internet and Email- May 13
Project Management in Microsoft Project- May 13
KidSmart/Young Explorers Orientation- May 17
Practical Web Design Using FrontPage- May 18
Word Basics- May 18

For a complete listing of classes, please visit the T4T Website at: www.uwsepa.org/team4tech/training.htm. For more information or to register, please call Raphael Baker at 215-665-2525.

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4. Agency of the Month: The Lighthouse, Inc.

This month's Agency of the month is The Lighthouse Inc. The Lighthouse is a settlement house organization that extends their services to the Kensington/North Philadelphia community. Their programs range from economic development to youth, teen and adult programs. The Lighthouse is celebrating their 110th anniversary on June 25th, 2004 at the new Citizens Bank Ballpark.

The Lighthouse has been a member of T4T since its inception. After strategic planning, T4T hardware donations, additional funding and the dedicated work of Dr. Gregory McMillan, Director of Planning & Organizational Development; the Lighthouse is committed to the completion of several technology projects this summer. Lighthouse is taking advantage of T4T services to develop their website and build a wireless network to connect both their buildings. What a way to celebrate 110 years. Way to go Lighthouse!!!!

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5. The School District of Philadelphia Digital Service Fellows Recognized

On Thursday, April 29th, this year’s Digital Service Fellows were recognized at a luncheon/ceremony at the School District of Philadelphia. Approximately 200 people were in attendance for this remarkable event, including funders, School District officials and staff, families, and of course, the celebratory Fellows.

The Digital Fellows Program, an innovative 12-month internship developed by the Educational Technology Group, offers recent high school graduates the opportunity to serve their community while acquiring meaningful technical skills. This public/private venture was created in order to meet the growing demand for full-time technology support staff for teachers and students.

For more information on the Digital Service Fellows program, please contact Charles Ireland at dsf@phila.k12.pa.us, or go to www.phila.k12.pa.us/offices/edtech/digital_service_fellows.htm.

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6. Community Technology Centers (CTC) Grants Program

Technology is the key to success - Help youth in your community open the door to their future!
Deadline: June 1, 2004

A Community Technology Centers grant (CTC) can be used to create or expand community technology centers that use instructional strategies to improve the academic performance of low-achieving students. Because this grant employs the "novice applicant priority," faith-based and community organizations are strongly encouraged to apply.

Organizations that have never received a grant or subgrant under the CTC program; have never been a participant in a group application that received a grant under the CTC program; and have not had an active discretionary grant from the federal government in the five years before the deadline date for applications under the CTC program are considered novice applicants. Up to twenty-five percent of the funds will be set aside for novice applicants.

Please note that there are significant clarifications in the grant announcement. In particular, novice applicants are not required to meet the strict partnership requirements listed in the Notice of Proposed Priorities; however, they must coordinate with one or more local education agencies, or a public school or private school that provides supplementary instruction in the core academic subjects of reading or language arts, or mathematics, to low-achieving high school students.

In order to receive a grant award under the CTC competition, each applicant must provide a dollar-for-dollar match of the amount requested from the federal government. An example of an allowable match would be a situation in which an applicant requested $250,000 in federal funds.

In that situation, the applicant would be required to furnish at least $250,000 in cash or in-kind contributions. It is important to remember that matching funds must be from non-federal sources.
The deadline for applications is June 1, 2004.
For more information and a copy of the 2004 application, please visit:
www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2004-2/041604d.html
Or http://makeashorterlink.com/?A3A812318

Program Contact: Karen Holliday
U.S. Department of Education
Potomac Center Plaza - 11059
550 12th Street
Washington, DC 20202
(202) 245-7708
E-mail: karen.holliday@ed.gov

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