American Express and Do Something partner to bring weekly grants of $500 to help out projects addressing different causes around the world, from different people young people all around the country. Did you recently create a sustainable community action project, program or organization or have a great idea for helping your community? If you answered "YES!", you're eligible to apply for a Do Something Grant. These grants are continuing in 2010 apply now! Read about our winners from December and November below.

Chris Horn, 20

Urban Music Action
Homicide is the second leading cause of death for youth (age 15-24) in Rhode Island, which is double the overall homicide rate in the state. Chris is working to combat the trouble that often leads to this violence by creating a music initiative in Providence. By partnering up with youth from the Rec. Night Group and other youth organizations in Providence he is bringing a group of talented youth to create a music album together. By providing a place to develop their musical talent the youth will also have the opportunity to be exposed to other non-violent themes and ideals. Chris also believes that by creating an album together the youth will form a new positive group bond. Recently Chris received a donation to use recording space, and he is beginning the first small pilot group program this spring.

Samantha Brown, 15

My Best Friend is a Farmer:
Samantha believes that the heritage in her community to farming is not only a point of important environmental advocacy but also a link to economic stability. To inform other youth about the rich history in fresh products, and farming history, Samantha created a children’s picture book about Montgomery County, Maryland and its agriculture and farms. The book features all original photographs by Samantha, as well as her own research on the farming industry and culture in her area. Samantha will distribute the books to youth in local schools, as well as local libraries and historical societies.

Allen Gannett, 18

Future Civic Leaders
Allen started the Future Civic Leaders in an effort to bridge the gap between education about civic engagement and young people who do not have the means or knowledge to get involved. The Future Civic Leaders will host a four-day summer program to bring in youth from around the country and meet with elected officials while creating their own “simulated” campaigns. The delegates will then receive the information to bring this back to their schools through “Future Civic Leaders Clubs” at each of their respective high schools. As a youth led initiative Allen believes they have the edge to generate a curriculum that will be both appealing and more targeted and beneficial to the youth delegates. Through this "all-expenses-paid" conference, students will be exposed to opportunities, previously unavailable to them.

Emma Lipshultz, 16

Bicycles for Cape Three Points, Ghana
Emma first visited Cape Three Points when she took a volunteer trip there, and was astounded by the extent of the poverty of the people. To help their situation, Emma decided to find a way to give the students in Cape Three Points bicycles so that they can regularly attend school. Emma worked with the Village Bicycle Project to fundraise back in the U.S. to pay for training workshops to go along with the bicycles that will be donated so that the new owners would be able to care for their own bicycles and this would become a long-lasting investment.

Neha Gupta, 13

Empower Orphans
According to the UN there are approximately 145 million orphans and abandoned children in the world. This overwhelming statistic has not stopped, but rather inspired Neha to take action and make a difference. Neha started Empower Orphans when she was 9, and now it has grown to a full not-for-profit organization that works to address problems of orphans in India, to motivate individuals to help orphans and to translate their own empathy into action. The organization runs several programs to help create self-sufficiency by supplying the children with tools to gain a basic education, along with providing food, clothing and medical supplies. Recently Neha founded a library at the Bal Kunj to help further the education of these youth. Neha will use her money to help expand the library and make sure the youth have all the tools they need to further their education.

Michael Kapps, 20

Project Ahoto
In the slums near Cape Coast, Ghana, Michael and Project Ahoto are working to prevent the spread of malaria by distributing mosquito nets, education initiatives and insurance registry. The plans are to distribute 600 mosquito nets (enough for 1200 people) to families in the Akotokyir area. Members of Project Ahoto will go door to door to help set up the nets and answer any questions, working in collaboration with other net-distributors. Michael and his group are also working to help educate the community by developing in-school curriculum on how-to prevent malaria. Additionally Project Ahoto will register community members of Akotokyir for the national health insurance program, in order to help cover costs of medicine. Michael hopes that when they conduct their follow-up survey two months after the program that malaria rates will decrease from the current stat of 1 recent case in 75% of families to 1 recent case in 25% of families.

Max Wallack, 13

Puzzles to Remember
Max has been creating prize-winning inventions since the age of six, his first invention, the Great Granny Booster Step, assists disabled people to get into high vehicles, like minivans. Max also founded the not-for-profit Puzzles to Remember in 2008, after the death of his great-grandmother from Alzheimer’s disease. Working on puzzles is therapeutic to Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, so his organization collects puzzles and distributes them to facilities that care for these patients. Puzzles to Remember has collected over 1800 puzzles and distributed them to approximately 80 health care facilities in the several states in the U.S. and Canada. Max will use his grant money to help collect and distribute these puzzles.

Amanda Cao, 16

M.E. LaZerte Green Team: Compost Project
Amanda began the recycling program at her high school, in collaboration with the M.E. LaZerte Green Team who is now developing the composting program at her school. The long term goal is to educate her classmates and teach them to compost and carry on this eco-friendly habit along with others with them. By taking action in the school Amanda and the Green Team will have a large and immediate impact on their community increasing sustainability and greening their community. The compost bins will be set up in the kitchen and cafeteria to make it even easier for students to participate, Amanda is working to have compostable plates at the school to make it even easier. Amanda believes that with the introduction of compost, they can reduce garbage generated in the cafeteria by 75%.