Teens In Public Service (TIPS) vies for grant to fund more internships

May 10, 2010 12:17 pm

Teens In Public Service (TIPS) is vying for a $50,000 grant from the Pepsi Refresh Challenge, an online voting contest held to generate original and optimistic ideas nationwide. The Pepsi Refresh Project will award more than $20 million in 2010 to foster innovation in social good will and to fund great ideas that “refresh” the world.

TIPS is the only Puget Sound area nonprofit in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge that is vying for the $50,000 grant in the neighborhood category. Supporters of the TIPS project, “Community Service Begins as a Summer Job – Invest,” can vote every day in the month of May at www.refresheverything.com/teensinpublicservice

Currently, TIPS has funding for 50 summer interns, yet 550 high school students have applied for the positions. Students from Redmond have participated in the program.

This grant would enable TIPS to place an additional 20 teenagers at nonprofits in the Greater Puget Sound area and support a summer video project. TIPS’ goal is to reach the top 10 in the $50,000 neighborhood category by May 31 to receive the $50,000 grant.

Here are four quick tips to vote for TIPS:

1) Follow the link www.refresheverything.com/teensinpublicservice

2) Click on the “Vote for this idea” box on the right hand side of the page.

3) Follow the steps to sign in.

4) Once signed in, click on the “Vote for this idea” button again.

Cathy Michalec, TIPS executive director explains, “If we can rally the community behind this amazing opportunity, I feel very confident we will be in the top 10 by May 31. Winning the grant means a lot to this program. We will be able to turn around and invest in our teens and our community this summer, which is needed more than ever.”

Teens In Public Service (TIPS) is dedicated to producing future leaders committed to their communities by connecting teens with life changing opportunities and internships at nonprofit organizations. The teens are placed at the nonprofit organization at no cost to the organizations.

TIPS interns tutor and mentor at-risk children, serve the homeless, work in the health and environmental fields, and provide cultural enrichment and educational opportunities to children and their families in the Seattle area. TIPS is in its 14th year of placing teens at area nonprofits.