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PAYING IT FORWARD

Paying It Forward Community Service Award
Sponsored by OPERATION REACH

The "Paying It Forward" Community Service Award is a prestigious service-grant awarded by Operation REACH, Inc. to promote greater community philanthropy among college students. Furthermore, the award is intended to identify individuals who are committed and willing to share their knowledge and experiences with the youth of the Greater New Orleans area and to help eradicate educational inequalities that exist by inspiring excellence and achievement while mobilizing others to do the same.

The concept of "Paying It Forward" derives from the truism, "to whom much is given, much is required." Hence, paying it forward is simply about cyclical reinvestment in people and in community philanthropy. By committing one's self to social justice work, it creates a ripple effect that inspires others to dedicate their lives to service. Consequently, it only takes one individual to make a difference and impact the lives of thousands going forward.

The "Paying It Forward" (PIF) Community Service Award is only granted to college student-led campus-based groups (formal or informal organizations) that are committed to inspiring excellence and achievement in young people. The PIF service grant enables these organizations to partner with Operation REACH to pursue two goals: (1) connect college student mentors with youth to share experiences and resources; and (2) to have a positive effect on children's academic performance through mentoring, tutoring and character-building.

Sponsoring Organization's History and Background
Operation REACH, Inc. is a non-profit community-based education corporation founded in 1998 by Xavier University student Kyshun Webster, now a recent doctoral graduate from the University of Minnesota. In its humble beginnings, Operation REACH started as a totally student-led initiative that has evolved into a more formal citywide, multi-parish organization run by a cadre of young professionals concerned about providing access and equality to educational opportunities for underserved community youth.

Our founding social justice mission, to address access and equality of educational opportunities, is threefold: (1) to improve the academic performance of students grades K-12; (2) to cultivate community-focused leadership in college students; and (3) to create a critical mass of informed parents who are equipped with tools that can hold schools and systems accountable for quality educational outcomes.

To fulfill this mission, Operation REACH Inc. has embraced under its umbrella a collection of signature programs such as the Home for Homework After-School Assistance Program, a holistic tutorial that addresses students' learning by bridging communication gaps between school and home. Additional programs implemented include the 21st Century Leadership Arts Camp (a six-week summer cultural arts camp), College Bound (an eight-week college preparation program) and the Parent Education Review Board (P.E.R.B.) (a parent empowerment initiative to affect school-change).

Our founding President-CEO, Dr. Webster, has committed the organization to working with institutions and community-based partners to develop and build youth opportunities as a means of paying forward and continuing the legacy of how we got started. Operation REACH prides itself as being a premier community education resource in the Greater New Orleans Community.

1.1 Available Funding
Groups/Organizations will be awarded up to but not more than $5,000.00. The grant period will be from February 5, 2007 to May 30, 2007. Grantees must have at least 3 participants present per day Monday through Friday at their assigned project site. These funds are available as a one-time fund award and shall not exceed a period of 17 weeks or go past May 2007. Funds can be used to further the work of the applicant organization.

1.2 Allowable Activities
As a recipient of the PIF Award, allowable activities will be coordinated at existing Operation REACH program sites, which may include but are not limited to homework assistance, tutoring, recreation, enrichment activities (e.g. music, drama or visual arts); community service; career exploration; student entrepreneurship; adult education; social and resiliency skills; character education; and other appropriate youth development programming as determined by Operation REACH.

1.3 Eligibility
Student-led campus-based groups (formal or informal), associations and fraternal organizations are eligible to apply for the "Paying It Forward Community Service Award." Applicants must have a minimum of 15 members to apply for the award and commit a minimum of 3 members of the group per day at their assigned service sites. Applicant organizations are also required to have a bank account in the name of their group. In the case of an informal group being formed, the applicant must name another charitable agency to receive the funds. Eligible groups are allowed to submit only one proposal in response to this RFP. A minimum of 900 hours per grant period is required. Our award disbursements are based on the total monthly service hours performed x $3.00 per hour.

To ensure daily coverage at the assigned program site, applicants must submit a petition sheet (Attachment B) for each group member that outlines pledged hours per week with committed days Monday through Friday. The number of member petitions is considered to be one of the most competitive parts of the proposal. Each petition will be verified as a part of the final review. Once awarded, grantees will be responsible for completing the pledged numbers of service hours. Proposals without individual petition pledges of at least 15 members will be disqualified from the competition.

Supporting documents such as sign-in sheets, timesheets and attendance logs will be provided by Operation REACH. Grantees will be responsible for maintaining documentation of service hours. For the first month of service, grantees will be awarded a partial disbursement of the award amount.

1.4 Proposal Requirements
Advance notification of the intent to apply is required. The applicant organizations should submit (in order shown) each of the components listed below. The narrative pages of the proposal should total not more than three (3) pages double-spaced, single-sided 8.5" x 11" pages using a 12-point font with one-inch margins. Proposals and forms should be typed, with the exception of the individual petitions required for each participating member. Attachments such as DVDs, CD-ROMs or other large publications will not be reviewed. Required forms inserted into the proposal will not count as part of the 3-page maximum for the narrative. The proposal should be paginated. Proposals that do not meet the format requirements may be disqualified.

To be eligible for the PIF Award funds, the final proposal package should include the following in the order listed:

Group/Organization Information (Cover Page) with contact information

Project Narrative (3-page maximum)

Written consent from respective campus advisor -- Letters can be accepted from the Director of Service-Learning; Volunteer Coordinators and or Department Chairs.

A copy of organization's governing board

Organization's proof of checking account -- A voided check or letter from a fiscal agent

Group/Organization Petition Tally -- Must contain original signatures

Required Petition Forms -- Must be completed by each participating member

Advance notification of intent to apply is required and should be directed to rgonzalez@operationreach.org by 5:00 pm on December 22, 2006.

A completed proposal including an original with required signatures in blue ink, plus two (2) copies should be received by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2007 at:

Operation REACH Corporate Office
201 St. Charles Street, Suite 2560 (25th Floor)
New Orleans, LA 70130

Attn: PIF AWARD REVIEW PANEL

Proposals received after this due date and time will not be considered. Proposals submitted by email or fax is will not be accepted. For more information contact Zakenya Perry at (504) 529-1922 or zperry@operationreach.org

Notification of Awards will begin by January 22, 2007.

To download a Word document with the above information as well as forms and attachments for application, click here.