The Case Foundation's Make it Your Own Award

I am announcing that a proposal submitted by my dear friend Imre Kepes in Massachusetts was selected as a top 20 finalist among nearly 5,000 entries nationwide by the Case Foundation for its Make It Your Own Awards, a grant program that "challenges people from all walks of life to discuss what matters most to them, decide what kind of community they want, and take action together". If you peruse the proposals of the 20 finalists, you will see an amazing array of projects which have the potential to change the world by empowering people within their own communities.

I am asking for your support to help Imre Kepes' project be selected by on-line voting to be one of the Final Four to be awarded an additional $25,000. The Case Foundation will also give $2,500 to the favorite charity of the first 10 people who vote for the four projects that actually become the Make It Your Own Awards Final Four.

Imre's project---The Community Vision Project of Holyoke, MA (a struggling post-industrial city which has seen better days)---will develop a team of youth leaders to inspire others and gather input from a cross-section of residents to develop ideas to make their community a better place. Together they will create a Community Vision Map that will graphically express these ideas and help to inform and mobilize the community. Action teams will work to turn these ideas into action. The Community Vision Project is a collaboration between the Holyoke Youth Task Force Youth Commission, Hampshire College and other youth programs and adults in the community.

To vote for the Community Vision Project to be one of the Final Four, please log onto http://miyo.casefoundation.org/node/6736/promote and simply click on the vote button. Voting ends April 22. Please note that after you have selected your "final four", you will receive an email to which you must respond in order to confirm your vote!

Thank you so much!