Finally, I'm not writing about Washington this time because my mind and body just aren't up for it. (Editor's Note: Ivan's posts are usually focused on his insightful--and hilarious--take on current events).  I do want to talk about how much I missed doing this. I'm not very good at talking in person. As Kevin Malone once said "I'm a textbook overthinker". That very statement nearly defines me. So I'm glad to be doing this again where I can just sit down and hammer out all of my thoughts. I look forward to writing a lot more of these. 

One of my favorite things to do is search online for ideas of gifts that donors might give.  I've been thinking a lot about healthy/organic/sustainable/local/insert-trend-here eating lately and know that it is something that is important to many of our donors.  In fact, we have a few gifts on our site available right now that are intended to help start a sustainable school garden ala Alice Waters.  (If you're an educator and are enticed by this possibility, login and search "garden.")

Growing up in Southern California, many of us had gardens in our backyards (although my green thumb was more brown, unfortunately).  Living in colder climates over the last few years, however, made me realize more acutely the challenges inherent in gardening during the school year.  I visited a school in Detroit last year that has a budding garden and aspirations of one day being able to supplement their school lunches with food they grow themselves.  The realities of living in a colder climate, however, make this challenging/nearly impossible.  

How amazing would it be, though, if they had the resources to do so?  I just came across a greenhouse that can be erected by students/volunteers on the side of a school building.  It would help any interested school realize their vision of a sustainable school lunch program and would supplement science curriculum.  Many groups we work with are raising large sums of money and hoping to find exciting ways to use their donations.  If you're with a group that is passionate about this issue (or you're an individual/family looking to make a big impact), you might consider this path.  The greenhouses start at around $11,000.  Click here if you'd like to check 'em out.

And, if you want to give a gift (of any variety)...create an account here and then login here to design your gift.  Happy and healthy eating to everyone.  

It's been a long competition.  But in the end, your voice counted.  You let the world know that that where a child goes to school should not determine the range of educational opportunities available to her.  You stood up for a new model of giving, in which anybody can be a philanthropist.  You voiced your confidence that educational inequality can be chipped away by individual citizens, one gift, project, and opportunity at a time.

Winning this grant is a great honor.  But of course, our work is just beginning.  Over the coming weeks, we'll be expanding to new schools across the United States.  We'll be rolling out new features on the website that will empower even more individual donors, educators, and students.  And, of course, we'll continue to implement your unique visions and help you share your passions in low-income schools and classrooms across the country.

No grant announcement involving The Generation Project would be complete without our newest tradition--an awesome picture of Chicago first graders enjoying a donor's gift of play money. (The gift helped teach these students about real-world uses for addition and subtraction).  They're excited about money.  We're excited about money.  And we're even more excited because we know this money is going to make a tremendous difference for vibrant, bright, and hilarious kids like these.  

We owe a tremendous  "thank you" to everybody who voted for us throughout this competition.  In Round One, your support allowed us to outlast over 500,000 other charities to win a $25,000 grant and make it to the final round.  In Round Two, nearly 17,500 of you voted for us, because you believe that poverty should not restrict educational opportunity, and because you believe that anybody can be a philanthropist.

An extra big "thank you" goes out to the students on college campuses across the country who worked tirelessly to campaign for The Generation Project.  Our team during the competition included 194 committed students on over 100 campuses across America, who crafted and carried out grassroots campaign strategies.  It was so inspiring to see these young leaders--the future philanthropists of the world--work so hard for our cause because of their belief that poverty should not restrict educational opportunity.

We're proud of how our team conducted our Chase campaign.  We spent a total of $50 on the campaign--to rent a microphone for the filming of our promotional video.  (The video itself was done pro bono, by the incredible Maicol Chavez).  The success of our campaign was based solely around the power of our idea, and the power of our grassroots campaigns.  

So, a big thank you goes out to all of our supporters.  From our team at Spelman and Morehouse Colleges, who put together this amazing video in support of our cause:

...to the Hope College mascot, who voted for us at a station set up by our Hope team..

...we thank you.  

What's next?  Well, we didn't win $1 million--but our work goes on. We're going to use our $25,000 Chase grant to start serving low-income schools in two new regions--New Orleans and the Bay Area.   Very soon, we'll also be launching our upgraded website, loaded with features that should allow for regular, meaningful interaction between donors and teachers.  We're going to continue to build on the momentum this contest has created, and grow our campus initiative nationwide.  And, of course, we'll continue to implement your vision for the future, in the form of opportunities you design for children growing up in poverty.

Again, on behalf of The Generation Project team, thank you.