Watch this video to find out. (Thanks Claire!)
Awesome Foundation Connecticut
$1000 Micro-Grants for Awesomeness
Update: $1000 Westport Mini-Maker Faire Challenge
This week, the Awesome Foundation CT continued its plans to award a $1000 challenge prize at the upcoming Westport Mini-Maker Faire on April 27th. The $1000 prize will be awarded to the exhibitor whose work or project most exemplifies the Maker Faire principles of innovation, experimentation, craftsmanship and just plain awesomeness. Their work can be in any field and any stage of development.
Andrew Bangser, from Awesome Foundation CT explains, “If your work makes the judges smile when they see what you do, how you do it, or the benefit it has for other people in the community, then you are on your way to awesomeness.”
The $1000 Westport Mini-Maker Faire Challenge is a slight departure from the usual activity of the Awesome Foundation whose monthly $1000 no-strings-attached grants have funded a broad spectrum of activities including a city-wide scavenger hunt in New Haven, an outdoor mural in Bridgeport, a CD of lullabies for premature babies in Danbury, robotic kits for students in Stamford and more.
According to Bangser, “by offering this prize, our goal is to raise awareness in the community of hobbyists, enthusiasts, students and other creators of new things. And we hope the prize will encourage their ongoing experimentation and development.”
To be eligible for the Mini-Maker Faire Challenge, Faire exhibitors should visit awesomect.org/makerfaire for more information and an application form. Finalists will be notified mid-day during the Faire and will have an opportunity to make a brief presentation to the judges and public. The final decision and awarding of the $1000 prize will follow the presentations.
For more information about Awesome Foundation CT, the Maker-Faire Challenge, or applying for a $1000 grant, check out more of our website or send an email to challenge@awesomect.org.
$1000 Awesome Challenge at upcoming Westport Mini-Maker Faire
The Awesome Foundation CT will award $1000 to the exhibitor at the Westport Mini-Maker Faire on April 27th whose work or project most exemplifies the Maker Faire principles of innovation, experimentation, craftsmanship and just plain awesomeness! Their work can be in any field and any stage of development. By offering this prize, our goal is to raise awareness in the community of hobbyists, enthusiasts, students and other creators of new things. And we hope the prize will encourage their ongoing experimentation and development.
For more information and an application form, click on Maker Faire Challenge.
Stamford Robotics Program Update
In March 2012, our grant went to Jim Forde for a Lego robotics program in Stamford elementary schools. He used our funding to purchase three Lego robotics kits, and the program launched this school year. The club produced a variety of Lego creations with moving parts, including spinning tops, controllable airplane propellers, and robotic legs.
Check out these photos of the kids working on and posing with their creations!
We think Jim’s project has turned out awesomely so far, and wish him good luck through the rest of the year.
As seen on TV …
Did you see us on the Better Connecticut show on WFSB (1/29)? Andy told the Awesome story and our newest grantee, Elinor Slomba, described the upcoming Chalkville project. We’ll have a link to Better Connecticut up shortly.
If you’ve just heard about the Awesome Foundation and want to learn more, watch the video (above) and check out the national site for AF.
Note that we do not take donations! AwesomeCT is entirely funded by its trustees, a small group of people who have pooled their resources to fund projects by Awesome people in the state.
What would you do with $1000? Tell us by applying for next month’s $1000 no-strings-attached grant.
Update: Here’s the link to our segment on Better Connecticut from earlier today!
Saw us on Better Connecticut today? Interested in learning more about who we are and what we do?
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Chalkville in West Haven (January 2013 Grant)
Awesome Foundation CT makes its January 2013 grant of $1000 to Elinor Slomba of West Haven to set the record for the world’s largest street drawing – a project slated for next April.
This project promises to be a powerful bonding experience for West Haven families, garnering grass roots support and laying the groundwork for more creative, cooperative projects down the road.
We thank Elinor for taking the initiative to organize this community event and wish for sunny whether when they go for the record.
It’s too snowy for Chalkville to go into action just yet, but the event is planned for this April.
Want to find out more about Chalkville?
Chalkville on Facebook
The New Haven Register did an article on Elinor and Chalkville here
Dream Dress Project (December 2012 Grant)
The Awesome Foundation Connecticut grant for December was awarded to Khalilah Abdulrahim, a student at Southern CT State University.
This will be the third year that Khalilah and fifty volunteers collect and provide free gently-used donated prom dresses, shoes and accessories to high school seniors who can not otherwise afford to attend their proms.
Here’s a photo of one of Khalilah’s past Dream Dress events—and a glimpse at what this year’s may look like!
Graduation is a time to celebrate academic achievements. We are inspired by the Dream Dress project just as Khalilah hopes to inspire kids who have overcome economic challenges.
ClueFest New Haven Photos are up!
Check out this photo gallery from the Awesome Foundation grantees that created ClueFest! Thanks to Alice Ly, the project organizer, for sharing these with us.
Cluefest New Haven
Cluefest New Haven, a community-wide scavenger hunt that has grown to 300+ people, receives our June grant. Their slogan, “Get Lost, Find New Haven” says it all. After you scurry around town and solved all the clues, you’ll discover the secret location of the after-party. Sign up for this 7/21 event here.
Shop for Hope
The Pantry is run by Project Hope
In May, we funded Shop for Hope, the brainchild of Carol and Chris Dannhauser. Carol‘s known for her Cooking Teens blog. Shop for Hope will encourage shoppers to purchase items for The Pantry run by Operation Hope in Fairfield. This is a seed of an idea that might someday spread!
Robotics in Stamford schools
In March, we funded a robotics program run by Jim Forde for elementary school kids in Stamford. Our grant will be used to purchase three Lego robotics kits. The program launches this fall and we hope to see these robots dancing soon.