FREE Federal Government Grant Application Information

The J. Pat Cummings ACUVUE® Scholarship

Until recently this scholarship was known as the ACUVUE® Eye Health Advisor Student Citizenship Scholarship. Following the tragic death of Dr Cummings, Vistakon and the American Optometric Foundation decided that the scholarship should be renamed in his honor. This J. Pat Cummings ACUVUE® Scholarship is conferred annually to a second or third year optometry student at each of the U.S. and Canadian schools and colleges of optometry who best demonstrates the ideal eye care standards of practice. To qualify, the recipient must demonstrate achievement in both academic performance and extra-curricular activities, along with other professional pursuits such as involvement with patients through internships, community service, and other volunteer activities.

Scholarship
One $1,000 scholarship toward academic expenses and personalized plaque to a second year or third year student at each of the schools and colleges of optometry in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Purpose
To recognize outstanding student clinicians who best exemplify ideal eye care standards of practice.

Eligibility
Second or third year students attending a school or college of optometry in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico are eligible.

Criteria
Scholarship recipients will be selected based on academic and extra-curricular achievements, along with other professional pursuits such as involvement with patients through internships, community service, and other volunteer activities. Recipients will best exemplify ideal eye care standards of practice, including: (a) the importance of eye health; (b) proper contact lens wear and care; (c) community service and volunteerism.

Selection
The appropriate award selection committee at each of the schools/colleges of optometry will select the one student who meets the eligibility requirements and best demonstrates the qualities detailed in the above criteria.

Submission and Deadline
Nominations must be submitted electronically by e-mail with subject line: J. PAT CUMMINGS ACUVUE® Scholarship by COB September 10, 2010.

For additional questions or information, contact Tracy Kitts, Foundation Coordinator, at 301-984-4734.

Essilor Optical Technology Grants

The American Optometric Foundation (AOF) and Essilor are delighted to announce their partnership on the Essilor Optical Technology Grants program, now in its eighth year. Three $20,000 grants are awarded annually to optometry schools for projects intended to elevate the standards and visibility of ophthalmic dispensing to students and patients in the training environment. In the past, grants have been competitively awarded for projects as diverse as to facilitating education and training for clinical outreach in underserved areas, to updating education in teaching and dispensing clinics and providing laboratory equipment that enriches the students training experience. This is part of a commitment by the Foundation and Essilor to develop the next generation of eyecare professionals.

Application Procedures
Applications must be submitted by email to Email AOF Awards. Only one application may be submitted by each school or college of optometry and must be endorsed by the Dean or President of the school/college. The application must include full contact information for the institution and responsible individual.

In 1000 words or less the applicant should state how the grant will be used to further their educational program. The deadline for applications is September 3, 2010.

A 500 word progress report must be submitted by awardees in June of the subsequent year in order for the institution to be eligible for future Essilor Optical Technology Grants. No institution will receive a grant two years in a row.

Review Procedures
Applications will be judged on the school’s commitment to the growth of premium optical technology, as well as how the funding will enable the school to elevate the standards and visibility of ophthalmic dispensing for students and patients. A five-member review panel, including one representative form Essilor, will be convened by the American Optometric Foundation.

Recognition of Awardees
The awardees will be listed in the AOF Annual Report and the American Academy of Optometry’s awards program. Announcements will be placed in the Academy’s newsletter along with Eye-Mail Monthly. Press releases will be sent to all schools and colleges of optometry, optometric organizations, and the optometric press.

For additional information about the American Optometric Foundation, contact Mark Bullimore, MCOptom, PhD, FAAO, Development Director: by phone (614) 292-4724.

VISTAKON Research Grants

Purpose
To encourage talented persons to pursue full-time careers in optometry, the American Optometric Foundation (AOF) is now accepting proposals for two research grants sponsored by VISTAKON ®, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. The AOF, in conjunction with the American Academy of Optometry Research Committee, will award these competitive grants to fund basic or clinical research in the area of soft contact lenses.

Awards
There will be two one-year awards: $25,000 and $10,000.

Eligibility
The $25,000 award is open to all persons in optometry and vision science.
The $10,000 award is limited to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows no more than five years from their terminal degree.

Application Deadline
The deadline for applications is July 9, 2010.

Application and Review Procedures
Each proposal must be submitted electronically and contain the following components.

* Introduction; background and significance; specific aims; preliminary studies; and study design and methods. These sections should total no more than 5 pages.
* References (maximum of 1 page)
* Budget and budget justification (maximum of 1 page)
* Biographical sketch(es) of Principal and one co-investigator only (maximum of 2 pages for each investigator)
o Education/training; research and professional experience; honors and awards
o Publications (refereed) for the last three years and representative earlier publications

Applications that do not follow this outline will not be considered. Proposals are reviewed by a peer review committee established by the American Academy of Optometry's Research Committee.

Application Submission
All proposals must be submitted by email.

Costs
The AOF is a non-profit organization and our policy is not to cover any overhead/indirect costs associated with Vistakon Research Grants or any other of our programs. This policy applies uniformly to all award recipients.

Award Conditions
Funds support research conducted for a period of one year. Recipients must submit a report of their research findings to the AOF at the end of the award period in order to be eligible for subsequent awards. Recipients are also encouraged to submit a manuscript to Optometry and Vision Science.

For additional information, contact American Optometric Foundation: (301) 984-4734.

William C. Ezell Fellowships Call for 2010 Applications

Since 1947 the American Optometric Foundation has offered Ezell Fellowships to encourage talented persons to pursue full-time careers in optometric research and education. These fellowships support post-graduate students (primarily optometrists) in full-time programs of study and training in research that leads to the Masters or Ph.D. degrees in vision science.

The Ezell Fellowships have become the flagship program of the AOF. Fellowships are for one year and the current amount of the award is $8,000. Each student also receives travel grants to the annual meetings of the American Academy of Optometry and the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, which are $750 each.

The American Optometric Foundation has awarded more than 200 Fellowships to students pursuing graduate studies. Among the list of former Ezell Fellows are over 20 deans and presidents of optometric schools and colleges, over 100 faculty members and over 100 Fellows of the American Academy of Optometry, including three of its presidents.

Eligibility
Post-graduate students, continuing a full-time program of study and training in research that leads to a Masters or Ph.D. degree.

Award Levels and Duration
Fellowships are $8,000 and distributed to winners in September. Reapplication can lead to funding for an additional year., however, only under exceptional circumstances will recipients be funded for a third year.

APPLICATION WINDOW IS OPEN NOW! DEADLINE IS MARCH 12th!

* Call for applications and information for 2010-2011 are sent to all accredited schools and colleges of optometry.

Application Review Process
The Research Committee of the American Academy of Optometry reviews all fellowship applications and sends its recommendations to the AOF Board which approves and funds the Ezell Fellowships.
Accepting an AOF Ezell Fellowship

In accepting an AOF Ezell Fellowship, students agree to:
* submit annual progress reports,
* notify AOF of changes in their program,
* acknowledge the AOF in written and oral presentations,
* attend the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Optometry including the AOF Celebration Luncheon
* pursue a full-time career in optometric education and research in a school or college of optometry,
* support the AOF through the Ezell Club and
* submit a W-8 form (Canadian residents) or W-9 form (U.S. Residents).

Deadline for Receipt of Applications
*New and renewal applications, including associated materials, must be received by Friday, March 12, 2010
* Applications and supporting materials should be emailed
* Include the words Ezell Fellowship (+applicant last name) in the subject line of the email.
* Attachments should preferably be saved as pdfs, although MS Word is acceptable. A few attachments containing multiple documents is preferred to multiple attachments.
* All attachments must be saved with a unique file name. The first word in the file name should be the applicant’s last name.
* Letters of recommendation should be emailed by the recommender

For further Information Contact

American Optometric Foundation
6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 506
Rockville, MD 20852 USA
Tel (301) 984-4734

Call for Housing Research Proposals 2010 Competition: How Housing Matters to Families & Communities

2010 Call for Research Abstracts

In the 2010 competition, the MacArthur Foundation seeks to expand further the body of empirical evidence on the difference that living in decent and affordable housing makes in the lives of children, their families and communities; and with a special emphasis on how such evidence can be put to use by decision-makers to strengthen policies and programs.

In this year’s competition, in order to maximize the impact that funded research will have on policy, the Foundation requires that every applicant clearly identify the specific policy audience or level of government that will be able to utilize the research to improve or enhance a specific policy intervention and improve outcomes being studied.

Technical Information
1. Applicants should submit electronically an abstract of the proposed research by March 22, 2010 (6 p.m. Central Standard Time). The abstract should not exceed three single-spaced typewritten pages (12-point font, one-inch margins) and identify the specific housing problem and non-housing outcomes or issues that the empirical study would address, and its relevance for policy.

Specifically, the abstract should include a brief description of each of the following:
1. the hypotheses to be tested;
2. data sets required;
3. the proposed methodology;
4. anticipated outcomes; and
5. the policy audience and justification for the project, and how the research results would meet known policy needs.

NOTE: Should an abstract lead to an invitation to submit a full proposal in the second phase of the competition, additional information will be required not only about a project’s link to policy, but also how the results will be communicated to policymakers and can be used in the policy process.

2. Research abstracts should also state the desired terms of the grant.
1. The Foundation will consider supporting studies of one-, two-, or three-year duration.
2. The summary should indicate total budget and project term requested and desired allocation of grant payments over that term. No detailed line-item budget is required at this time.
3. The total cost to the Foundation over the project term may not exceed $1 million. More costly projects are also eligible for consideration if resources are available from other funders, who should be identified in the submission.
3. Individuals can only submit or participate in a single proposal.
4. Research abstracts should be submitted by e-mail to housingmatters@macfound.org with the subject line “HHM Proposal.”

1. Abstracts must be attached to the email, in Microsoft Word.
2. The e-mail text must include a preferred contact’s full name, title, institution, address, and telephone/fax numbers.

NOTE: The Foundation will use the email address from the submission and the contact information for all communications dealing with the competition. Only one preferred contact may be provided for each research summary submitted.

5. Applicants will be notified whether they have been selected to submit a full proposal no later than May 17, 2010. Applicants will be notified of the Foundation’s decision via the email address provided from the research abstract submission.
6. Complete proposals must be received by the Foundation by 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time, July 2, 2010. Further guidelines and required supplementary materials will be provided to successful applicants who are invited to submit full proposals through the Foundation's RFP process, including transmittal instructions. All RFP responses will be subject to an external peer review process.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?
Applicants must be affiliated with a nonprofit entity and comply with the Foundation’s indirect cost policies that generally limit such costs to no more than 15 percent of total direct costs. U.S. and non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply, as are studies by non-U.S. based researchers and that deal with non-U.S.-based housing-family and community linkages, as long as they meet all program guidelines. Units of government are also eligible to apply for a grant as long as such entities are permitted by their applicable law to receive a grant. Previous award winners are eligible to apply.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Office of Grants Management
140 S. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60603-5285

Phone: (312) 726-8000
Fax: (312) 920-6258
TDD: (312) 920-6285
E-mail: 4answers@macfound.org
www.macfound.org

got breakfast? Foundation Silent Hero Grant Program

The got breakfast? Silent Hero Grant program was launched to encourage schools and non-profit organizations to expand the reach of underutilized child nutrition programs.

Are you a Silent Hero?
There are many recognizable heroes in society today – from firefighters and police officers to nurses and school volunteers. But there are also unsung heroes that have made a difference, such as food banks, agencies, School Food Service administration and many more on the front lines ensuring children receive a nutritious meal.

Who can apply for a Silent Hero Grant?
If you are a public, non-profit private school or 501(c)(3) non-profit that participates in the national School Breakfast Program you may qualify for the Alternate Meal Service Breakfast Grant. Alternate meal service is defined as either breakfast in the classroom, grab and go or any other alternate site meal service outside of the standard cafeteria lunch line.

Can I apply for a grant if I participate in the Summer Food Service Program?
Yes, if you provide breakfast as part of your program. Summer grant applications will be made available February 2010.

What can the grant be used for?
Grant monies can be used for mobile serving equipment, food procurement, staffing, promotional items and marketing. Other reasonable costs to secure the sustainability of the breakfast program may be considered but will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

What are my obligations if I am awarded a grant?
The successful grant winners must sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) stating the funds will be used for the intended purposes. You must also agree to participate with any press release or promotional event with "got breakfast?"*.

Reporting forms will be provided for your use to track and return to the foundation at pre-determined dates during the grant funding period.

*Purchase of any specific breakfast products will not be required.

* Request for Applications – Due Date April 1, 2010

For additional information, please contact us via email at info@gotbreakfast.org.

P.O. Box 981
Syosset, NY 11791
Phone: 866-786-9028
Fax: 516-480-0881

World of Children Annual Awards Program

The World of Children Awards program was created to recognize and elevate those selfless individuals who make a difference in the lives of children here in the USA and across the globe, regardless of political, religious or geographical boundaries. These courageous leaders recognize that our children are the world's most important asset. Their stories are heroic.

The World of Children honors these leaders, and grants them funds to support the proven, high-impact programs they have created. These awards assure that more children's lives will be touched, and changed, forever.

2010 Humanitarian Award - maximum grant of upto $50,000.

* The Humanitarian Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to children in the areas of social services, education or humanitarian services.
* Nominee must have created, managed or otherwise supported a sustainable program which has significantly contributed to children's opportunities to BE SAFE, TO LEARN, and TO GROW.
* Nominee must do this work over and above their normal employment, OR work for little or no pay.
* Nominee must have been doing this for a minimum of 10 years.
* Nominee must have an existing non-profit organization in good standing, which can receive grant funds if awarded.

2010 Health Award - maximum grant of upto $50,000.

* The Health Award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to children in the fields of health, medicine or the sciences.
* Nomine must have created, managed or otherwise supported a sustainable program which has significantly contributed to the IMPROVED HEALTH of children.
* Nominee must do this work over and above their normal employment, OR work for little or no pay.
* Nominee must have been doing this for a minimum of 10 years.
* Nominee must have an existing non-profit organization in good standing, which can receive grant funds if awarded.

2010 Founder's Youth Award - maximum grant of up to $25,000

* The Founders Award recognizes youth that are making extraordinary contributions to the lives of other children.
* Nominee must be under the age of 21.
* Nominee must have an existing non-profit organization in good standing, which can receive grant funds if awarded.

Deadline for 2010 Nominations is Midnight (Pacific Standard Time) May 1, 2010.

The Honorees who receive 2010 World of Children Awards will be announced and celebrated in New York City on Thursday, November 4, 2010.

Contact Us

By Phone: (925)399-6411
By Fax: (925)399-6001

By Mail:

World of Children
6200 Stoneridge Mall Road
3rd Floor
Pleasanton, CA 94588

By E-mail: contact@worldofchildren.org

American Society for Cell Biology Minorities Affairs Committee Visiting Professorship Awards Program

The American Society for Cell Biology Minorities Affairs Committee (ASCB MAC) announces the ASCB MAC Visiting Professorship Awards Program. The purpose of the awards program, provided through a grant from the Minorities Access to Research Careers (MARC) program of the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of General Medical Sciences, is to support research at primarily teaching institutions that serve minority students and scientists.

This program will provide research support (stipend) for professors at minority-serving institutions to work in the laboratories of members of the ASCB for an eight- to ten-week period during the summer of 2010.

The goals of the program are as follows:
• To give professors in primarily teaching institutions a research experience in cell biology or a related field.
• To provide visiting professors experience with new research tools and techniques.
• To allow professors to enhance their research programs at their home institution.
• To establish long-term associations between visiting professors and research-intensive universities.
• To enhance the professors’ teaching based on the summer research experience.

Selection Criteria
To be eligible for this award, the prospective visiting professor and ASCB member host will be required to plan and submit together a research proposal that includes a follow-up plan for collaboration during the academic year.

pplications will be judged utilizing the following criteria:
• The subject of the proposed research and the quality of planned interactions for the visiting professor
• Plans for ongoing interaction between the visiting professor and sponsoring laboratory after the conclusion of the professorship
• Benefits to teaching described
• The qualifications of the researcher and professor
• The potential impact on minorities and schools with high minority enrollment of the visiting professorship

Applications are to be submitted to the ASCB MAC office no later than March 31, 2010. Both parts of the application should be submitted by the due date for it to be considered complete. Applications will be evaluated by a committee of ASCB members. Awardees will be notified by mid May and a check covering half of the salary award will be delivered in late June.

Upon the submission of a progress report related to the summer research activities, the second half of the salary award will be sent in August.

Financial Disbursement
Each professorship provides research support (stipend) of $13,500, plus $700 for travel expenses. An additional $4,000 will be provided to the home institution of the visiting professor for continuing research and research training activities during the academic year, including attendance to the ASCB Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA from December 11-15, 2010. Visiting Professors can also apply for MAC Travel Awards for the ASCB Annual Meeting.

Program Requirements and Awardee Responsibilities
A full-time commitment of no less than eight weeks in the laboratory of the host scientist during the summer of the award is required. Additionally, a signed agreement, requiring the awardee not to participate in other professional activities such as summer teaching, is also required and serves as grounds for return of the award if not observed.
Travel funds ($700) are disbursed after the ASCB MAC receives original receipts and mileage reports based on travel between the home of the visiting professor and the host laboratory. Continuing research and training activity funds ($4,000) are disbursed to the institution of the visiting scientist with the stipulation that the funds are not subject to administrative or indirect costs. These funds are only meant to be used for training and research activities that are necessary to sustain and further enhance the collaboration during the academic year.

Host and visiting professors must complete evaluations and the visiting professor must also submit a progress report related to the summer research activities. All awardees are required to attend a development workshop sponsored by the MAC, usually held in June, in addition to the ASCB Annual Meeting, where they are encouraged to submit an abstract representing the research conducted during the time of the award. Failure to comply with any of the requirements of the program can result in forfeiture of the award.

Visiting professors may qualify for a second year of support based on their timely submission of evaluations and reports, in addition to their observance of the guidelines of the program. The returning visiting professor is required to complete a second form that seeks information as to the institutional impact of the initial award, student involvement in the project, career development outcomes, publications and presentations, and future plans for the collaboration. In the event that the second-year support is for work with a different host scientist, a detailed justification is required.

Minority professors and professors in colleges and universities with a high minority enrollment are especially encouraged to apply for this award. The host scientist must be a member of the ASCB or have submitted a membership application before the end of summer 2010.

Deadline is March 31, 2010

American Society for Cell Biology 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 | Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA | Phone: (301) 347-9300 | Fax: (301) 347-9310

American Society for Cell Biology Minorities Affairs Committee Linkage Fellows Program

Under a grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Science (NIH/NIGMS), the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) Minorities Affairs Committee (MAC) is pleased to provide funding opportunities for faculty from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to participate in a variety of professional and student development activities with the ASCB MAC. Called the “ASCB MAC Linkage Fellows Program,” funding is provided for Fellows to support outreach and activities that promote cell biology at their home institutions.

The major goal of this program is to increase participation of faculty from MSIs to “serve as a link between the institution, its students, faculty and administration, and the ASCB MAC. The Linkage Fellows program is expected to be instrumental in the identification of applicants at the undergraduate and graduate level for MAC programs.

Selection Criteria
To be eligible for this award, prospective Fellows must be faculty from MSIs and must submit an application, as well as complete a 1000-word proposal on why the applicant wants to become an ASCB Linkage Fellow. The proposal should include professional goals, defined proposed activities that include a budget, and a statement that expresses the applicant’s desire to serve as a mentor to young minority scientists. Also, if you are reapplying, please submit a progress report of the previous year’s activities.

Applications will be judged utilizing the following criteria:

Evidence of commitment to achieve the program goals
Value of proposed activities
Outreach plan to other local MSIs
The program allows for one-year renewable terms. Applicants will be notified of selections in May 2010.

Financial Disbursement
Institutional checks for up to $10,000 are sent each summer in July or August. Fellows are allowed to use the funds as institutional PIs to meet the various goals of the grant.

Fellows must sign an agreement that stipulates they will do the following:

Advertise and promote ASCB MAC programs on their campuses by developing and disseminating fliers and/or by hosting departmental brown bag or info sessions on how to create a poster/abstract or other topic of interest to students.
Recruit and provide guidance to students and faculty on how to apply for other ASCB MAC programs (Visiting Professorship, Marine Biological Laboratory, Friday Harbor Laboratories, Cold Spring Harbor and MAC Travel Awards).

Program Requirements and Awardee Responsibilities
Annual Linkage Fellows’ responsibilities include:

Promoting cell biology education on the Linkage Fellow’s local campus and area campuses
Attending the ASCB Annual Meeting in December and participating by:
Bringing one or two student poster presenters to the ASCB Annual Meeting
Attending the MAC Mentoring Symposium, MAC Poster Session, MAC Poster Awards Lunch, and E.E. Just Lecture
Attending the Linkage Fellows meeting
Participating in an appropriate developmental workshop
Completing an annual Linkage Fellows evaluation/report
Fellows will be invited and encouraged to attend the MAC Programs. MAC annually hosts a Junior Faculty and Postdoctoral Developmental Workshop on topics of importance to this group.

If you or your colleagues are interested in participating in this program, please complete a 1000-word proposal on why you want to become an ASCB Linkage Fellow, including your professional goals, defined proposed activities that include a detailed budget, and a statement that expresses your desire to serve as a mentor to young minority scientists. Also, if you are reapplying, please submit a progress report of the previous year’s activities. The application should be sent electronically as a PDF or Word Document.

The deadline is March 31, 2010. If funding is available, applications may be considered after the deadline.

Please contact Deborah McCall  Senior Manager, Minorities Affairs, with questions.

Note: The Linkage Fellows program reserves the right to make final awards based on the responsiveness of the applications to the program announcement, availability of funds, and NIH policies related to allowable costs.

American Society for Cell Biology 8120 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 750 | Bethesda, MD 20814-2762, USA | Phone: (301) 347-9300 | Fax: (301) 347-9310