California's Got Talent - Westly Foundation to Award Prizes to Young Innovators

The Westly Foundation will award $20,000 cash prizes to young innovators in California with creative solutions to community problems. The prizes are for high school and college students or professionals age 28 or younger. Applications due November 2.
By: The Westly Foundation
Sept. 21, 2012 - PRLog -- Menlo Park, CA – The Westly Foundation, a philanthropic organization focused on empowering California youth, is pleased to announce the Westly Prize. Visit http://westly.org/westly-prize/ for more details.  

The Westly Prize recognizes young innovators in California with creative solutions to community problems.  Up to four $20,000 prizes will be awarded through a competitive selection process.  Two of the prizes will be given to high school students. Two other prizes will be awarded to university students or professionals 28 years old or younger.  

“We want to empower the best and brightest young minds in California to be entrepreneurs for their communities,” said Steve Westly, Chairman of the Westly Foundation and former California state controller.  “Our goal is to help bring their ideas to life and encourage them to start non-profits and companies that will benefit California and beyond.”

The Westly Foundation invites nominations and applications of young innovators living in California whose work has the potential to improve the lives of people in their communities.  Candidates are evaluated based on several criteria, such as whether their innovation is an advancement over existing solutions to a community problem (for example, in education, health care or the environment).  The innovation can range from a new technology (like a software app) to a new service or process (like an innovative literacy program).  Candidates must also show that they have prototyped and tested their innovation with some success and that there is potential for broader impact.  

Applications are due by November 2, 2012.  Candidates must submit an application and a short YouTube video showcasing their innovation.  Westly Prize winners will be announced in December or January.  

For more information about the Westly Prize or to submit a nomination or application, please visit http://westly.org/westly-prize/.

About the Westly Foundation

The Westly Foundation is a private family foundation founded in 2000 by Steve Westly and Anita Yu. The foundation supports programs that improve the trajectory of underserved and at-risk children in California.  Since its inception, the foundation has provided support for children in the areas of education, youth development, health care, and the ecosystems children grow up in (from the environment to immigration to clean water). Now in its second decade, the foundation seeks to broaden its impact by investing in innovation and technology in its core funding areas.

Media Contact
David Viotti, Executive Director, Westly Foundation
dave@westly.org
650-878-2782
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Source:The Westly Foundation
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Zip:94026
Tags:Entrepreneurship, Prize, Entrepreneur, Innovation, High School, College, Student, Scholarship
Industry:Education, Technology, Non-profit
Location:Menlo Park - California - United States
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Page Updated Last on: Sep 21, 2012



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