The National Youth Leadership Council® and State Farm® are pleased to announce the availability of $2,000 Project Ignition grants for public high school students and teachers to address teen driver safety through service-learning.

Car crashes remain the number one cause of death for adolescents. That’s a staggering statistic, but one that young people, in partnership with their teachers and community, can and are changing through Project Ignition.

For the past eight years, high school students in public schools throughout the United States and in three Canadian provinces have been using service learning to tie their academic objectives to this important issue. They do this by getting the facts out, engaging their audiences and working to ultimately influence driving behaviors and save lives on the road.

Students use their own creativity to create impactful awareness and engagement campaigns. Strategies used in the past have included: hosting events and demonstrations; forming community-wide partnerships; working on local and state policy; producing public service announcements; and, more.

Twenty-five schools will be chosen to receive $2,000 grants to support the implementation of their campaigns between January and April 2012. Ten of these 25 schools will be granted an additional $5,000 to support their participation in a significant national conference or event – including the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference. They will also be given the opportunity to be named “National Leader Schools” and receive an additional $2,500 to go deeper with their campaigns during the 2012-2013 school year.

Applications are due November 15, 2011. To apply, go to: www.sfprojectignition.com.