Children/Youth

Donnie Andrews' life is one that David Simon and Ed Burns would have had to invent if he hadn't already lived it.

Andrews, the inspiration for the ruthless yet moral stickup man Omar Little in the Simon and Burns HBO series "The Wire," has formed a nonprofit organization called Why Murder?

At 57, Andrews seems grateful to be alive, speaking repeatedly about "blessings" on Thursday evening to a group gathered at the University of Maryland Law School to launch and raise funds for his new nonprofit organization targeting urban youth.

As the national teen unemployment rate hovers at 24 percent, Bank of America is partnering with 95 nonprofit organizations to put 230 civic-minded high schoolers to work across the country this summer as part of its Student Leaders program. Funded by the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, the program matches local nonprofits with Student Leaders for a paid, eight-week internship.

The Prudential Foundation board of trustees approved $3.4 million in grants to four Newark, N.J.-based organizations focused on education and youth development, and a national organization dedicated to bridging the gap between the skills workers have and the skills employers need them to have.

To help develop education leadership in Newark, the board approved $250,000 for The Newark Education Trust (NET), an independent local education fund that mobilizes money, people and organizations to support quality public schools for Newark children.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has announced a grant of $1.5 million to Do Something for its campaign to sign up 3.8 million members by 2014 by engaging teens via mobile technology. Coupled with a similar grant from Omidyar Network, Do Something seeks to substantially broaden its reach and impact, the New York Times reports.

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation announced a $25 million giving campaign aimed at filling the gaps created when schools close for the summer. Funding to more than 350 local nonprofit organizations will help expand nutrition, learning and employment services for elementary, middle and high school students throughout the 2011 summer months. According to the National Summer Learning Association, the achievement gap between higher- and lower-income youth can largely be attributed to unequal access to summer learning opportunities and critical needs like healthy meals.

Pirate’s Booty, manufacturer of all-natural snacks, is pleased to announce its participation with Diana Taurasi of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury in Hoop Heroes, a fundraising initiative that benefits After-School All-Stars (ASAS), a 501(c)3 charity that provides free after-school programs to disadvantaged youth across the nation.  Pirate’s Booty will donate $10 for every point WNBA Taurasi scores during the 2011 WNBA season. Taurasi is a two-time WNBA champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and named to the All-WNBA First Team six years in a row. She is the first WNBA player to become a Hoop Hero.

Certain ideas make so much sense that one wonders why no one thought of them sooner. Case in point: Global leaders struggled for decades to think of a way to improve education. Ten years ago, Fred Mednick, Ph.D., started his nonprofit aimed at supporting those who can best provide that education.

Cristian Rivera Foundation founder John 'Gungie' Rivera discusses the organization and its fundraising initiatives.

In this sixth year of Eva’s Initiatives Awards for Innovation, three winners are being recognized for their outstanding work with homeless youth. Eva’s Initiatives received 24 applications from organizations working with homeless youth across Canada. A six-member panel, knowledgeable about services for homeless youth, reviewed all applications and selected three winners from among the many applicants with impressive and innovative projects underway in communities across the county.

The winners are Resource Assistance for Youth, Phoenix Youth Programs and Bathurst Youth Centre.

City Year has announced a three-year, $20.3 million commitment in cash and in-kind contributions from Comcast, the giant cable and home Internet service provider.

The organization will use the funds to support the leadership efforts of City Year AmeriCorps team members — young people between the ages of 17 and 24 — in nine cities who are working directly with students to improve attendance, behavior, and course performance. Grant funds also will be used to build awareness of City Year's In School & On Track initiative.