DoSomething, the national not-for-profit that believes that young people have the power to make a difference, along with the Take Action! Tour, awarded $1,000 grants to 3 amazing young people who want to make a change in their communities.

The Take Action Grants, empowered by f.y.e., MySpace Music, Myspace IMPACT and Hopeless Records & the Sub City non-profit focus on Music Education or any other cause young people are passionate about. Find out about the Do Something Take Action Grant Winners below, we’ll keep you informed on the progress of their projects.

In the fall of 2005, Hallie used her bat mitzvah gifts to start non-profit organization dedicated to the delivery of after-school theater programs to students who could not otherwise afford them. Thus, “Performing Arts from the Heart” was created to provide arts programs to low-income adolescents. Hallie believes that after-school theatre programs can help teens avoid the dangers inherent in unsupervised after-school time (especially for students who live in high-crime neighborhoods) and develop habits that will contribute to social and academic success. Today, Performing Arts from the Heart has successfully raised over $30,000 and launched various programs in New York public schools for four years.

E-Waste, or Electronic Waste, is one of the biggest environmental problems that we currently face today. The relentless pace of modifying and creating new electronics has led to the improper disposal of tons of old electronic materials, which contain heavy metals and other serious environmental pollutants. Alex’s project was initiated to make an impact in the community by creating a sustainable system to process e-waste. It addresses the problem by reusing old computers, recycling e-waste and passing legislation to ensure proper disposal. The project also creates a responsible method for donating computers overseas in Project WIN ‘08 – A Green Bridge Across the Digital Divide. With this program, companies in the states ‘adopt’ schools or communities in developing countries. The two form a partnership to send computers to these needy areas without impacting the environment.

Erin started the Warped Eco Initiative in 2005 and successfully reduced Warped Tour’s carbon footprint by implementing a solar powered stage, volunteer driven recycling program, biodiesel fueling of 40 vehicles, waste reduction program, tour volunteer days and educational contests for bands. This past summer, Warped Eco managed to divert 40,000 lbs of recyclable material from the waste stream by way of volunteer driven recycling program. The Warped Eco Initiative was also responsible for a solar powered stage, which hosts ten bands per day and provides power for the entire non-profit area and the on-site coordination of bio-diesel fueling of 40 tour vehicles, biodegradable and washable plates/utensils in catering, and donations from environmentally conscious vendors. At the conclusion of the summer, the Warped Eco Initiative managed to reduce the tour’s carbon emissions by 742,218 lbs through our solar, bio-diesel, and recycling programs.

Trans World Entertainment is a leading specialty retailer of entertainment software, including music, video and video games and related products. The Company operates retail stores in the United States, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, primarily under the names f.y.e. for your entertainment and Suncoast and on the web at www.fye.com, www.wherehouse.com, www.secondspin.com, www.samgoody.com and www.suncoast.com

MySpace Music a landmark joint venture among MySpace, The EMI Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony ATV, and whose independent music distribution partners include The Orchard, IODA, Alternative Distribution Alliance, RED, Fontana, and Caroline. MySpace Music offers an ever-growing catalog of freely streamable audio and video content, user-friendly e-commerce solutions, personal music players, and user and artist playlisting. MySpace Music aims to empower major, independent, and unsigned artists to monetize their content through multiple revenue streams.by allowing the MySpace community to freely stream premium content in an ad-supported environment, purchase MP3s and ringtones, create and share playlists, and ultimately buy merchandise, concert tickets, and other digital and physical goods.  MySpace Music also connects artists and fans in the offline arena through various concert series and live events including Secret Shows, MySpaceLIVE!, Transmissions, The Release, Front to Back and The List.

MySpace IMPACT is a channel within MySpace designed to empower MySpace users to make a difference in the world and to enable politicians, non-profits and civic organizations to connect with the online community.  In addition to features on the channel itself and products like a viral fundraising widget, MySpace IMPACT also fosters social and civic engagement among the MySpace community through original programs blending on- and off-line elements, including Impact Awards, OurPlanet, DeclareYourself, Volunteer Space, and Decision08.

Founded in 1993, Hopeless Records is a Southern California independent record label home to breakout artists All Time Low, There For Tomorrow, Anarbor, The Human Abstract, and many more. Throughout the 15 year history of Hopeless Records the label has released over 100 albums and launched the careers of Avenged Sevenfold, Thrice, and Melee. In 1999 Hopeless Records formally started supporting non-profit organizations under the Sub City name with charitable albums, tours, and events. Now itself a registered 501c3 non profit organization, Sub City continues this mission of raising funds and awareness for worthy causes and to date has raised over $1.8 million dollars for over 50 non-profit organizations.

Additional sponsors making a positive impact in 2009 by supporting Take Action Include: Alternative Press, PureVolume.com, AbsolutePunk.net, Live Nation, House Of Blues, Guitar Center, Epiphone, Hopeless Records, Fueled By Ramen Records, Warner Brothers Records, Rise Records, and Fearless Records. It is with the love and support of all of these organizations that Take Action is able to make a difference in the lives of young people.

Charity partner DoSomething.org is a national not-for-profit that believes that young people have the power to make a difference. They inspire, empower and celebrate a generation of doers: young people who recognize the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action.