The "Responsibility Project For the Win" or "RPFTW" contest (www.responsibilityproject.com/contests/ftw) continues through August 31, 2010. Teens across the country are encouraged to enter the contest by completing an entry form and submitting an online essay of 300 words or less describing their personal "responsibility project." Projects can include a wide variety of activities such as participating in charity events to raise funds, serving as a camp counselor or organizing community clean-ups. Entrants must be between the ages of 13 and 17 and must obtain their parent's or guardian's permission for contest eligibility.
Five winners, to be announced in September, will be chosen by a pre-selected panel that includes Nathan Lump, managing editor of the Responsibility Project, Liberty Mutual representatives and representatives from partners of RPFTW. On behalf of each winner, Liberty Mutual will donate $500 to an approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. With the goal of sharing the inspiration and creativity of the winners, the winning entries will be featured on ResponsibilityProject.com, a site which has received more than 11 million unique viewers to date. Additionally, the winners will be invited to continue their story after the contest through a guest blog post on the Responsibility Project website.
"Liberty Mutual created ‘Responsibility Project For the Win' with the goal of exciting and uniting America's youth when it comes to giving back -- no matter how big or small," said Paul Alexander, senior vice president, communications, Liberty Mutual Group. "With RPFTW, Liberty Mutual hopes that kids will use their essays to share stories and inspire one another to get involved in personal and public change and growth."
Zach Bonner has been creating positive change for nearly half of his life. In 2004, in the wake of Hurricane Charley, a then six-year-old Bonner used his red wagon to gather water and supplies for storm victims. The next year he founded the Tampa-based nonprofit Little Red Wagon Foundation (www.littleredwagonfoundation.com) to help underprivileged kids and to encourage youth to make a difference in their own neighborhoods. Bonner is currently walking thousands of miles from Jacksonville, Fla. to Los Angeles, Calif. in a "March Across America" (www.marchacrossamerica.com) to raise awareness of the 1.3 million homeless youth in America.
"I believe that kids have the real power to change the world we live in," Bonner said. "It all started for me with a simple act of kindness. I hope kids all across the United States will get involved in this project and start making change right in their own backyards."
Essays will be judged on creativity, adherence to topic, impact in the community and inspirational effect. The contest name captures the spirit of the competition, inspired by the fast-growing popularity of and exuberance associated with the phrase "For the Win" or "FTW" among kids and young adults.