Best Buy helps give teens a voice in the election

MINNEAPOLIS Best Buy announced that it has underwritten a new teen-led social change platform called "@15" to help give teenagers who are not eligible to vote a voice in the upcoming election.

“Today’s teens are compassionate, caring and concerned about the same things that face all Americans, especially the direction of our country,” said Brian Dunn, president and coo of Best Buy and champion of @15. “That’s why we’re tapping our employees, our technology, and our social media expertise, to bring forward the voices of teens nationwide for a conversation about key issues that impact them and their future. And we’re going to give them the opportunity to direct how our charitable giving can make a real difference. This is more than just a forum for teens - it’s a movement. And we’re inviting all teens to visit www.at15.org and join in the conversation.” 

The @15 Fund, designed to empower teens to direct Best Buy resources to teen-led projects, will be implemented in its first year through a partnership with Youth Venture, a leading nonprofit that believes in the power of individuals as change-makers. Youth Venture and Best Buy have created the @15 Challenge, through which 300 new teen-led social ventures will receive $1,000 seed funding. In addition, teens nationwide will have the opportunity in January 2009 to vote online and select 15 current Venture Teams to receive $10,000 grants. Teams that are chosen will display the greatest creativity, community impact and the clearest vision of how to create sustainable change.