The 10,000 Hours Show recently received an $8,000 grant from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino as a part of their 2006 Community Betterment Program.

The 10,000 Hours Show is a student-led organization aimed at encouraging young people to volunteer with local non-profit organizations.

“We volunteer with organizations like Dance Marathon, Youth and Shelter Services and Little League,” said Jason Baragary, 10,000 Hours show volunteer and junior in English.

Once a year the 10,000 Hours Show holds a concert for those volunteers who have completed 10 hours or more of community service. Past concert performers have included Ben Folds, Guster and Cake.

“Hours for almost any organization count toward the 10, except faith-based or political organizations,” said Kristine Koehler, grants director for the 10,000 Hours Show and program assistant at the ISU research foundation.

This year’s event will be held Wednesday at the Knapp Center at Drake University in Des Moines, featuring Australian band Jet.

“This is the first year the concert has been between us and Drake,” Koehler said.

The 10,000 Hours Show will use the grant money to help fund the concert, Koehler said.

“We are very appreciative to Prairie Meadows for this grant. It has really gone a long way toward helping us pay for the equipment, production and band for the show,” Koehler said.

Funds for the Community Betterment Grant Program are awarded in four general categories including human services, education, economic development and arts and culture. This year more than 300 organizations applied for grants and around 150 organizations shared in the funding.

Koehler noted last year the show unsuccessfully applied for this grant.

“This is the first year we were awarded this grant, although we did apply last year. We were actually awarded the largest dollar amount given to groups,” Koehler said.

Since their beginning four years ago at the University of Iowa, the show has had more than 3,500 volunteers working more than 71,000 hours. It is the 10,000 Hours Show’s third year in Ames. For information about getting involved the 10,000 Hours Show, visit the Web site at www.stuorg.10000hours.iastate.edu.