WebProNews

Google has launched Google Earth Outreach, a program focused on helping nonprofit organizations promote and illustrate the work they do.

Google Earth Outreach allows organizations to create stories using Google Earth layers. The program includes online guides, video tutorials and case studies about using Google Earth and is targeted at nonprofit organizations. There are also online forums that connect new participants to Global Awareness partners and programmers who can help in developing Keyhole Markup Language layers for Google Earth.

Organizations can apply online for Google Earth Pro grants (a $400 value); recipients will receive additional technical support from Google. Organizations that participate could be featured in the Google Earth Outreach Showcase, an online gallery of new layers and a subset of those will be highlighted in the Global Awareness folder in Google Earth.

"Google's mission is all about making information more accessible and useful," said Elliot Schrage, Google Vice President of Global Communications & Public Affairs.

"With programs like Google Earth Outreach, we seek to help create a 'marketplace of ideas' in the growing not-for-profit sector that rivals and complements what we offer commercial enterprises. In a very practical way, Google Earth Outreach demonstrates that technology can inspire action by bringing seemingly distant problems closer to home."