Microsoft Corp. and The Webby Awards today kicked off the Microsoft PhizzPop Boys & Girls Clubs of America Design Challenge, giving interactive design agencies of all sizes a chance to showcase their ingenuity and expertise to help Boys & Girls Clubs of America redesign its Web site for the new decade.

Microsoft and The Webby Awards selected Boys & Girls Clubs of America as the contest’s beneficiary because they believe a more powerful Web site combining the latest Microsoft tools and technologies with the latest design trends will help the 104-year-old organization better communicate its mission of helping all youth reach their full potential.

Three finalist teams will win travel and hotel accommodations to MIX10, Microsoft’s annual conference for Web designers and developers, in Las Vegas (March 15–17). At MIX, finalists will pitch their concepts live before a panel of judges from Microsoft, Boys & Girls Club of America and the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences, which judges the Webby Awards.

The winning agency will receive $50,000 toward delivery of its design strategy and plan to Boys & Girls Clubs America, as well as a trip for two to the 14th Annual Webby Awards on June 14, 2010, in New York City, including travel and hotel accommodation. The winning design will be announced during MIX10 and showcased on http://www.phizzpop.com.

To enter the PhizzPop Design Challenge, go to http://www.phizzpop.com for guidelines and official rules. Deadline for entries is Feb. 19, 2010.

Participants in the PhizzPop Design Challenge will use the Microsoft Web Platform and Microsoft software tools to develop a proposal for the new Web site design for Boys & Girls Clubs of America that could help them better engage donors, parents, volunteers and the media.

Entries will be evaluated based on five criteria: content and communication plan, structure and navigation, visual design, integration of Microsoft technology, and scope of interactivity. High marks will be given to entries that propose a more visually appealing and interactive site reflecting contemporary design trends, and that incorporate the Web’s best practices in areas such as social media and video.

“For 10 years, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to witness the incredible work they do in transforming the lives of children,” said Jon Roskill, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s U.S. Business and Marketing Organization and King County Boys & Girls Club board member. “As more tech-savvy kids connect through the Web, it’s critical the Clubs bolster their online presence to engage and inform people of their critical services. The PhizzPop Challenge is one step toward achieving this goal, bringing together the best design talent and the very latest Web technologies from Microsoft to help the Clubs continue supporting millions of kids across the country.”

“The Webby Awards are thrilled to join forces with Microsoft in challenging agencies to push the envelope in developing new and engaging interactive experiences,” said David-Michel Davies, executive director of The Webby Awards. “Our goal is to not only support the vital work of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, but to also identify new best practices that can enhance the online efforts of all organizations.”