News about grants, gifts
The UGG brand and online retailer Zappos teamed up to host an event on the campus of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to donate UGG slippers and celebrate a recent generous donation from Zappos. Both companies set out to bring a touch of comfort to the patients of St. Jude.
Kubota Tractor Corporation‘s first 2016 recipient of a donated tractor in its “Geared To Give” program was Julie Hollars of Farbotnik Farm in Calaveras County. Hollars was recognized in a special ceremony as the first female farmer veteran to receive a donated Kubota L-Series compact tractor through the program, which launched early last year in partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition. The program provides financial support and donated Kubota equipment to U.S. military veterans pursuing a future in farming.
ACE Cash Express and NetSpend made a $752,425.13 donation to National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (NBCF) in observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout this nine-year collaboration, ACE and NetSpend have donated a total of more than $4 million to NBCF.
The NetGain Partnership has committed a combined $18 million in grants to strengthen the emerging field of public interest technology, with the goal of increasing the number of people around the world who are using their technological skills to improve civil society and government at all levels.
The Independence Blue Cross Foundation has invested $6.2 million in grants in 2015 to bolster the health care workforce, improve child wellness and increase access to quality, affordable care in medically underserved areas across southeastern Pennsylvania.
News about people, groups
In Defense of Animals is holding the first-ever Activist Appreciation Month throughout February and has joined with other animal protection organizations to provide ongoing support services for people who help animals, including animal rescuers, shelter workers, veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators, and animal activists.
Natalie Hart has joined Virginia Tech’s Advancement Division as a principal gifts officer. She will manage a portfolio of principal-gift prospects while planning and implementing initiatives that identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects and donors.
The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts named Liz Feeley as their new director of philanthropy.
St. Baldrick’s Foundation‘s St. Baldrick’s Lepre-Con 2016 has broken the world record for the “largest gathering of people dressed as leprechauns”, an event that benefits childhood cancer research.
Henry Schein, Inc. has announced the nine finalists for the inaugural Henry Schein Cares Medal, an award that will be given annually to organizations that demonstrate excellence in expanding access to care for the underserved.
Visually impaired artist and philanthropist Jeffrey Owen Hanson has been selected as the 2015 Coca-Cola Ronald McDonald House Charities Art Partner. The Coca-Cola Company commissioned Hanson to create an original work of art that embodies Coca-Cola and the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), to help raise funds for RMHC in the U.S. and Canada.
The Neighborhood Service Organization has named Omari Taylor of Farmington Hills its Senior Director of Corporate Development. In this position, Taylor is responsible for managing the operations and resources for fund raising, corporate giving and development.
Geri Stengel will speak on the importance of women speaking up in their personal, professional and philanthropic lives at Speak Up Women, a one-day conference, held on Saturday, March 5th at the United Nations in NYC.
Registration is now open for the Public Media Development and Marketing Conference, the largest conference in public media. This year’s conference will be held from August 10th to 12th in Boston, MA.
The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health has selected Jeannie T. Lee, M.D., Ph.D., as the 2016 winner of the Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences for uncovering the functions of long, noncoding RNA (lncRNA) in epigenetic regulation.
Fast Company has named Worldreader one of the top 10 most innovative nonprofits.
News about opportunities, initiatives
The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. will begin a two- million dollar, multi-city program to support CFED’s Racial Wealth Divide Initiative this spring in New Orleans and Miami. The Initiative will address racial wealth disparities by strengthening the asset-building capacity and connectivity of local organizations of color.
Tickets are now available for the 36th annual Auction Napa Valley, The American Wine Classic. Hosted by the Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association from June 2th-5th, 2016, the auction will raise funds for community health and children’s education.
Tickets and sponsorships are available for the Chanda Plan Foundation Big Event, a fundraiser on April 21st, 2016, that will feature a keynote address by environmental activist and women’s health advocate Erin Brockovich.
Third Space Studios is inviting nonprofits with budgets below $2 million to participate in this year’s Individual Donor Benchmark Project. To learn more and get counted in to this year’s survey, click here.
A new service has been launched that will provide assistance to Alaskans seeking to use their wealth to make positive change. Alaska Philanthropy Advisors, led by established nonprofit leader Dennis McMillian, will fill a need that people often have, which is help in defining and articulating philanthropy goals, identifying partners or grantees, and investing in programs that achieve the donor’s desired impact.
MGA Entertainment, parent company of Little Tikes, has partnered with the LeBron James Family Foundation to offer a new line of co-branded licensed sports toys. A donation will be made to the Foundation with each product sold.
The House of Harry Winston designed a new limited-edition watch exclusively for amfAR’s “Countdown to a Cure” campaign. The watch is the first official product to benefit amfAR’s efforts to develop the scientific basis of a cure for HIV by 2020.
Women Leading the Future is now accepting applications for its 2016 Women Leading the Future conference on Saturday, June 25th, in Washington, D.C. The event typically includes over 20-30 speakers and panelists of leading women (and men) in business, government/ politics, health care, finance, technology and more. Applications are due by March 1st.
The Young Alchemists Foundation, a patriotic nonprofit organization for planetary healing, has written a letter to the President and to all presidential candidates inviting them to join their global movement.
Philanthropy Leadership Advancement Nexus – Master Gift Officers is accepting applications for its 2016 fellowship. The four-day event in April aims to turn development professionals into master gift officers.
The Urban Institute has rescheduled “Desperate Measures: Survival Strategies of the Poorest of the Poor” panel to February 26th.
If you are interested in having your organization’s news announced in the next News Bits, please send announcements or press releases to news@philanthropyjournal.com.
