4.1.19 US News

Apr 1, 2019 | News, Philanthropy Journal

Parkland Health & Hospitals gives Beads of Courage to youngest burn survivors, Norwegian airlines unveiled its newest tail fin hero, Brooklyn Community Foundation launches $10 million fund for older adults, Blue Card Gala for Holocaust survivors moves to NYC's Center415 to meet registration demand, and more.

News about gifts, grants

PHMG Foundation raised almost $700,000 for charity in just six years by taking part in over 100 activities including skydiving, abseiling and climbing mountains. Charitable organizations are selected by staff on an annual basis and more than 70 charities have benefited.

The League of American Orchestras launched The Catalyst Fund in January, a pilot program of annual grants to adult and youth orchestras that aims to advance their understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and to foster effective EDI practices. The Catalyst Fund is supported by a three-year, $2.1 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

News about people, groups

NextHome is partnering with Canine Companions for Independence. The partnership will drive national donation efforts from its local offices to generate additional funds that will provide Canine Companions assistance dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities free of charge.

GameStop Gives partnered with PowerA to create a limited-edition Xbox One wired controller to support the understanding, acceptance and inclusion of people with autism spectrum disorder. GameStop Gives will donate a portion of the profits to the nonPareil Institute to help teach adults with autism digital technology skills in various domains and work toward building games and items for the digital marketplace.

Thomas Sandgaard launched The Sandgaard Foundation to end the opioid epidemic. A musician and founder of a medical device company, Sandgaard engaged Hammer & Associates in launching his Denver-based foundation. 

DKT International released their 2018 global impact data. Findings show that through social marketing of contraceptive products and services, DKT delivered 44.6 million couple-years of protection (CYPs), the total estimated protection provided by contraceptives in a one-year period – an increase of 8 million CYPs more than in 2017.

Up2Us Sports has launched a three-year Regional Partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation to identify, place and train Up2Us Sports coaches in youth sports programs to deepen the impact of sports- based youth development in the local market.

WEDU PBS named Paul Grove as President and Chief Executive Officer. Grove is joining WEDU from WTCI PBS in Chattanooga, where he has served as President and CEO for thirteen years.

Henry Schein, Inc. received a perfect score of 100 on the 2019 Corporate Equality Index, a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Henry Schein joins the ranks of more than 560 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.

Christina Lewis, Loida Lewis, and Ken Chenault (Photo credit: All Star Code)

All Star Code launched an Ambassador program to drive national awareness of diversity issues in the technology industry. Comprised of executives and start-up founders, the group of business leaders will use their experiences and expertise to bolster to create economic opportunity for young men of color by teaching them leadership skills. 

The Urban Institute released a report outlining strategies for funding a community-based continuum of care and opportunities for youth involved in the justice system. Promoting A New Direction for Youth Justice examines case studies from across the country, including successful examples in California, Kansas, Texas and New York. 

RedRover released Raja Book 3, the third bilingual book and game app in The Restricted Adventures of Raja series. The Raja series is focused on teaching kids 7 years old and older the three steps for empathy, using animal-based illustrated stories, interactive learning and games. Red Rover maintains that empathy leads to stronger relationships with animals and helps prevent animal cruelty and neglect, as well as bullying in schools.

Parkland Health & Hospital System gives Beads of Courage to youngest burn survivors. Strings are fashioned into delicate bracelets or necklaces and adorned with colorful beads earned by burn survivors who have reached milestones on their road to recovery. Modeled after a program created by Jean Baruch, Beads of Courage is an an arts-in-medicine care program for children coping with serious illness.

News about opportunities, initiatives

American Express kicked off its annual Leadership Academy Global Alumni Summit, which offers an intensive two-day immersive professional development and networking program to cultivate emerging nonprofit and social purpose leaders.

Photo Credit: Brooklyn Foundation

Brooklyn Community Foundation launched the Brooklyn Elders Fund, a permanent $10 million fund to promote the care and welfare of older adults in Brooklyn. Funded by the assets of two closed nursing homes, is is the first of its kind to tackle issues affecting aging Brooklynites, the fund brings together older adults, policymakers, and community-based nonprofits to support both proven strategies and innovative approaches to providing the care and support that our aging population needs.

StoryCenter is hosting a beginning level webinar for individuals, grassroots groups, and organizations to centralize first-person stories in social change efforts. Recognizing that current social and political realities in the United States and globally demand ever-more creative approaches to advocacy, StoryCenter will talk about what advocacy really means, with an eye towards clarifying what kinds of digital stories can be most effective at community, institutional, and policy levels. The webinar happens on Wednesday, April 10th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Reserve your spot.

News about upcoming events

4.2.19 Foundation for Child Development’s Young Scholars Program will host its Children of Immigrants Webinar Series, a three-part webinar series highlighting issues related to children of immigrant families/immigrant children. Promoting Early Learning for Children of Immigrants: Family and Early Care and Education Supports is the first webinar on Wednesday, April 3 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

4.4.19 Listening Ground will host a conversation with Dr. Greg Valerio, founder of a Celtic Monastic community on the South Downs of England, and Larry Littlebird, Pueblo Elder and Master Storyteller, at the South Broadway Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM at 7:00 p.m. General admission is $10. Reserved seating.

4.6.19 WriteGirl and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is hosting  Lights, Camera, WriteGirl!, a fundraiser hosted by actress Lauren Graham, along with Seth Rogen, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Wayne Brady, and Keiko Agena. The actors will perform scenes written by underserved teen girls at Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood, CA. Tickets and opportunities to sponsor a girl and her parent are available.

Center415 in NYC

4.08.19 The Blue Card, a nonprofit dedicated to aiding Holocaust survivors, will host The Blue Card Gala 2019 at Center415 in New York City. (Editors’ Note: Event venue changed due to high demand.) Andy Cohen, an Emmy Award-winning television producer, will host the event which includes a presentation of awards to individuals and groups dedicated to supporting the needs of Holocaust survivors and advancing human rights worldwide. 

4.9.19 Aminta Ventures and JPMorgan Chase & Co. will host a fireside chat with Leslie Miller Saiontz, founder of Achieve Miami,  community activist, and impact investor. Saiontz is dedicated to narrowing the opportunity gaps facing low-income communities and  invests in companies and organizations focused on community transformation. Alia Mahmoud will moderate the session. Mahmoud is co-founder of Aminta Ventures and Director of Leadership Development at Radical Partners

4.12.19 Dan River Nonprofit Network will host Social Media & Online Engagement for Nonprofit Boards  from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Goodwill Industries of South Central Virginia. Presenter, Jeanne Allen, will discuss how nonprofits can match board members’ responsibilities with different social media and online platforms. Tickets: $25 for members. $40 for guests. 

4.20.19 Emily Krzyzewski Center is hosting a free College Expo from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. College staff will hold interactive workshops covering topics like college applications, financial aid, and more. Registration is free and open to the public.

5.07.19 BoardSource Leadership Forum takes place May 7th – 8th in St. Louis. More than 1,000 board members, chief executives, staff, and nonprofit professionals come together to discuss the newest thinking and best practices in nonprofit governance and leadership. Registration rates are based on annual revenues.

5.10.19 StoryCenter is holding The Digital Storytelling Workshop around the country. The three-day program includes one-on-one guidance and hands-on video editing experience, and a completed digital story. Upcoming workshops: April 10th-12th in Berkeley, CA and April 22nd-24th in New York, NY.

5.18.19 Erika’s Lighthouse is celebrating its 15th Anniversary with its annual gala in Glenview, IL at the Valley Lo Club from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Erika’s Lighthouse was founded in 2004 by Ginny and Tom Neuckranz after their teenage daughter lost her life to suicide. The nonprofit organization develops and provides free teen depression awareness programs and resources to middle school and high school communities around the country.

5.26.19 ArtWeek MA takes place April 26th to May 5th. Presented by Highland Street Foundation and produced by the Boch Center,  ArtWeek celebrates arts across the entire state of Massachusetts. 

5.27.19 The V Foundation for Cancer Research will hold its Virginia Vine event at Stone Tower Winery and the Salamander Resort & Spa in Loudoun County, Va. Joe Theismann, former quarterback of the Super Bowl XVII champion Washington Redskins, will host the event and Paul Begala, commentator for CNN and professor at Georgetown University, is a featured speaker. See tickets and table information.


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