News about grants, gifts
Foundation for Youth Investment (FYI) has announced its 2015 grant recipients. This marks the first year in FYI history that multi-year grants are awarded. The awardees are as follows: Brothers on the Rise (Bay Area), Brown Girl Surf (Bay Area) Center for Land-Based Learning (Greater Sacramento), Growing Up Wild – sponsored by The Children Are Our Future (Santa Cruz County & Bay Area), Literacy for Environmental Justice (San Francisco), The Mosaic Project (Bay Area), Native Alliance of the Sierra Nevada Foothills (DBA Sierra Native Alliance) (Greater Sacramento), Our Wilderness Now – sponsored by Cloud Forest Institute (Mendocino County), Pie Ranch (Bay Area), Project AVARY (Alternative Ventures for At-Risk Youth) (Bay Area), Student Conservation Association (Bay Area), Waterside Workshops (Bay Area), Watsonville Wetlands Watch (Central Coast), and Youth Enrichment Strategies (Bay Area). The Foundation for Youth Investment is supporting the following 3 initiatives in 2015: Cultural Relevancy Institute (Greater Sacramento Area) Outdoor Educators Institute (Bay Area) and Environmental Volunteers (Bay Area).
Critically endangered African penguins at the San Diego Zoo are one step closer to having a new home, thanks to a $5 million gift from local philanthropists Dan and Vi McKinney. The McKinneys’ leadership gift, along with support from 1,550 additional donors, will enable the Zoo to create Penguin Beach, a seashore habitat and breeding center that will be home to as many as 50 African penguins. Penguin Beach, which opens in 2017 in Conrad Prebys Africa Rocks, will resemble southern Africa’s shoreline with a sandy beach nestled among towering boulders. Click here for more.
ArtsWave announced the successful completion of the 2015 Annual Community Campaign, with gifts totaling in excess of $12,250,000 in support of arts organizations across the region. ArtsWave expanded several creative initiatives to increase awareness, engagement, and contributions. Click the link for more information.
New York Life will donate $50,000 to Save the Children. Nearly two million children are believed to be affected by the April 25th earthquake in Nepal, which has claimed more than 7,000 lives. Read more.
Dartmouth College has announced that three alumni and their families have made gifts totaling $5 million to endow three head coaching positions at the college. With these three gifts—supporting men’s soccer, women’s tennis, and men’s Nordic skiing—Dartmouth is $3.5 million away from its goal to raise $20 million in permanently endowed coaching positions to increase the school’s ability to attract coaches and athletes.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County held its 38th annual golf tournament and fundraising event on Mon., May 4, 2015, at Pelican Hill Golf Course oNewport Coast, California. One of the most prominent non-profit golf tournaments in Southern California, the sold-out occasion raised nearly $300,000 which set a record for the event. Click the link for more.
ardentCause L3C partners with the Greater Detroit Area Health Council to support Chronic Disease Management grant effort. The project is funded by a $440,000 Centers for Disease Control grant and administered through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. ardentCause will be assisting collaboration partners in defining measurable outcomes and indicators. Read more.
AmeriCares airlifted 14 tons of emergency medical aid to Kathmandu on May 5th to resupply hospitals and mobile medical teams treating earthquake survivors. The chartered aircraft carried nearly $1 million in urgently needed antibiotics, pain relievers, sutures, bandages, crutches and intravenous fluids for thousands of children and adults injured in the April 25 earthquake. The medicine and supplies were requested by recipient organizations and approved by the World Health Organization.
DonorsChoose.org announced on May 5th, in honor of National Teacher Appreciation Day, News Corp has “flash funded” 147 technology projects at schools in Silicon Valley and beyond. All existing technology projects in the following California counties have been fully funded with the contribution by News Corp: Santa Clara, San Jose, San Mateo and Alameda. The contribution is benefiting more than 14,000 students.
The Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy at Brandeis University has announced that the Students Supporting Students Campaign Committee within the School of Social Work at Rutgers University has taken top prize in the national student philanthropy competition, Generous U, and will receive $10,000.
The National FFA Organization and Foundation recently announced that they have awarded more than $2.7 million in scholarships to 2,152 recipients. This was made possible thanks to the generosity of 127 sponsors.
The Fifth Third Foundation has announced a $10,000 grant awarded to the American Red Cross to assist disaster relief efforts for victims of the damage caused by the recent tornadoes in Northern Illinois. Established in 1948, the Fifth Third Foundation was the first philanthropic foundation established by a financial institution. The Fifth Third Foundation makes grants in the areas of the arts, civic and community development, health and human services, and education. Read more.
Learning Leaders, a New York City’s family engagement non-profit, exceeded its goal to raise over $500K at its 2015 Spring Gala, held at 583 Park Avenue on April 29. The proceeds will help fund the organization’s programs to engage families and communities to support public school student success.
HomeAid America announced a new, national partnership with Delta Faucet Company. The company has committed to donate an in-kind product at a substantial discount to HomeAid built facilities throughout the country, thereby greatly reducing the cost to build. Both Delta and Peerless branded products are included in the commitment which will be installed in HomeAid shelter projects built for charities working with the homeless. Click here for more.
News about people, groups
InVEST, an insurance classroom-to-career education program, is pleased to announce that David C. Marlett, Ph.D., CPCU, has been appointed to its national board. Marlett is a professor of finance, banking and insurance at Appalachian State University Walker College of Business in Boone, North Carolina. Click here for more.
Blackbaud, Inc. a global provider of software and services for the nonprofit, charitable giving and education communities, has announced that Brian Boruff will join the company’s Executive Leadership Team as president of its Enterprise Customer Business Unit (ECBU). Read more.
The Physicians Foundation – a nonprofit organization that seeks to empower physicians to lead in the delivery of high-quality, cost efficient health care – announced Walker Ray, MD, will serve as its new President. Dr. Ray succeeds Lou Goodman, Ph.D., EVP and CEO of the Texas Medical Association, who led the Foundation as President for the last nine years.
The Arcus Foundation, a global foundation promoting respect for diversity among peoples and in nature, has appointed Randall Miller as Global Religions Director.
On Saturday, May 9, 2015, Frank Shankwitz, Founder, Make-A-Wish Foundation was among the ninety honorees who received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations-NECO. The list of honorees included: Journalist Meredith Vieira, New York Yankees legend Mariano Rivera, U.S. Representative Ted Poe (R-TX), twelve members of the U.S. Military and Washington, D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier. Click the link to read more.
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) was honored with Easter Seals of Massachusetts‘ Team Hoyt Award in recognition of the company’s groundbreaking SpecialCareSM Program and its commitment to providing people with disabilities and other special needs and their parents and/or caregivers with options for financial security and independence.
The 10th Annual Dick Vitale Gala this past Friday, May 15 honored Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith and Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher. Net proceeds from the event benefited pediatric cancer research through The V Foundation. Grants included a $250,000 awarded in memory of Lauren Hill and $200,000 awarded in memory of Dillon Simmons. The Gala has raised more than $12 million for pediatric cancer research in its nine-year history.
Rams running back Chase Reynolds will participate in a special assembly and speak to students about the importance of staying active and will lead kids in fitness activities, as part of the NFL’s PLAY 60 campaign, aimed at encouraging kids to get 60 minutes of exercise a day. Reynolds will also present St. Vincent Community Center with a $7,500 NFL PLAY 60 grant for health and wellness programming or equipment. Click the link for more.
The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation, which provides fellowship support to top Ph.D students in the physical, biological and engineering sciences, has named Robbee Baker Kosak its new president. Under Kosak’s leadership, the Hertz Foundation is poised to enter a new era of philanthropic leadership as its community of Hertz Fellows grows in size and impact. She is the first woman to be named president by the Foundation and is deeply committed to its mission to support the education of preeminent scientists and engineers. Click the link for more.
CDC Foundation President, Charles Stokes
Charles Stokes, president and chief executive officer of the CDC Foundation, plans to retire from the foundation effective Dec. 31, 2015. Stokes, who will be 66 in August, has led the CDC Foundation since 1995, soon after the foundation was created by Congress as an independent, nonprofit organization. Click here.
The Chester County Fund for Women and Girls marked its 10th annual Making a Difference Luncheon to a sold-out crowd of men and women at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern, PA on Friday, May 1st. The organization’s Kitchen Table Award was presented to Phyllis Copeland, an outstanding Chester County resident, and a champion of women and girls in our community. Read more.
It’s Give Out Month at the Audre Lorde Project! Give Out Day, May 21st, is a national day of supporting LGBT organizations. The Audre Lorde Project is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two Spirit, Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color community.
The Rheumatology Research Foundation has something to celebrate: 30 years of advancing patient treatments by funding research and training! What began in 1985 as a humble idea and continued with just a few thousand dollars’ of awards has grown into the largest private funding source of rheumatology research and training in the United States, distributing more than $13 million in 2015. As part of the 30th anniversary, the Foundation will host a nationwide giving day on Tuesday, May 19.
News about opportunities, initiatives
SEIU Local 1 security officers and janitors rallied with local labor, community and faith leaders on Friday, May 1st at 101 W Ohio in downtown Indianapolis. The kickoff rally was the first of many as the security officers and janitors are fighting for good jobs and better communities. This year, nearly 300 Indy security officers are bargaining their first union contract to improve security, create higher standards at the workplace, and raise Indianapolis with good jobs. Read more.
Detroit Friendship House is in need of hangers and an office size shredder. If you would like to donate, visit their website to learn how to help.
The John D. Gerhart Center is currently accepting abstract submissions for its Fifth Annual Conference on Philanthropy and Civic Engagement, which will be held in Abu Dhabi, UAE on November 11-12, 2015.Takaful is an annual regional meeting of scholars, young researchers, policy-makers, activists and practitioners in the field of philanthropy and civic engagement, both from within and outside the Arab region. The conference is structured to encourage interaction between scholarly analysis and lived experience, with the hope of contributing to sound policy and practice in philanthropy and civic engagement. Learn more here.
Hundreds of Afghan women and children will be prepared well in advance of the extreme winter months, thanks to a partnership between DHL, a global express and logistics company, and DynCorp International (DI) who partnered to deliver nearly 150 boxes of winter clothing and supplies to Kabul, Afghanistan, to be distributed to local communities. The winter items were collected by the Afghan-American Women’s Association (A-AWA), which initially launched its winter coat drive in 2010 to collect clothing, monetary donations and supplies for citizens in high-need areas of Afghanistan – many of whom are women and school-aged children. Click here for more.
Seventh Generation, a household and personal care company, has launched a new promotion in partnership with Whole Foods Market and Baby Buggy(R) that will help make every diaper change a “change for good.” For every pack of Seventh Generation Free & Clear diapers purchased at Whole Foods Market from May 1 – September 30, 2015, Seventh Generation will donate a pack of newborn or size one diapers to Baby Buggy, a national nonprofit that provides families with children in need across the country with essential gear, clothing, products and services.
The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation’s 2nd annual Cooking up Success! will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 from 6 – 8pm at The Dorrance H. Hamilton Center for Culinary Enterprises in Philadelphia. Click the link for more.
Nearly 1,000 stakeholders from across the orchestra field will attend the League of American Orchestras’ Conference 2015, May 27-29 in Cleveland, marking the first time a League Conference has been hosted by The Cleveland Orchestra. With the theme of “The New Work of Orchestras,” the Conference will examine how arts organizations are addressing civic needs while sharing their artistry with new audiences. Visit americanorchestras.org to learn more.
AIR—an international network of independent radio and television media makers and entrepreneurs—is searching for 15 creative leaders with ideas that will bring public media to every street corner in America. The winning projects will be incubated at public radio stations nationwide as part of Localore: Finding America, a $3.2 million production that seeds innovation units at public radio and television stations across the country.
In the wake of the recent earthquake disaster in Nepal on April 25th, Projects Abroad is calling for volunteers to help with meaningful earthquake recovery work through its Disaster Relief project.
LINGOs, a non-profit organization focused on certified project management training for international aid and non-government organization (NGO) workers, has announced that 10,000 workers across 70 countries have completed the NGO sector’s leading project management certification, PMD Pro. In recognition of this milestone, LINGOs released a report detailing the challenges humanitarian and development workers face when managing complex projects around the world and how PMD Pro has empowered them with a much-needed common and accessible approach to project management. Read more.
Operation Blessing International (OBI) delivered tons of emergency supplies and food, and much needed chlorine, to hundreds of families in rural villages and towns in Nepal the weekend of May 1st, some of which had not yet received any aid in the aftermath of the April 25th earthquake that killed over 7,000 people. The OBI team, led by Vice President of International Operations, David Darg.
Foundation Source, a national provider of comprehensive services for private foundations, has launched a new podcast series, Forward Thinking. The series features interviews with thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and “Next-Gen” donors, who will share their insights about philanthropy and where it’s headed. Click here to learn more.
In an effort to raise awareness and money to help underserved Children attend summer camp, Camp Jameson held it’s fourth annual free May Breakfast event on May 7th. Read more here.
Wanderlust, producers of the largest yoga lifestyle events in the world, has announced the creation of Wanderlust Giving, its new philanthropic initiative. Seeking to make a powerful and tangible impact, Wanderlust Giving will choose one non-profit organization per year as the beneficiary of its charitable fundraising.
The Good Dog Foundation, a globally recognized leader in therapy dog training, placement and research, and the Planet Dog Foundation, the charitable arm of the award-winning Planet Dog pet products company, have announced a yearlong partnership to expand certified therapy dog services in the Northeast United States. Among those expected to benefit are children on the autism spectrum and those with reading problems, hospital patients, elderly veterans, and teens in substance abuse programs. Click here.
Red Nose Day will come to the US for the first time on May 21st.
“Red Nose Day,” a live three-hour entertainment event, will feature sketch comedy, parodies, videos produced by Funny Or Die, live musical performances and short appeals films that shed light on those in need. With a focus on having fun, raising money and changing lives, the star-studded event will raise money for Red Nose Day to help lift children and young people out of poverty in the U.S. and in some of the poorest communities in the world. Read more.
QuantumSphere, Inc. announced commercial validation of its proprietary nano iron catalyst in a production-scale ammonia plant in China. QSI is a leader in nanoscale catalyst technology used to increase production efficiency in multi-billion dollar industrial chemical processes.
On Tuesday, May 19, The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, will host an eye-opening installment of its Wiseguy Speaker Series titled “Princess of the Desert Inn: Suzanne Dalitz.” Normally reserved for Mob Museum Members only, this Wiseguy Speaker Series event is open to the public. Entry for Members is free while non-members can attend at a cost of $30 per person. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. in the Museum’s courtroom.
More than 450 community leaders will gather on Tuesday, May 19 for the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Atlanta Gala Dinner at the Georgia Aquarium to support the brave men and women of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The evening, which is one of the Atlanta Jewish community’s largest events, will honor the female IDF soldiers who served during last summer’s Operation Protective Edge in Gaza – several of whom will be in attendance.
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.
