News about grants, gifts

The Silicon Valley Community Foundation has announced that four school districts have been award $5 million in Big Lift grants towards high quality education for children in preschool to third grade. The school districts selected are Cabrillo Unified School District, La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District, Jefferson Elementary School District and South San Francisco Unified School District. Read more.

In the past year the ZERO Cancer Research Fund, an organization aimed at offering the best return on investment for patients and families fighting prostate cancer, has awarded nearly $400,000 toward promising prostate cancer research, bringing ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer’s total research contributions to more than $1M. Learn more.

Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation has been selected for the New York-based Wallace Foundation’s Building Audiences for Sustainability effort – a new, six-year, $52-million initiative aimed at developing practical insights into how exemplary performing arts organizations can successfully expand their audiences, the foundation announced today. The $710,000 grant is earmarked for preliminary audience research and the first cycle of work will explore how to eliminate barriers of engagement for millennials and implement new strategies to involve and retain their participation for years to come.

The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families tackle childhood cancer, received a $10,000 donation from Jaxson de Ville, the mascot of the Jacksonville Jaguars, who won the Player’s 17th Hole Charity Challenge.

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has launched the T1D Prevention Initiative to investigate the early stages of development of diabetes and identify new pathways to prevent it. As part of this new effort, the Trust is making an initial investment of over $8.7 million in international grants to support new and existing prevention research across five organizations: Helmholtz Zentrum München, the University of Cambridge, the University of South Florida, JDRF Australia and Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC).

President Bill Clinton and General Colin Powell were honored at A Conversation With a Living Legend in Washington, D.C., April 21 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The bipartisan event raised $5.2 million for The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Proceeds will benefit the institution’s Moon Shots Program, an unprecedented effort to significantly reduce deaths from cancer, including a pilot initiative to advance innovative pancreatic cancer research.

American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is pleased to announce that its first Leon Levy Award for Innovation in Bird Conservation has been presented to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in recognition of its eBird program, a widely-used citizen-science-driven bird database that enables sophisticated mapping and analysis of bird distributions that support conservation planning and decision-making. Read more.

Symbiosis (2011, installed 2014) by Roxy Paine acquired by the Association for Public Art with the support of the Daniel W. Dietrich II Trust, Inc.The Association for Public Art (aPA) announced today that it has received a grant from the Daniel W. Dietrich II Trust, Inc. to acquire Symbiosis (2011), a masterwork by internationally acclaimed artist Roxy Paine, currently on display on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in downtown Philadelphia.

On Wednesday, April 29, 2015, Senator Rob Teplitz (PA- D) presented Carson Long Military Academy with an EITC (Educational Improvement Tax Credit) program scholarship check for $5,000, made possible by Enterprise Rent-A-Car and the Bravo Foundation. Read more.

The Sanford J. Grossman Charitable Trust, founded philanthropist Sanford J. Grossman, PhD, has committed $3 million to establish the Dr. Sanford J. Grossman Center for Integrative Studies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The Center will focus on creating personalized medicine for treatment of Crohn’s disease, with the overarching goal of understanding and predicting disease progression. Click here.

MoneyGram a global provider of money transfer services, has announced a series of initiatives to help the Nepali people who were impacted by the April 25 earthquake. MoneyGram is making a $25,000 donation to AmeriCares to support immediate relief efforts. Learn more here.

The San Diego Zoo Kids Channel creates commercial-free, entertaining and educational television programming for the enjoyment of pediatric patients staying at children’s hospitals and families residing at Ronald McDonald Houses in San Diego, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Denver, South Dakota and Utah. The channel has been made possible through a $7.4 million donation made by Denny Sanford.

The Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS) has received $1.3 million in new funding from the John Templeton Foundation to support and enhance CTNS programming. The support will facilitate the transition of CTNS into an internal Program Unit of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU). Read more.

Herman Wilson of Houston, Texas was inspired by his agricultural education teacher in east Texas more than 62 years ago. That inspiration made an impact on him and his wife, and today they are giving back to ensure other students can have the same experience he did. The Wilsons recently donated $250,000 to establish an endowment to kick start a multi-level initiative. Wilson indicated that teachers who are able to motivate students are the heart of FFA. Learn more here.

The law firm Ober|Kaler has launched its annual Ober|Kaler Community Grants Program. The program awards $35,000 in community grants to aid nonprofit organizations serving at-risk youth living in Baltimore City and Washington, D.C. In addition to financial support, the grant will include a Volunteer Supplement. Through this supplemental program, 10-20 of Ober|Kaler’s employees will volunteer their time to the selected $15,000 grant recipient. Read more.

AARP Foundation, a grantee of the Social Innovation Fund, has awarded five community colleges generous grants over three years to implement the BACK TO WORK 50+: Women’s Economic Stability Initiative, which will help women age 50 and older find local jobs and build the financial capability to make sound decisions that reduce debt, rebuild savings and pave the way to greater financial stability. Click the link to learn more.

The Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global research and education institute dedicated to responsible land use and building resilient communities, has been awarded a $170,000 grant from the Colorado Health Foundation to continue its support for the Institute’s Building Healthy Places Initiative, which seeks to engage ULI’s global networks to shape projects and places that improve the health of people and communities worldwide. Read more here.

Carnegie Hall will honor Sanford I. Weill with the Carnegie Hall Medal of Excellence at a gala benefit on Thursday, May 28 for his outstanding leadership in business and philanthropy. Read more. 

The Nonprofit Finance Fund released the results of its 2015 State of the Sector Survey this week. The annual survey asks nonprofits in the US about their programs, financial health, and management strategies.

America’s Promise Alliance, a partnership of organizations, communities and individuals committed to improving the lives of young people, hosted its first annual “Promise Night” Awards on April 16th at the historic Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C.  The event recognized the contributions of five individuals spanning various backgrounds and sectors who have made an exceptional difference in the lives of America’s young people. The honorees were: Randall Stephenson, Chairman and CEO, AT&T Inc., Lamar Alexander, U.S. Senator (TN), Wes Moore, Founder, BridgeEdU, Beatrice Welters, Co-Founder, AnBryce Foundation, and Anthony Welters, Co-Founder, AnBryce Foundation.

Horizons National named actress Allison Williams as its first national ambassador. Horizons National is a network of community-centered education programs that take place on college, university and independent school campuses during the summer to put children on a path to success in school and life. Click the link for more.

The Ford Foundation has announced that Kristen Jarvis will become President Darren Walker’s Chief of Staff. Ms. Jarvis comes to the foundation from the White House, where she has worked closely with senior administrative leadership since 2009, most recently as deputy senior advisor and director of external relations for the First Lady. Click here for more.

Love Girls magazine honored nine girls from ages 13 to 19 for their perseverance and extraordinary accomplishments on Friday, April 10. The event is the brainchild of Jasmine Babers, publisher of Love Girls magazine, a publication focused on promoting self-esteem in girls. Read more.

The 296 Project, an Arlington based nonprofit aimed at helping veterans and active military members with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury through art therapy, has been recognized by Americans for the Arts for several nominations including the Arts Education award, Selina Roberts Ottum Award, and the Public Leadership in the Arts Award. Click here for more.

Legacy Foundation has awarded six Lake County students for the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship. Each will receive full tuition for four years to the Indiana college or university of his or her choice and a $900 yearly stipend for required books and equipment. This year’s recipients are YiQi Duan, Damia Jaqueline Garcia, Walker Lee Hedgepath, Alexander Nathan Kepchar, Athanasios “Thano” Panagiotis Liodos, and Jennifer Jasmine Mohamed. Learn more here.

Virginia Tech President Timothy Sands has appointed Charles D. Phlegar to be the university’s first vice president for advancement. Reporting July 1, Phlegar will head a new unit formed by the merger of alumni relations, development, and university relations. Click the link for more.

The Foundation Center, a source for information about philanthropy worldwide, has elected leaders from three of the most prominent U.S. foundations to its Board of Trustees. Earl Lewis, president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, Gail Christopher, vice president for policy and senior advisor for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Ana Marie Argilagos, a senior advisor at the Ford Foundation, began their terms of service at a meeting of the trustees on April 16, 2015. Read more.

The Board of Directors of Alliance for Nonprofit Management, has named Krista Vita as the Interim Director of Membership where Vita will concentrate her efforts for the Alliance around working on the Alliance’s membership and programming efforts, including working with the affinity groups, non-conference programming and the Alliance’s partnership with the Building Movement Project.

Voya Financial, Inc. celebrates Shanna Peeples, an educator from Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, Texas, who  has been named the 65th National Teacher of the Year. Peeples, along with the 2015 State Teacher of the Year winners, were recognized by President Barack Obama in a ceremony at the White House on Wednesday, April 29, 2015. Learn more here.

The Sidney Hillman Foundation has announced the winners of the 2015 Hillman Prizes in Journalism, the only major all-media journalism awards dedicated to reporting in service of social justice. Winners include: Bob Ortega, Daniel Gonzalez, Michael Kiefer, Dan Nowicki, Erin Kelly, Mariana Dale David Wallace, Michael Chow, Nick Oza, Stuart Warner, Cherrill Crosby, Edward E. Baptist, John H. Richardson, Joan Biskupic, Janet Roberts, John Shiffman, Phil Williams, Bryan Staples, Kevin Wisniewski, and Jelani Cobb.

UC Davis Assistant Professor Mark Huising is a recipient of The Hartwell Foundation 2014 Individual Biomedical Research Award to support his early-stage research toward a cure for juvenile diabetes. The Hartwell Foundation award will provide $300,000 in direct cost over three years to support Huising’s research looking at the biological signals and triggers affecting a small pool of cells in the pancreas that could be essential in regenerating control of blood sugar in this disease. Read more.

Rasmuson Foundation has announced the selection of four artists from the Lower 48 who will each spend eight weeks this fall at arts organizations in Alaska as part of the 2015 Rasmuson Foundation Artist Residency Program. Amy Casey, a painter from Cleveland, Ohio; Kimi Eisele is a writer and performance artist from Tucson, Arizona; Samantha Hill, an interdisciplinary artist from Chicago; and Cannupa Hanska Luger works mainly in ceramic mixed media and resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Click here for more.

The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is pleased to announce that The Cultural Properties Review Committee, a committee of the Heritage Preservation Division of the State of New Mexico’s Department of Cultural Affairs, is presenting a lifetime achievement award to Agapita (Pita) and Belarmino (Mino) Lopez, commemorating forty years devoted to the preservation of Georgia O’Keeffe’s Home & Studio in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

On April 30th, the World of Children Award organization, dedicated to setting the gold standard in child advocacy, hosted its inaugural 2015 Alumni Honors event at Il Cielo in Beverly Hills emceed by TV Personality, Actress, and CEO of ModernMom, Brooke Burke-Charvet. The 2015 Alumni Honorees include: Jessica Markowitz (2009 World of Children Youth Honoree) of Richard’s Rwanda IMPUHWE who educates girls in Rwanda; Triveni Acharya (2013 World of Children Humanitarian Honoree) of the Rescue Foundation who rescues trafficked girls from brothels in India; and Dr. Ricardo Bennun (2007 Health Honoree) of Asociación PIEL who provides surgery for children with facial deformities in Argentina. For more, view here.

The National Father’s Day Council has named Morris Goldfarb, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (G-III), as a 2015 “Father of the Year.” The awards will be presented at the 74th Annual Father of the Year Awards luncheon at the New York Hilton Hotel on Thursday, June 18, 2015, with proceeds benefiting Save the Children’s U.S. Programs.

Henry Anhalt, DO, a renowned pediatric endocrinologist with deep clinical and industry experience related to type 1 diabetes, has been named the first chief medical officer of T1D Exchange, a nonprofit organization that has created a new paradigm fostering collaboration among patients, physicians, researchers and industry to speed discovery of better therapies for type 1 diabetes.

United Way recognized UPS, John Deere, Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Wells Fargo at its Community Leaders Conference in Dallas, TX. UPS and John Deere were recognized for employee engagement, for their strategies for encouraging employees to volunteer, promote or donate to United Way-led community solutions. Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Wells Fargo were recognized for consumer engagement and Corporate Social Responsibility engagement. Learn more here.

Starlight Children’s Foundation has been named strategic advisor on the screen adaptation of Sharon Draper’s New York Times best-selling young adult novel, Out of My Mind. The book was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Young Adult Novels of All Time, and has sold over 1.5 million copies since it’s publish date.

Mathematica Policy Research welcomes Thomas Grannemann and Sarah Hughes as senior fellows. Grannemann, an expert in health care economics, policy, and program evaluation, will work in Mathematica’s Health Research Division. Hughes is an experienced international project director and survey expert. Read more.

Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of American Luncheon honored several women and girls for their contributions to those facing Crohn’s disease. Eliza Bolen, executive vice president of Oscar de la Renta, was honored as the Woman of Distinction in Fashion. Cyma Zarghami, president of Viacom’s Kids and Family Group, was honored as the Woman of Distinction in Business. Lara Englebardt Metz of Lara Metz Nutrition was honored as the Woman of Distinction in Nutrition & Health. Chloe Hubbe, a ninth grade student at Columbia Preparatory School, was honored as this year’s Rising Star. Learn more here.

The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation have awarded 12 recipients of its prestigious Hertz Fellowship. The fellows are:  Katie Bodner, an undergraduate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Jordan Cotler, an undergraduate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cole Graham, an undergraduate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Adam S. Jermyn, an undergraduate at the California Institute of Technology; Ben Mildenhall, an undergraduate at Stanford University; Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski, currently pursuing a PhD at Harvard University; Maxim Rabinovich, currently pursuing a PhD at UC Berkeley; Ben Shababo, currently pursuing a PhD at UC Berkeley; Ravi Sheth, an undergraduate at Rice University; Alexander Siegenfeld, an undergraduate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Charles Tschirhart, an undergraduate at the California Institute of Technology; and Katherine Xue, a graduate student at University of Washington. Click the link for more.

News about opportunities, initiatives

The AbilityFirst 2015 Stroll & Roll fundraiser, held on the legendary Universal Studios backlot, raised $575,000 to date to help provide quality programs and services to children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities. The annual event was presented by Comerica Bank.

Students and educators from 18 elementary/middle schools spanning the St. Louis and Southern Illinois region convened for a nutrition and NFL-themed reward summit hosted by the St. Louis Rams, National Dairy Council and Midwest Dairy Council, and in collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture on April 17th. The annual event rewarded students for their efforts and achievements with Fuel Up to Play 60 – a program that encourages students to make healthier choices and commit to at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

As part of an ongoing effort to strengthen Jewish camps and to offer the camp experience to more Jewish children, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s JCamp180 program engages Jewish camp leaders in best practices, helping them to raise money, improve their facilities and technology, and grow attendance. Over the past nine years, the program has contributed more than $13 million in matching grant funds and $11 million in consulting services. Learn more.

The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon named the American Parkinson Disease Association as the official charity of all walking divisions in 2015. The 38th annual event, which will take place May 16 and 17, offers a walking division for the full marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K which will help raise awareness about the disease.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act – a civil rights milestone being celebrated in cities nationwide. ADA 25 Chicago officially launched on Friday, April 17 with numerous announcements of commemorative public awareness projects and substantive partner programs happening this year (and for years to come) in the critical areas of education, employment, community inclusion and technology.

The culinary team from The Greenbrier Sporting Club recently volunteered to help with Communities In Schools of Greenbrier County at the Moms and More Breakfast. The free event was held on Thursday, April 9th at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School with six Sporting Club staff members participating, including Director of Food and Beverage, Clay Elkins.

On April 15, 2015, Artist Drue Kataoka launched a web and mobile interactive art installation titled “Touch Our Future” in collaboration with Embrace Innovations. The goal of the artwork was, through participation, to raise awareness for infant mortality and insight into the similar yet different experiences of global motherhood.

The Screen Actors Guild Foundation broke ground on a 4,000 square foot flexible screening, performance, and educational program space located at 247 West 54th Street on Tuesday, April 28th.  The construction and design of the new facility is the culmination of a multi-year effort to fully bring the SAG Foundation New York Actors Center to fruition. Read more.

Graebel Relocation sponsored Experience Big Idea Project, a fundraiser that supports young leaders’ contributions that have helped the Denver metropolitan area communities, and the nation. The charitable event was held at the Space Art Gallery in Denver, Colorado on April 9. This event incorporated live music and interactive experiences that were led by students of The Big Idea Project. Read more.

The National Guard Youth Foundation is launching a workforce development pilot program with the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) to provide additional skills training, access to technical programs and job placement opportunities to graduates of the Louisiana National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, an alternative education program that provides mentorship, life skills and a pathway to graduation for youth who were previously disconnected from education and the workforce. NBCC has pledged to facilitate training and hiring for hundreds of Louisiana Youth ChalleNGe Program graduates through its Gulf Coast Chamber members.

Dedicated to inspiring a love of reading in children, the SAG Foundation’s Storyline Online, sponsored by the Entertainment Industry Foundation, is an interactive children’s literacy website that streams 29 imaginatively produced videos featuring celebrated actors reading award-winning children’s books as illustrations come to life. Kevin Costner and Jillian Estell join an illustrious group of actors who have read for the SAG Foundation’s Storyline Online including Annette Bening, James Earl Jones, Rita Moreno, Betty White and Elijah Wood.

In response to the devastation caused by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Nepal, Global Impact has established the Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund to address critical humanitarian needs in the hardest hit regions. This fund supports some of the most respected charities already on-site and providing help.

AmeriCares responded to the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Nepal on April 25th, causing buildings to collapse, setting off avalanches on Mount Everest and catapulting the region into chaos. To donate to AmeriCares International Disaster Relief Fund go to americares.org/nepalearthquake.

Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, has launched an emergency fund to assist Salesian missionaries in Nepal who are working to provide aid and emergency relief to those affected by Saturday’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake that has devastated Kathmandu and surrounding villages. To raise money for the fund, the Catholic nonprofit aid organization has launched an emergency fundraising campaign and is issuing an urgent appeal for donations. Go to www.SalesianMissions.org/Nepal for more information and to give to the relief efforts.

AARP Foundation President Lisa Marsh Ryerson has announced that AARP Foundation has created a relief fund to help the victims of the devastating earthquake in Nepal – especially the 600,000 people over 60 who are expected to have been affected. The fund will help provide aid to the victims of this disaster. AARP and AARP Foundation will match dollar-for-dollar contributions up to $225,000. Click here for more.

On May 1st, Citi and the New York College Collective held the 3rd annual National College Decision Day Draft Event, where 150 New York City students announced their college choice. The National College Decision Day Draft Event serves as an opportunity to recognize and distinguish the importance of college, and acknowledge the hard work of these students. Read more.

The Mount Sinai Health System and software company par8o are creating a seamless referral process for the Health System’s care providers. Mount Sinai chose par8o’s platform because it is easy to use, can be integrated into existing systems, and can be customized for each practice. par8o’s software also enables practices to search the Health System for appropriate providers when the time comes to refer a patient. Jeremy Boal, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Mount Sinai Health System says, “Effective referrals are a foundation of ensuring high quality care across patient populations, and this new operating system will confirm that every referred patient is seen, and seen quickly.” For more information, click here.

The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation’s Digital Organizing Summit held April 12-14 brought national experts in community organizing and digital engagement to San Diego to identify best practices and strategies for creating effective change in social justice movements. Read more.

The Rising celebrates the renewal and rebirth of the City of New Orleans ten years after Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst disasters in American history, and examines how art and photography were central to the revitalization of New Orleans. In both rebuilding the local culture and its rendition to the world the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the first arts institution in New Orleans to open after the storm, the New Orleans Photo Alliance, formed in 2006, and Prospect.1, a city-wide arts exhibition organized in 2008, a collective arts movement fostered a creative outlet that helped enable a community to recover and begin the process of healing.

The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, the nationally recognized non-profit and youth development organization that provides multi-layered support, guidance and academic services to New York City area youth, will mark its 20th anniversary on Thursday, May 14 at New York’s Gotham Hall, with the 11th edition of its annual VOICES benefit. More information can be found here: http://brotherhood-sistersol.org

Global retailer H&M, Hennes & Mauritz, celebrated Earth Day by encouraging customers to become involved and make an impact towards a more sustainable fashion future with H&M’s Garment Recycling initiative and more sustainable fashion choices. Bring your unwanted clothing to your nearest H&M store and in return, participants will receive 20% off their next H&M purchase which they can use towards any of H&M’s more sustainable fashion pieces. Read more.

The New York Center for Children hosted its 20th Anniversary Spring Cocktail Reception on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at Bar at Clement at the Peninsula Hotel in New York City. The event raised money in support of the organization’s mission to support victims of child abuse and their families with anything they might need. For more, click here.

On Thursday, May 28th, Detroit Friendship House in Hamtramck will hold a fundraiser to benefit its food pantry services. Friends Fowling for Food, bowling with a football, will be a two hour event including food and t shirt with your registration. Follow the link for more information.

Founded by former Disney Interactive executives, Zig Zag Zoom is dedicated to the mission of engaging mobile gamers to have fun and do good.  Supporting this mission, the company is launching Tree Story, a groundbreaking experience where nurturing “virtual pet” trees results in planting Real Trees. A Tree Story trailer, with voice over from Ed Begley, Jr. can be seen here.

This Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day), Jewish Communal Fund is pleased to announce that it has lowered the minimum investment requirement for the Market Vectors Israel ETF from $50,000 to $5,000, making this investment option more accessible to its donor community.

On September 24, 2015, in commemoration of the 1965 Executive Order 11246, The OFCCP Institute, a national nonprofit employer association based in Washington, D.C., will host and celebrate the 50th anniversary of this significant civil rights milestone with a black tie gala event at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in our Nation’s Capital. Read more.

GUESS, the denim brand, is proud to support for the second year, Los Angeles based nonprofit organization, Peace Over Violence in its mission to end sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence. In honor of Denim Day 2015, the GUESS Foundation donated $2 for every pair of jeans and select accessories sold including a watch, jewelry, shoes, fragrance, handbag and eyewear to Peace Over Violence from Monday, April 20th through Wednesday, April 29th.

Safe Kids Worldwide hosted Safe Kids Day, presented by Nationwide – an event that brings together families to raise awareness and funds to prevent childhood injuries. Read more.

Cure Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) hosted two fashioned themed fundraising events just in time for Mother’s Day to support important breast cancer research efforts. The organization kicked off its schedule with an Emily & Ashley Trunk Show on Thursday, April 30th and Sunday, May 3rd CBCF teamed up with Bloomingdale’s in the Mall at Short Hills in Short Hills, NJ for a Mother’s Day style preview and day of shopping in support of the organization. Bloomingdale’s donated 10% of all sales to CBCF. Learn more here.

The Vera Institute of Justice launched a publicly accessible online resource center to build on the success of these programs. As part of the Expanding Access to Postsecondary Education Project, the resource center assists state departments of corrections and state and local policymakers interested in implementing and expanding quality higher education programs in prison and post-release, including the development of policies and practices to increase the participation of incarcerated individuals in these programs.

Conquer Paralysis Now will host the 16th annual Racing to Recovery Gala Saturday, May 23, 2014 at the Lucas Oil Estate in Carmel. The Gala will begin with a cocktail reception at 5 p.m., followed by the award presentation at 5:30 p.m. and a live auction immediately afterward. For more, click here.

The Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business’ Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership Center hosted “The Giving Millennial”— a Nonprofit Leadership Panel where top thought leaders shared key learnings and tips for engaging the Millennial generation—as volunteers, donors and employees.

SheKnows Media scholarship is providing an opportunity to attend PMDMC 2015 for free. Due to the generous donation from Lisa Stone, Chief Community Officer of SheKnows Media and co-founder of BlogHer, Inc., Greater Public is excited to announce the SheKnows Media Scholarship for young professional women.

Association Forum of Chicagoland  is continuing as the exclusive association partner of Lippman Connects’ June 25 Attendee Acquisition Roundtable (AAR) and the July 30 Exhibit Sales Roundtable (ESR), both of which will be held in Chicago. AAR is a one-day, invitation-only workshop, where an intimate group of event marketers learn from peers and subject matter experts to apply the latest tactics and technologies to find, attract and retain attendees. ESR provides an intimate group of exhibit and sponsorship sales as well as service professionals the opportunity to meet, network and learn from peers and a select group of subject matter experts in a hands-on, interactive format. For more, click here.

In Partnership with Cleveland Metroparks & Pure Water Technology, Drink Local. Drink Tap. will be hosting its second 4 Miles 4 Water event on May 9th. To register and learn more, click here.

KeyPoint Government Solutions, a provider of security-clearance background investigations and screening services to the U.S. Government, has launched KeyPoint Cares, an ongoing initiative to support the efforts of its nationwide network of employees who wish to volunteer in their communities. The program’s kickoff event took place this month with a project for Crossroads Safehouse, a domestic violence shelter in Northern Colorado. Read more.

Citi Credit Card’s new fundraiser, Food for Thought, is a part of its multi-year relationship supporting Share our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign to end childhood hunger. No Kid Hungry provides food to children in need and teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals. Now, each time a Citi credit cardmember dines out with their enrolled Citi credit card through June 15, Citi will make a donation up to a total of $500,000 – enough to provide 5 million meals to children in need. Click here for more.

In honor of Earth Day, iMatrix, a local provider of websites and online marketing solutions, gave back to the community by participating in the Lopez Canyon/Penasquitos Canyon Clean-Up Project, on Sunday, April 26, 2015. More.

The Rona Barrett Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide affordable housing and supportive services for low-income seniors, broke ground at the site of the new Golden Inn & Village (GIV) in Santa Ynez Valley Friday, April 24, 2015. The Rona Barrett Foundation in partnership with Housing Authority of the County of Santa Barbara and Surf Development were joined by local representatives and dignitaries, including Congresswoman Lois Capps and 3rd District Supervisor Doreen Farr, in celebrating the construction of the GIV at the groundbreaking ceremony. For more, click here.

The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) will host its 11th Annual Gala & Leadership Awards on May 13, 2015 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C. This year CHLI is celebrating its commitment to Latino youth and is launching its CHLI Global Leaders Alumni Association. CHLI will be honoring exceptional leaders and institutions that have been involved with CHLI in the past and have influenced our country’s future leaders. Read more.

The AbilityFirst Lawrence L. Frank Center will salute the world of entertainment  by recognizing people with disabilities as the true “stars” with its annual Hooray For Hollywood celebration on May 9, 2015 beginning at 6:15 pm. For more, click here.

New York Public Library is developing an e-reader app that will provide access to a universe of digital books, including contributions from publishers and hundreds of classics already in the public domain, to create a book collection for students aged 4-18 from low-income families.  The New York Public Library will work with a network of top librarians through the Digital Public Library of America to connect young readers with books that match their reading levels and interests as well as Firstbook, a book-donation non-profit, to help make sure eBooks reach students in low-income families.

The American Bankers Association’s Community Engagement Foundation is requesting submissions for its annual Community Commitment Awards to recognize banks’ essential involvement in their communities. The awards will honor innovative, high impact contributions banks make to the customers and communities they serve. The entry period will extend to July 1, 2015. Read more.

Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres and Mercury Insurance partnered for the second year to host a “packing party” to assemble care packages for Marines and Sailors from I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton California. More than 50 Mercury employees and agents, Padres players and community representatives stuffed 1,000 backpacks in right field at Petco Park following the April 29 Padres-Astros game. Click here for more.

Len Holmes, an International Tour Management Institute certified tour guide and tour director, and his friend Bob Frick will bike across the country for the third time to raise funds and awareness for Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley. On May 9, 2015, the dynamic duo will kick-off their 3,400 mile journey at Muir Ridge, the newest Habitat community in the area. Along the way, Bob and Len will generate awareness for affordable home-ownership by stopping by to visit a number of Habitat for Humanity affiliates before ending their journey in Savannah, Georgia.

SeriousFun Children’s Network has announced that Jamie Foxx and Michael Keaton will join the previously announced all-star lineup for their Los Angeles benefit, which includes performances by Carole King, Jay Leno, Natalie Cole, and Burt Bacharach. Also appearing in the show will be Renée Zellweger, Danny DeVito, Annette Bening, and Anjelica Huston.  The event titled “An Evening of SeriousFun Celebrating the Legacy of Paul Newman” will be filled with music, comedy and meaningful stories. The event will take place on Thursday, May 14, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre. Click here.

The Citi Foundation and America’s Promise Alliance has launched the Youth Opportunity Fund, a $3 million grant fund to support innovative programs that prepare low-income youth for today’s workforce. A new component of the Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress initiative, these efforts focus on deepening local programming and expanding college and career opportunities for urban youth, ages 16 to 24.

The USTA Foundation, the national charitable organization of the United States Tennis Association, is partnering with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make tennis more readily available to VA patients. The three-year partnership will include organizing tennis clinics for VA medical facilities, linking VA medical facilities with community resources, and providing consulting and design services for VA facilities interested in upgrading or building tennis courts. Read more.

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.