6.24.19 US News

Jun 24, 2019 | News, Philanthropy Journal

Pacific Foods distributes $20,000 hunger fighting grants, United Way names new president, Common Impact launches volunteering evaluation platform, and more.

News about grants, gifts

The Boston Foundation selected organizations to receive the foundation’s single and multi-year discretionary grants as well as 22 Open Door Grants, their new grant program for rewarding organizations that may not fit within the traditional grantmaking framework. All told nearly $3.7 million in grants will be dispersed to Boston organizations.

The Western Connecticut Health Network (WCHN) received a $1 million gift from Eric Moskow to establish the first chair in primary care at WCHN.

Part of the St David’s Foundation grant will fund a dental van to help address the need for dental care in local communities.

St. David’s Foundation distributed their summer grants package, a total of $37 million to support communal dental care, childhood resilience, women’s health services, nutrition support, and safety net clinics.

The United Methodist Retirement Communities won a $14,500 grant from the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation. This gift will support caregiver training and technology to enhance behavioral healthcare for seniors in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

The Surdna Foundation awarded a $27,500 grant to the Shepherd Higher Education Consortium on Poverty (SHECP) to help provide experiential learning opportunities for college students through the SHECP Summer Internship Program.

Pacific Foods selected three Oregon nonprofits to receive $20,000 grants meant to help fight hunger, seed healthy eating, and promote environmental stewardship. The grant recipients include Schoolyard Farms, Urban Gleaners, and Zenger Farm.

Lunches of Love began during the 2009 Christmas break and has since distributed over two million free lunches.

Through their charitable giving program and selected by popular vote, Reliant Energy employees collected donations for a $100,000 award for Lunches of Love to help provide free sack lunches for Bend County children in need. Additional $30,000 and $20,000 awards went to the first and second runners up: Shriners Hospital for Children – Houston and Bo’s Place, respectively.

The Eisner Foundation split a $1 million grant five ways between grantees 826LA, the Alliance for Children’s Rights, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles.

News about people, groups

The Ringling College of Art and Design received the Council for Advancement and Support of Education 2019 Educational Fundraising Award for Overall Performance for a Private Professional or Specialized Institution.

McCormick, the new United Way president, has more than 25 years of leadership experience.

Suzanne McCormick was promoted by United Way Worldwide to United Way president. McCormick, who previously served as president and CEO of United Way Suncoast in Tampa, will succeed Mary Sellers, who served as United Way president since 2017.

Kirsten Seckler joined Shatterproof as chief marketing and communications officer. Seckler previously spent 20 years with the Special Olympics, most recently as the global chief brand and communications officer.

Actors Diane Keaton and Maggie Q have joined the Social Compassion in Legislation board of directors.

Three new members joined the Camp Fire national board of trustees: Sonya Richburg, Ken Schoeneck, and Jeanetta Darno.

CleanChoice Energy celebrated surpassing a $2 million in lifetime donations milestone.

Giving Compass appointed Jina Heverley as managing director and general manager.

Kimberly Zimmer, new president and CEO of Helen Keller Services for the Blind, has more than 15 years of leadership experience.

Kimberly Zimmer was named the new president and chief executive officer of Helen Keller Services. Zimmer succeeds Joseph Bruno, who served as president and CEO for three years.

CFRE International added 200 new individuals to their class of Certified Fund Raising Executives (CFREs), a group now totaling 6,500 professionals around the world. Individuals granted the CFRE credential have met a series of standards which include tenure in the profession, education, and demonstrated fundraising achievement for not-for-profit organizations.

UST began disbursing $13.6 million in cash back for their service reducing anticipated unemployment claims within the past year to its 700+ nonprofit program participants.

HealthShare Exchange’s Don Reed has been promoted to senior vice present and chief operating officer.

Give an Hour founder and president Barbara Van Dahlen was appointed executive director of the President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) task force. The PREVENTS task force was created by President Trump’s executive order signed earlier this year.

News about opportunities, initiatives

BoardSource is seeking session presenters for their 2020 BoardSource Leadership Forum. Click here for more information about the conference and the call for presenters. The submission deadline is August 16th.

The Giving USA series is the longest-running report of its kind in America.

Giving USA published Giving USA 2019: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2018. According to the report, Americans gave $427.71 billion to charities in 2018. Total charitable giving rose 0.7% measured in current dollars over the revised total of $424.74 billion contributed in 2017. Adjusted for inflation, total giving declined 1.7%.

Common Impact launched a new online platform to help nonprofit organizations evaluate their readiness for skills-based volunteering. The platform, Capacity Commons, was developed with support from the Charles Schwab and Helen Foundation.

World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. launched its #SHOUTsafety campaign, an information sharing social media initiative meant to help reduce preventable injuries. The campaign features a “10 Top Summer Safety Traps” list, including information on trampoline parks, water safety, and backyard play.

The National Hispanic Media Coalition’s annual Latino Scene Showcase will take place in North Hollywood, CA, on Wednesday, June 26th. The showcase includes performances of 4-6 minute original scenes written, starring, and directed by Latino talent. Click here to RSVP for the event.

The John A. Hartford Foundation released their 2018 annual report summarizing the work the foundation accomplished together with their grantees, partners, health systems, and leaders in aging and health. Click here to access the report.


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.

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