News about grants, gifts
The United Methodist Retirement Communities (UMRC) Foundation received a grant of $50,000 from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. This grant supports outdoor fitness equipment as part of UMRC’s new Kresge Courtyard and Wellness Walk at its Chelsea Retirement Community campus.
Jane Walentas ’66 and David Walentas in Jane’s Corner at Moore College of Art & Design, October 2017. Photo by Academic Image.
New York artist and philanthropist Jane Walentas ’66 and her husband, David Walentas, made a gift of $5 million to Moore College of Art and Design. The gift, the single largest donation in the 170-year history of the College, will be used to create the Walentas Visionary Woman Scholarships. The endowment will provide scholarships each year to 10 non-Pennsylvania residents accepted to Moore who display exceptional artistic and academic promise.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) presented $3.8 million at their annual Grants Banquet held at The Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, CA. Grants were awarded to 74 entertainment-related nonprofit organizations, scholarship programs, film restoration and humanitarian groups as part of HFPA’s year-round giving efforts.
Rutgers donors committed $250.9 million in 2018-2019, surpassing last year’s record of $223.4 million by more than 12 percent. Philanthropic commitments at Rutgers have grown more than 40 percent over the last five years, with support for the university’s academic health division driving some of the largest increases.
Aspen Meadows looking towards lodges, Photo credit: Dan Bayer
Lynda and Stewart Resnick donated $10 million for the establishment of the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, a new center on the Aspen Institute campus in Aspen, Colorado dedicated to the work of Herbert Bayer.
With a challenge match of $1 million, Morris Animal Foundation partnered with the V Foundation for Cancer Research to raise $2 million in support of the Morris Animal Foundation Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. The match was met as part of the V Foundation Wine Celebration that raised more than $7 million during a full weekend of events in the Napa Valley, Aug. 1-4. The 2019 event fundraising total includes $5 million in “Fund-A-Need” donations to support the V Foundation’s Canine Comparative Oncology program.
News about people, groups
The Council for Economic Education (CEE) and Invest in Girls (IIG) are merging to expand their efforts with students and schools, community groups, corporations and foundations to provide and advocate for financial literacy programming. IIG’s main office will remain in Boston and operate as a program of New York City-based CEE. Staff from both organizations will continue in their current roles.
Kesha M. Pate
Dance for Life, and its parent organization, Chicago Dancers United (CDU), appointed Kesha M. Pate to the position of executive director, effective August 1st. Pate will provide vision, strategic direction, fundraising leadership and management expertise to shape the organization’s identity and strategic growth, in accordance with CDU’s mission.
The Colorado Health Foundation named Rebecca “Beka” Warren as the recipient of the 2019 Dr. Virgilio Licona Community Health Leadership Award. Named after Dr. Licona, a nationally recognized social justice and community health advocate, this award program seeks to honor on-the-ground leaders who are overcoming critical health barriers and bringing health in reach for Coloradans with the greatest needs
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) awarded $12,000 in educational scholarships to four dependents of current NASE members: Kristian Davis, Benbrook, Texas; Emily Woltmann, Lisle, Illinois; Dana Scheetz, Alexandria, Virginia; and Anna Kristiansen, Makanda, Illinois.
Safe Voices will become the first pet-friendly domestic violence shelter in the state of Maine with the help of $40,000 in grants from RedRover, Purina Purple Leash Project and GreaterGood.org. This marks RedRover’s 100th Safe Housing grant given that enables a domestic violence shelter to create pet-friendly space.
Philanthropy University named Leila Makarechi Vice President of Partnerships. In this role she oversees the organization’s financial and learner acquisition growth. Previously, Makarechi was head of government partnerships at Coursera, where she managed the go-to-market strategy and millions in enterprise revenue from governments and organizations seeking to nurture a more competitive workforce.
The Boston Foundation selectedT.J. Rose, Partner at Abry Partners, and Elyse Cherry, CEO of BlueHub Capital, to join the Board for five-year terms that end June 30, 2024.
News about opportunities, initiatives
The RARE Patient Advocacy Summit will take place September 18th-20th at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina in San Diego, CA.
Radical Partners, Miami’s social impact accelerator, is seeking applicants for the 6th cohort of their flagship leadership development program, Social Entrepreneurship Bootcamp. This 5-month, intensive training program seeks to increase the impact and sustainability of local leaders working to address South Florida’s most pressing issues. Applications for the program close at 11:59 p.m. on August 25th.
Registration is open for the 3rd Annual Community Symposium on the Molecular Basis of ME/CFS at Stanford University, sponsored by Open Medicine Foundation, that will take place on Saturday, September 7th.
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