News about grants, gifts
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation made a second $1 million gift to a breakthrough program at Barrow Neurological Institute that is working to reduce the incidence of falls among patients with movement disorders. The gift will be invested in staff and more than $400,000 worth of equipment for The Bob & Renee Parsons Fall Prevention Center, a specialty program at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center.
The Detroit Development Fund, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation have developed a $6.5 million lending program for Detroit businesses owned by entrepreneurs of color and businesses that primarily hire people of color. The Entrepreneurs of Color Fund will boost economic opportunity for minority-owned businesses in Detroit by providing them with greater access to capital and business assistance, allowing them to grow, hire local and further contribute to the city’s recovery.
The Alaska Community Foundation awarded scholarships to 52 students in 2015. Scholarships at The Alaska Community Foundation, which provide educational opportunities to students in many different fields, range in size from $500 to $20,000, with some providing multi-year support.
The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) received a $5.65 million gift from Helen Dorris, a San Diego mental health advocate and founder of TSRI’s Dorris Neuroscience Center.
The Independence Blue Cross Foundation will invest $1.8 million in grants to bolster the health care workforce, address health priorities and build healthier communities across southeastern Pennsylvania in 2015.
Marin School of Environmental Leadership has accepted a Nissan Leaf as a donation from Nancy and Ed Boyce, long time supporters of the school. The Boyces explained their giving of the car for transportation and environmental education. The donation was accepted and honored on September 19th as a part of National Drive Electric Week.
In the second quarter of 2015, Rasmuson Foundation made 45 Tier 1 awards for a total of $815,720. The Tier 1 program is a cornerstone of Rasmuson Foundation’s grantmaking and provides grants up to $25,000 for capital projects, technology upgrades, capacity building, program expansion and creative works.
The DMC Foundation made more than $300,000 in new grants in August to programs that promote the well-being of the general public in the metropolitan Detroit area through the support of health-related research, education and community benefit activities. Among the recipients were the American Diabetes Association, VHS of Michigan Inc., Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, Southwest Solutions Inc., Starfish Family Services, and Tomorrow’s Child.
News about people, groups
The Field Museum named Le Monte G. Booker of Chicago as the Museum’s Chief Financial Officer. Booker fills the role of departing CFO Jim Croft, PhD who announced his retirement in June.
The National Hispanic Media Coalition honored five highly esteemed and respected Latino media professionals at its 13th Annual NHMC Local Impact Awards Luncheon in Los Angeles. 2015 Recipients were Daniella Guzman, Rick Lozano, Diane Medina, Alejandro Mendoza, and Lynette Romero.
The National Hispanic Media Coalition has elected Francisco X. Gutiérrez, of Arizona, as the new Chair of their Board, and Kathryn A. Sabbeth, from Chapel Hill, NC, as a new board member.
Absolut Elyx and Water For People have joined forces. The five-year partnership will bring access to safe water to more than 100,000 people worldwide.
Mercy Ships is the 50th company to join the G4 Alliance, a network of organizations dedicated to advocating for the right of every human being to have universal access to high-quality, life-saving, safe and affordable surgical, obstetric, trauma and anesthesia care.
Workato, the connector of cloud apps, has created a new business suite for non-profit organizations. The Workato Integrated Non-profit Suite (WINS), designed to reduce administrative costs by automating tedious business tasks, will enable non-profit organizations to reduce their administrative burden and gain more time and energy to focus on their cause.
On September 27-28 at Mashable’s Social Good Summit in New York City, Liz Deering – Founder of 121Giving – will gather with Adrian Grenier, Sienna Miller and other industry leading experts looking to make a social impact in today’s society to discuss how to go about doing so.
Rick Nahmias, founder and executive director of Food Foward, won $12,500 at the inaugural Philanthropitch International competition in Austin on September 10th a pitch competition for social innovators. Food Forward rescues fresh produce and donates 100% to over 300 organizations in downtown Los Angeles.
Donna Gallup becomes the newly appoint president and CEO of American Family Housing. Her vision includes permanently ending the cycle of homelessness.
The American Fraternal Alliance elected Patrick L. Dees, Executive Vice President, Fraternal, WoodmenLife, as Chair of its Board of Directors.
The Vera Institute of Justice named Jordan Kessler as Director of Development. Kessler most recently served as the New York director of major gifts for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
News about opportunities, initiatives
Cantabile Chamber Chorale celebrates its 28th anniversary with concerts from composers and music that affirms their commitment to perform new and underperformed music. The concert series begins October 24th.
The Breakthrough Prize and Khan Academy are joining forces to launch the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, an annual, global competition for science and math students to inspire creative thinking about fundamental concepts in the life sciences, physics or mathematics. The deadline for submissions is October 7, 2015.
Honeywell and NASA’s FMA Live! Forces in Motion hip-hop physics education program launched its fall tour last week in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Honeywell and NASA created FMA Live! to inspire middle school students to explore STEM concepts and careers. The program addresses Forces and Motion learning objectives outlined by the Next Generation Science Education Standards for students in grades 5-8.
Starting with four schools in Edmonton, the Nissan Kickoff Project (formerly called Back in the Game), in partnership with the Canadian Football League, has returned for its second year to give more Canadian youth the opportunity to experience the educational, developmental and social benefits that organized football provides. This year, nearly 1,200 students from 26 schools in 19 cities and eight provinces will receive the specific support they need to play football, including financial funding, equipment, uniforms and motivational events.
Thursday, October 8, the Renova Fort Ross Foundation will host Fort Ross Fun-Raiser to benefit Fort Ross State Historic Park children and youth programs. The event will feature live theater, magic, creative twists and Bay Area delicacies and wines.
On September 25th, the Festival of Children Foundation will host Canstruction Orange County. Canstruction is a design competition in which canned food, donated to the Orange County Food Bank, are used to build sculptures.
PCS Edventures!.com, which specializes in K-12 STEM education, partnered with the Boys & Girls Club Day for Kids event on September 19. The nationwide event was devoted to celebrating kids.
The Community First Fund invites the public to the Friends of the Fund Luncheon which includes a networking reception and awards ceremony. Juan Williams, a journalist and political analyst for Fox News, will be the keynote speaker.
Movie TV Tech Geeks and the North Shore Animal League America to glamorize available pets on the entertainment website in an effort to rescue animals from puppy mills and overcrowded shelters.
Philanthropy Leadership Advancement Nexus- Master Gift Officers three-day immersion event will take place in October with Sharlene Simon and Julie Anne Green in Washington DC. This three day event will help development professionals navigated their relationships with donors, goals, asks, and stewardship.
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.
