Crypto and blockchain infrastructure provider Binance has committed US$ 10 million minimum to help the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine through its Binance Charity Foundation. The donation will be split between major intergovernmental organizations and nonprofit organizations already on the ground, including UNICEF, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, iSans and People in Need, to help support displaced children and families in Ukraine and its neighboring countries.

Global humanitarian organization, Alight, has sent a team of aid workers to Poland to help support the hundreds of thousands of people who have been forced to flee Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

RBC is donating CA$ 250,000 to support immediate humanitarian efforts in Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada. RBC’s support includes $200,000 to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal and an additional $50,000 to assist in providing mental health related supports to the Ukrainian community in Canada.

CIBC is donating CA$ 200,000 to three organizations focused on providing immediate humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine. Canadians can make a donation during this difficult time to the UNICEF Canada Ukraine Appeal, the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal, and the United Nations Refugee Agency Canada.

Samaritan’s Purse deployed disaster response specialists to Poland and Romania in the wake of the conflict in Ukraine. This team is conducting rapid needs assessments in countries neighboring Ukraine to determine how the international Christian relief organization can meet emergency needs resulting from the invasion.

Scotiabank has made a donation of CA$ 200,000 to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal to support relief efforts for those affected by recent events in Ukraine and surrounding countries.

Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED), released the following statement on the Russian invasion of Ukraine: “CED condemns Russia’s unlawful, unprovoked, full-scale assault on the innocent citizens of the sovereign nation of Ukraine. Russia has even more broadly assaulted a stable, rules-based international order that provides safety, security, and prosperity for all. CED supports the unified efforts of the United States government, NATO, and the global community, to respond swiftly and strongly to Russia’s blatant invasion of Ukraine, a severe violation of international law and national sovereignty—two fundamental principles that underpin a stable and prosperous global international order.”

iA Financial Group made a CA$ 100,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Relief Fund.

Distributel Communications and Primus Communications will be waiving all long-distance fees for their home phone customers for calls made to Ukraine.

Desjardins Group made a CA$ 100,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Relief Fund.

The PenFed Foundation provided a grant to support Fort Bragg family members impacted by recent rapid deployments to Europe due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. 

Meridian made a donation of CA$ 50,000 to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Relief Fund.

News about grants, gifts

The National 4-H Council received a US$50 million gift from MacKenzie Scott, which will support “positive youth development” for nearly six million kids and their families. 4-H programs help kids and teens across the country complete health, science and other projects during after-school programs and other venues.

Meijer will donate US$ 1.2 million to dozens of Boys & Girls Clubs serving its communities across Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Each of the 24 Clubs identified will receive $50,000 to invest in educational and developmental programs for local youth.

An anonymous donor purchased a 27,500-square-foot building in Raleigh, North Carolina and is allowing CLI Prison Alliance, formerly Christian Library International, to occupy the space rent-free. Additional donors also stepped up to purchase a forklift, a racking system that is up to code, and updated computer equipment for the warehouse.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) received a US$ 7.1 million climate risk insurance payment from the African Risk Capacity, ARC-Replica to help support 204,000 people in drought-affected regions of Mali including Bandiagara, Gao, Kayes and Segou. With this climate insurance payment, WFP will provide early food assistance through cash transfers to 161,000 women, men and children affected by climate shocks.

The United Kingdom will provide £ 500,000 of aid for Madagascar following the devastating impacts of Cyclone Batsirai. The support will go to an International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) Appeal – as a first tranche of aid – to help provide shelter, clean water, food and support livelihoods for around 50,000 people in the most vulnerable regions of Madagascar.

United Aqua Group and its shareholders donated US$ 250,000.00 to Camp Barnabas.

Camp Barnabas provides camping experiences to individuals with special needs and chronic illnesses. The gift will help provide life-changing swimming experiences to individuals with disabilities and special needs.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and his wife, film producer Patricia Quillin, donated US$ 10 million to Tougaloo College in Mississippi. The gift will create scholarships, with US$ 5 million to endow need-based scholarships, and the other US$ 5 million to help Tougaloo students at Brown University in Rhode Island.

The Miami Foundation received a US$ 20 million grant from Wells Fargo to assist historically disadvantaged small business owners in owning more of their businesses’ assets and improve technology to better serve their customers.

News about people, groups

Colorectal cancer disparities between Black and white adults were eliminated among Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California after the healthcare organization instituted a regionwide, structured colorectal cancer screening program.

Energistics appointed Pablo Perez Bardasz, the President and CEO of Bardasz, to its Board of Directors.

The American Accounting Association has hired Barbee Myers Oakes, Ph.D., to be the organization’s first chief diversity officer. The hire reflects the organization’s core values; cultivating a culture of inclusion is critical to foster growth and continuing improvement of the accounting field.

The American Accounting Association has hired Barbee Myers Oakes, Ph.D., to be the organization’s first chief diversity officer. The hire reflects the organization’s core values; cultivating a culture of inclusion is critical to foster growth and continuing improvement of the accounting field.

The Bezos Earth Fund added new senior staff to support its mission to fight climate change, protect and restore nature, and advance environmental justice and economic opportunity. Cecilia Martinez joins as Principal Advisor for Resilience and Communities, after serving as the White House’s inaugural environmental justice official. Additional senior hires in 2022 include Doug Varley as General Counsel; Leon Clarke as Director of Decarbonization Pathways; Stacie Cobos as Chief Communications Officer; Tony Chan as Chief Financial and Operating Officer; and Valerie Blain-Smith as Chief People Officer. 

News about opportunities, initiatives

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture launched their Living History Campaign. By 2024, the museum seeks to raise $350 million to support research, ongoing programs, digital initiatives and the creation of an endowment fund. 

The World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors endorsed a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for the period of 2022-2026 in support of stabilization and development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This CPF will guide the Bank Group’s work for the next five years, supporting the DRC government’s strategic priorities and critical governance reforms, placing strong emphasis on human development, with a commitment to strengthening systems for improved access and quality of basic services, protecting DRC’s large rainforest, strengthening governance, and supporting ongoing stabilization efforts.

HGC Global Communications has made eight major commitments to continue to help Hong Kong people to meet pressing needs resulting from the unprecedented new wave of the pandemic. The commitments fall under three categories: Combating the Pandemic First; Caring for Our Community; and Putting Customers First.

Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and TikTok creator Isaiah Garza have teamed up to launch the #KentuckyFriedGivingChallenge, a grant fund that will give away $500,000 in cash grants to nonprofits fighting hunger in communities across the US via TikTok running through March 4, 2022. KFC will award $40,000 to 11 nonprofits. Between April 8–14, fans will have the chance to cast their vote for one of the 11 finalist videos where the grand prize-winning nonprofit will be awarded an additional $60,000.

Social Current, formerly the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities and the Council on Accreditation, launched a special issue of Families in Society focused on building financial capability and assets for America’s families. This issue was made in collaboration with Washington University in St. Louis Brown School’s Center for Social Development (CSD) and their partners at Clark Atlanta University and University of Maryland. 

The Propel Center launched its Propel Student Impact Scholarships, with support from Apple and Southern Company. The new scholarship program, directed at HBCU students who are interested in pursuing careers in entrepreneurship, arts & entertainment, agri-tech, social justice and health, is open to rising sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students alike. Propel Center will donate a total of 100 $10,000 scholarship awards to the winners.

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