4.15.19 US News

Apr 15, 2019 | News, Philanthropy Journal

Intel Foundation awards $1.25 million in grants through the She Will Connect initiative, San Diego Zoo Global will be featured in an all-new series from Animal Planet, the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and the Ford Foundation launch US 2050, and more.

News about gifts, grants

Parkland Foundation hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking event on April 11th to celebrate reaching their $40 million goal to create a new comprehensive breast center at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas. The lead gift of $15 million from the Moody Foundation was announced in May 2018 and their generosity will be recognized by naming the new center the Moody Center for Breast Health.

Intel Foundation awarded $1.25 million in grants to organizations across the country through the She Will Connect initiative. Grant funds are going to organizations in California, Texas, Oregon and Washington working to empower and engage middle school girls in technology, engineering, and computer science. Recipient organizations include the Eva Longoria Foundation, Women’s Audio Mission, Latinitas and Chicktech.

Janus Henderson Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Janus Henderson gave $1,585,000 to Junior Achievement for the redevelopment of the JA Titan. program. Janus Henderson’s support will help incorporate technology to engage students and  allow for a more educational and impactful experience.

UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, is halfway through its goal of raising $50 million for its Campaign for Equal Opportunity—a bold initiative that will make America stronger by ensuring that economic, political, and social advancement is a reality for all, including Latinos.

Unlimited Tomorrow closed on its 100 Tomorrows crowdfunding campaign, launched with the intention of giving 100 of its highly-lauded, technologically-advanced prosthetics to amputees around the world. Over a half million dollars was raised from 200 benefactors, including major corporations, business partners and early investors of the Rhinebeck, NY-based prosthetics startup. Arrow Electronics signed on as Unlimited Tomorrow’s official electronic components partner.

Kresge Foundation, based in Detroit, signed a pledge to expand expand gender and racial diversity among endowment asset managers. Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE) recently introduced the “Diversity in Foundation Asset Management Pledge.”  The Kresge Foundation committed to investing one quarter of U.S. assets in diverse-owned firms by 2025.

Community Foundation of Broward awarded “BFit” grants to prevent and reverse chronic weight-related illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension. Grant recipients are YMCA of South Florida, based in Fort Lauderdale, University of Miami in partnership with Hispanic Unity, for a program called “İActuaYa!” or “Act Now,” and Lighthouse of Broward, Fort Lauderdale.

The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce named recipients of the 2019 USHCC Local Chamber Grant awards. The grants, awarded in partnership with Wells Fargo & Company, are disbursed to USHCC chamber members that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the Hispanic business owners they serve. Twelve chambers received awards ranging in size from $5,000 to $15,000, for a total of $95,000 in grants supporting innovative programs that will empower local Hispanic businesses across the country.

The AmerisourceBergen Foundation donated $150,000 to Southeastern Guide Dogs. This grant enables Southeastern Guide Dogs to increase placements of guide and companion dogs to visually impaired children and teenagers, families of fallen service members and child advocate professionals.

Barbara and Ray Dalio of Dalio Philanthropies donated $100M to create a partnership with the state of Connecticut to strengthen the public school education system and promote greater economic opportunity in the region. The partnership seeks to raise $300 million over five years: $100 million from the State of Connecticut, matched by $100 million from Dalio Philanthropies and $100 million from other philanthropists and business leaders.

The College Board has awarded 750 students with a total of $600,000 in Opportunity Scholarships in 2019. The College Board is investing $25 million over five years to the program, with a total of $5 million available to each graduating class, beginning with the class of 2020.

News about people, groups

MDC is expanding its approach of investing in solutions to the South’s most pressing challenges through a new Passing Gear Philanthropy Institute. Start-up funding for the Institute has been provided by the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, Ford Foundation, The Duke Endowment, Marguerite Casey Foundation, and the Kresge Foundation. Applications for the 2019-2020 Institute cohort will be accepted through May 20.

Photo Credit: Southeastern Guide Dogs

Southeastern Guide Dogs lowered the age for guide dog applicants to 15 from 18 and instituted an introductory camp experience solely for teens and their parents. The organization’s services include selective breeding and expert dog training and conditioning; comprehensive on-campus student instruction; and lifetime alumni support—are provided at no cost to the recipients. 

Jewish Theological Seminary launched the Hendel Center for Ethics and Justice. Endowed by Ruth and Stephen Hendel of Larchmont, New York, the center willweave the study of Jewish ethics and training in civic engagement into the curriculum at JTS. 

San Diego Zoo Global will be featured in an all-new series from Animal Planet: THE ZOO: SAN DIEGO (Working Title), which premieres later this year. The series will take a behind-the-scenes look at the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

The Philanthropy Initiative welcomes two new partners: Lisa Payne Simon and Lisa Spalding. Simon will lead a wide range of client consulting projects as well as thought leadership and field-building initiatives. Spalding will help clients increase the impact of their giving through strategic planning, facilitation, social issues research, and design and evaluation of philanthropic strategies.

National Sawdust’s 2019 Spring Gala: Stretch will honor Oscar-, Grammy-, and Golden Globe–winning musician, writer, and artist, and founding member of the Talking Heads David Byrne; Co-Founder, lead MC/singer of The Legendary Roots Crew and Grammy-winning musician, actor, and artist Black Thought; and  Executive Vice President of Urban Promotion at Atlantic Records, one of Billboard’s Women in Music for 2018, and a 2018 Billboard Pioneers Juliette Jones on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at Sotheby’s.

News about opportunities, initiatives

TSDF Board Member Benjamin Haddad, Councilmember Chris Ward and AARP Executive Councilmember Joe Garbanzos

City of San Diego is officially and age-friendly city. Mayor Kevin Faulconer, with support from The San Diego Foundation,  committed to developing an age-friendly action plan as an official member of the AARP and World Health Organization Global Network of Age-Friendly Communities

US 2050, a milestone research project exploring the multiple demographic, economic, societal and fiscal trends shaping America, brought leading scholars and experts together in Washington, D.C. An initiative of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation and the Ford Foundation, US 2050 commissioned 31 papers covering a range of topics related to demographics, poverty, labor economics, macroeconomics, political science and sociology to develop a comprehensive view of the nation’s economic and fiscal future, as well as the implications for policymaking and the well-being of Americans.

Dixie Brands has partnered with One Tree Planted to kick off their “GO GREEN” initiative to help offset their carbon footprint. Dixie Brands has committed donating $1.00 from each of their products sold on 4/20 to support One Tree Planted and their mission of global reforestation.


If you are interested in having your organization’s news announced in the next US News update, please send announcements or press releases to news@philanthropyjournal.com.

Related Posts

Martin, McDonald, Porter join stars in telethon for Ukraine

An all-star roster of film, TV and theater performers — including Steve Martin, Annette Bening, Billy Porter, Audra McDonald, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Chenoweth, David Hyde Pierce and Rosie Perez — have signed up for a 10-hour telethon to raise money for the victims of the war in Ukraine.

Categories