Archive for the ‘Give Page’ Category

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Gas Guzzlers About To Get An ‘F’

Monday, August 30th, 2010

A new letter grading system could turbocharge green vehicles sales!

  • The Environmental Protection Agency and the Transportation Department have proposed new rules that would require car dealerships to display a letter grade on each of their vehicles, illustrating how well (or poorly) the vehicle does on fuel efficiency and harmful emissions.
  • Electric cars and hybrids would be the ‘A’ students, while Hummers and the like are most likely to end up in detention.
  • Right now, dealers are only required to display a vehicle’s miles per gallon and estimated yearly fuel costs. The industry is obviously not happy with the proposal, saying it would amount to a government endorsement of certain cars and not others. Still, major auto manufacturers have been preparing for this kind of change by producing more hybrid and electric cars.

Facts & Figures

  • Grades will range from A – D
  • A small car like the Toyota Yaris would likely be graded B+ while many SUVs and pickup trucks would probably score C or worse
  • Sales of SUVs and crossovers have gone up by 21% this year

Best Quote

“We think a new label is absolutely needed to help consumers make the right decision for their wallets and the environment.” – Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation at the EPA

Public School Advocate Wendy Nadel on Following Your Passion

Monday, August 30th, 2010

wendy-nadel.jpg Wendy Nadel is the Executive Director of Yonkers Partners in Education, a non-profit dedicated to supporting access to and success in education for all Yonkers students and their families. She’s not new at working for the greater good; 25 years ago Wendy founded Volunteer Emory while she was a student at Emory University. She’s worked for the March of Dimes, run her own non-profit consulting firm, performed research on child poverty for Save the Children, and currently serves as a member of the Emory University Alumni Board and the Volunteer Center of the United Way. Sounds like she knows a thing or two about following your heart…

TILE: How did you end up where you are today?
Wendy: I became passionate about serving the world when I was in college and made the decision as a sophomore that I wanted to spend my career in the not-for-profit sector. Twenty-eight years later, I’m still here!

TILE: How does what you do affect the world at large? Why should I care about what you do?
Wendy: My organization, Yonkers Partners in Education, provides opportunities to low-income, inner city students that even the playing field so that they can achieve their dreams. Many kids who live in poverty don’t realize that there is a wide world out there for them, and we help them to navigate the road to a better life.

TILE: What is your favorite thing about working with a nonprofit?
Wendy: Our work makes a difference and helps to transform lives. Doesn’t get much better then that!

TILE: What’s the best advice you would give to your teenage self?
Wendy: Stick with a dream, even if it’s not totally clear how to achieve it. Often kids think they need to have it all figured out in college. I never had anything figured out but let my passion guide my career and it worked out beautifully.

TILE: How did you get into the work you are doing today?
Wendy: The great part about the last question is that one thing led to another. Through work I was doing for Save the Children Federation, I became passionate about education as a way out of poverty. I was approached by a head-hunter when this position became available and went for it and got the job.

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Stem Cell Research Hits A Wall In Court

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth pulls the plug, citing a ban on federal funds being used to destroy embryos.

  • Lamberth’s ruling effectively ends Obama’s 2009 executive order to expand funding for embryonic stem cell research. The U.S. Justice Department plans to challenge the ruling.
  • Currently funded research projects will be allowed to continue until their grant money runs out – usually in the space of about a year.
  • Researchers are devastated. They fear the end of promising human developmental studies in the U.S., they fear a “brain drain” of scientists who relocate to other countries to continue their research, and they fear a new dependance on private funding.

Facts & Figures

165 research grants for stem cell research (worth about $149 million) will be frozen by the end of September.

Best Quote

“Stem cell research offers true potential for scientific discovery, and hope for families. This decision has just poured sand into that engine of discovery.” – Francis Collins, Director, National Institutes of Health

Freedom Schools Try A New Approach To Literacy: Fun

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

A summer literacy program with a “let’s pull together” philosophy is engaging kids across the country.

  • From 8am – 3pm every day, 200 kids in Los Angeles are attending an unconventional six-week course in learning to love the written word. These so-called Freedom Schools are based on programs from the 1960s which attempted to address the educational achievment gap between white and African-American students.
  • Students read several books each week, and studies have shown the program to improve reading ability for second through fifth-graders. In addition to reading lessons, students are also taught critical thinking, healthy eating habits, creative arts, and social skills. The schools serve food, lead field trips, and require parent involvement.
  • Despite its unconventional approach, the program’s emphasis on literacy has caught the attention of politicians like Mark Ridley-Thomas, whose office contributed $150,000 to fund five new Freedom Schools in LA.

Facts & Figures

  • Children’s Defense Fund, a child advocacy non-profit, has been creating Freedom Schools around the country since 1995.
  • Nationwide, there are 9,600 children participating in the program this summer.
  • Expenditures for each Freedom School site amount to about $60,000 for the six-week duration.

Best Quote

“It’s different than real school; you’re doing work but at the same time you’re having fun. The best part is, we can just be free here.” – Jaylen Chairez, 8 years old

Pop Star Turns President In Haiti?

Friday, August 20th, 2010

Some speculate that the political influence of singer Wyclef Jean could encourage charitable giving to Haiti.

  • Hip-hop star Wyclef Jean recently declared his candidacy for president of Haiti, a move which will undoubtedly draw attention to his charity, Yele Haiti.
  • Yele Haiti has had a mixed impact on Haiti and its people, and many criticize its poor management and uneven distribution of resources.
  • Mr. Jean, with a bad record of handling his personal finances, has faced scrutiny over his political intentions.

Facts & Figures

  • After the earthquake, Yéle Haiti’s 2006 tax filing revealed $350,000 in questionable payments to two companies that Mr. Jean and his cousin control, including $250,000 to a Haitian television station they had just acquired.

Best Quote

“It is problematic if he [Wyclef Jean] uses this money, which historically has not been well spent, for political purposes,” – Mario Joseph, Human Rights Lawyer, Haiti.

Pakistan Still Suffering From Flood

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Despite international aid, the flood in Pakistan continues to take an enormous toll on the country.

  • Though the flood began to recede in parts of Pakistan the waters were still rising in the southern Sindh Province.
  • The United Nations announced that the situation in Pakistan remains very serious and that growing numbers of people need shelter, food and drinking water.
  • American officials worry that the floods will strengthen the position of Islamic extremists.
  • A recent conference in Islamabad discussed that the current relief operations were not sufficient to cope with the millions of people in need of immediate care.

Facts & Figures

  • The World Health Organization said 200 cases of skin infections had been reported across Pakistan, as well as more than 200 cases of diarrhea and more than 300 cases of respiratory diseases.
  • The United Nations raised the number people left homeless by the floods to 4.6 million.
  • Senator John Kerry said the United States would increase its flood aid to $150 million.

Best Quote

“People are using boats and tubes to supply food to their families. Our children are in very miserable conditions and we have to take every risk for them.” – Hafiz Basher, flood victim.

Indian Billionaires Reluctant To Give

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

In a country wrought with poverty, giving to the poor becomes a challenge in its own right.

  • Bill Gates and Warren buffet, two of the wealthiest individuals in the world, recently pledged to give half of their net worth to charity.
  • The pledge has been replicated by 38 other American billionaires, but in India – home to two of the richest people in the world – wealthy individuals have not made the same commitment.
  • Those billionaires contacted regarding the challenge evaded commenting on the subject.
  • Experts say that Indian billionaires donate less because the opportunities for giving are fewer and often tainted by corruption.

Facts & Figures

  • Indians collectively donate 0.6% of their country’s GDP to charity. While Canada donates 1.3% and the U.S. 2.2%.
  • Just 10% of charitable giving in India comes from individuals or companies, compared to 75% in the United States.

Best Quote

“Indians just don’t trust the organizations that want money or that they could give to. Often they find themselves in the position that even if they want to give, there is no mechanism available to them by which they could give.” – Emily Harrison, Founder, Innovaid

Tony Blair Turns Profit Into Charity

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

The former British Prime Minister cleans up his image by donating millions to injured soldiers.

  • Tony Blair plans to donate millions in earning from his forthcoming memoir to charity for injured troops.
  • The proceeds will go to the “Battle Back Challenge Center”, a facility that will provide sports and rehabilitation services for wounded personnel.
  • Despite Blair’s donation, he is still under scrutiny. Families of some of the hundreds of British troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan have criticized him for earning millions from the sale of his book and public speaking since leaving office.

Facts & Figures

  • Random House paid and estimated $7.5 million for his book, “A Journey”.

Best Quote

“I am delighted to accept this very generous donation.” – Chris Simpkins, General, Royal British Legion

Philanthropy As A Badge Of Wealth

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Philanthropy becomes a symbol of wealth as more billionaires pledge their fortunes to charity.

  • Warren Buffet and Bill Gate’s philanthropic challenge to the wealthy encourages more wealthy families to give.
  • As a result, philanthropy is rapidly becoming a status symbol.
  • Not only is there a growing expectation for wealthy families to give their money away, they are expected to be actively involved in philanthropy.
  • Some are worried that if philanthropy is seen as a privilege of the wealthy, it will devalue the charity endeavors of regular Americans.

Facts & Figures

  • Individual Americans gave more than $227 billion in 2009.

Best Quote

“Clearly pressure on the elite is high right now to say that they are giving money away and that will make it trendy. People who have enough money to give away but maybe haven’t thought about that… those folks will want to do what Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are doing.” – Stacy Palmer, Editor, The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Becoming A For-profit Organization Is No Cup Of Tea

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Transforming a nonprofit into a for-profit company is a tricky and lengthy process that many organizations are willing to undertake.

  • The majority of micro loans dispensed around the world come from for-profit microfinance institutions. However, it is rarely known that many of these organizations began as nonprofit NGO’s.
  • Transforming a nonprofit into a for-profit organization is a long process and involves attracting investors, obtaining regulatory approval and getting a financial institution license.
  • Many organizations struggle to achieve for-profit status while maintaining their social mission – it is difficult to keep the founder, investors and stakeholders equally satisfied.

Facts & Figures

  • SKS Microfinance was funded by three rounds of venture capital and grew from nonprofit to have 4.7 billion borrowers in 2009.
  • SKS just raised another $358 million in an IPO.

Best Quote

Grameen Bank reaches 7 million clients and that’s amazing. On the other hand, it took Professor Yunus [Grameen Bank's founder] 35 years to do that… Can you imagine how many generations it will take to reach 150 million poor households in India if we took that approach? We have to scale more rapidly, and only commercial capital will meet our huge funding requirements. – Vikram Akula, Founder, SKS.

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