Foundations
Here's a look at documents from U.S. foundations
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Sunbelt Rentals JUNTOS ERG Awards Grant to Hispanic Access Foundation to Expand Bilingual STEM Access for Orlando Youth and Families
WASHINGTON, March 14 -- The Hispanic Access Foundation issued the following news release:
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Sunbelt Rentals JUNTOS ERG Awards Grant to Hispanic Access Foundation to Expand Bilingual STEM Access for Orlando Youth and Families
Hispanic Access Foundation and the Sunbelt Rentals JUNTOS Employee Resource Group (ERG) are partnering to strengthen and expand Pathways to Science: A Role Model and Mentoring Project -- an initiative that engages youth and families in health and STEM exploration while cultivating the next generation of leaders.
At Hispanic Access, we believe that when leaders are connected,
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WASHINGTON, March 14 -- The Hispanic Access Foundation issued the following news release:
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Sunbelt Rentals JUNTOS ERG Awards Grant to Hispanic Access Foundation to Expand Bilingual STEM Access for Orlando Youth and Families
Hispanic Access Foundation and the Sunbelt Rentals JUNTOS Employee Resource Group (ERG) are partnering to strengthen and expand Pathways to Science: A Role Model and Mentoring Project -- an initiative that engages youth and families in health and STEM exploration while cultivating the next generation of leaders.
At Hispanic Access, we believe that when leaders are connected,equipped, and supported, communities thrive -- and our nation is stronger for it. Through Pathways to Science, Hispanic Access aims to build competency, expand access to opportunity, and strengthen trusted relationships that make long-term educational and career pathways more visible and attainable for all youth.
This partnership supports expanded bilingual access to STEM career exploration events, including monthly talks with health and STEM professionals, hands-on and real-world learning experiences, and mentorship opportunities. By investing in high-quality simultaneous interpretation equipment, Sunbelt Rentals is helping ensure families can fully engage in meaningful participation -- strengthening connection, understanding, and collective growth.
"Leadership begins with access and belief," said Maite Arce, President and CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation. "When families can participate fully -- ask questions, exchange ideas, and see themselves reflected in science and health careers -- they build the confidence and networks needed to move forward together. Sunbelt Rentals' partnership helps expand that access and strengthens the leadership infrastructure within our communities."
Pathways to Science reflects Hispanic Access's broader approach to change:
* Engage: Introduce youth and caregivers to health and STEM careers through culturally grounded outreach and trusted community relationships.
* Equip: Provide access to knowledge, mentorship, and practical tools that strengthen academic competency and early exposure to college preparation.
* Connect: Build relationships with health and STEM professionals to create networks of support and opportunity.
* Act & Influence: Empower young leaders and families to navigate systems of education and career advancement with greater clarity and agency.
By connecting families to trusted networks and professional mentors, the program helps expand representation in the systems that shape opportunity -- contributing to a stronger community voice and long-term economic mobility.
"By expanding bilingual access and investing in interpretation technology, Sunbelt Rentals is helping strengthen the network of leaders and families shaping Orlando's future," Arce added. "When young people see possibility and feel supported by their families and community, they step forward with confidence."
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Hispanic Access Foundation develops and connects Latino leaders to influence systems, shape narratives, and drive collective action that strengthens communities and advances a thriving nation. Through Pathways to Science and other initiatives, the organization builds trusted regional networks that expand opportunity, foster leadership, and create lasting change.
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Original text here: https://www.hispanicaccess.org/news-resources/news-releases/item/3541-sunbelt-rentals-juntos-erg-awards-grant-to-hispanic-access-foundation-to-expand-bilingual-stem-access-for-orlando-youth-and-families
Offshore Wind off New England Coast Reaches Major Milestones
BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 14 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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Offshore Wind off New England Coast Reaches Major Milestones
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March 14, 2026 (Boston, MA) - The developers of two offshore wind projects off the New England coast have announced major milestones. Revolution Wind sent its first power to the grid on March 13. Also on March 13, Vineyard Wind installed the final blades on its turbines, marking the end of construction. Each of these wind projects is expected to affordably produce electricity from wind for the next 30 to 35 years with no supply
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 14 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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Offshore Wind off New England Coast Reaches Major Milestones
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March 14, 2026 (Boston, MA) - The developers of two offshore wind projects off the New England coast have announced major milestones. Revolution Wind sent its first power to the grid on March 13. Also on March 13, Vineyard Wind installed the final blades on its turbines, marking the end of construction. Each of these wind projects is expected to affordably produce electricity from wind for the next 30 to 35 years with no supplyproblems in winter, no soaring costs for fuel, no leaky pipelines and no pollution.
"Today marks a significant milestone in New England's clean energy transformation," said Kate Sinding Daly, senior vice president for law and policy at Conservation Law Foundation. "Together with South Fork Wind, these pioneering projects will deliver clean, homegrown energy for our region, shield families and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices, and prevent millions of tons of carbon pollution each year. This progress shows that offshore wind is not just an idea for the future, it's already strengthening our economy, cleaning our air, creating thousands of jobs, and building a more reliable energy system for decades to come."
Vineyard Wind just completed installing 62 turbines in the waters off Massachusetts. The 804MW project will power 400,000 homes and businesses in the next few weeks.
Revolution Wind off Point Judith, Rhode Island, delivered its first power to the grid on March 13, and will eventually power 350,000 homes in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Already completed South Fork Wind, built in large part in Connecticut and located less than 20 miles from Block Island, has proven itself for more than a year, powering 70,000 homes and businesses on Long Island with a dozen turbines.
These three projects will provide reliable, homegrown energy and will prevent more than 3 million tons of carbon from fouling our air and lungs each year by replacing fossil fuels. That's the equivalent of taking more than 650,000 cars off the road.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
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Original text here: https://www.clf.org/newsroom/offshore-wind-off-new-england-coast-reaches-major-milestones/
Foundation for Economic Education Posts Commentary: Inevitability of Self-Driving Cars
DETROIT, Michigan, March 14 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on March 13, 2026, by computer professor and consultant Stephen Weese:
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The Inevitability of Self-Driving Cars
The future is now.
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When you think of self-driving cars, you may imagine scenes from a sci-fi movie, with sleek silver cars sliding perfectly into and out of the flow of traffic. Pedestrians simply express their desire for a car, and in moments one appears.
Just as easily, you might also think of media reports you've seen about crashes and other malfunctions of these vehicles
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DETROIT, Michigan, March 14 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on March 13, 2026, by computer professor and consultant Stephen Weese:
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The Inevitability of Self-Driving Cars
The future is now.
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When you think of self-driving cars, you may imagine scenes from a sci-fi movie, with sleek silver cars sliding perfectly into and out of the flow of traffic. Pedestrians simply express their desire for a car, and in moments one appears.
Just as easily, you might also think of media reports you've seen about crashes and other malfunctions of these vehiclesin the recent past. You may even think of both and think that the sci-fi depiction is far-fetched and unlikely. The reality is actually simpler: self-driving cars are inevitable.
In the US, we love our cars. Nearly 92% of households have access to a motor vehicle. We have car shows, car racing, car dealerships everywhere, and even TV shows about cars. It's an accepted part of our society. In a geographically expansive country like ours, cars are essential for many. Along with car culture, we also have a cultural acceptance of the dangers and even fatalities that come from car accidents. The US (human) accident rate is approximately 2,000 per million miles driven. Around 40,000 people are killed each year in auto accidents. Right now, hardly anyone talks about these deaths. There are few news articles, and it is generally accepted as the price of driving.
What if we could reduce the number of injuries and fatalities to 50% of what they are now? Or even further, what about 80%? Would it be worth it to switch to self-driving cars then? Interestingly enough, preliminary numbers from Waymo indicate that they already are 80% safer. The media rushes to report any accidents caused by these cars, which may give the impression that they are much more dangerous. The truth is, they actually promise a safer world for all.
Imagine a world with safe, self-driving cars. Mothers would feel more comfortable about their children. Parents' dreadful fears about having a 16-year-old out on the streets would be almost completely relieved. People wouldn't worry about the vision and dexterity loss of the elderly when they get into a vehicle. Drunk driving would be a thing of the past. Road rage would almost be eliminated--self-driving cars won't cut off or tailgate other self-driving cars. Tens of thousands of lives would be saved per year, in the US alone.
Currently, most people do not realize that these autonomous vehicles are safer than a human driver. Concurrently, it is also not well understood that the performance of AI across most domains is growing at a staggering rate. This means that these cars that already outperform human drivers will keep getting better and better. At some point, it will be obvious that the best choice will be to give up our keys. Other factors will contribute to this as well; safety is only one of the reasons to switch.
For a while, there will be a mix of self-driving cars and manned vehicles on the road. As we move toward a majority of autonomous cars on the road, we will increasingly see the benefits:
* Improved fuel efficiency
* Reduced travel time
* Ability to work or relax in the car
* More pleasant commutes
* No need for car ownership
* Reduced insurance and liability
Autonomous vehicles will drive without being heavy on the gas pedal. They will be able to coordinate with other vehicles to have smooth lane changes and predict routes and congestion based on shared information. People going to work will simply step into a car and can relax with a coffee, start reading email, or even get a little extra sleep.
What's more, with fleets of these cars on the roads, you won't even need to own one. If you don't own a car, there is no need for individual insurance; you'll simply share a minor cost every time you ride. You can be tired or intoxicated and get right in. The blind and elderly and many others who have difficulty driving will now have the same option as everyone else. If you rent from a service, you never have to pay for parking.
Even if you own your own self-driving car, you can just have it go back home or park far away and then come pick you up when you're done. No long walks to the car, no paying parking fees. Imagine this: no more parking tickets. While we're at it: no more speeding tickets or traffic violations. Waymo and Tesla's planned Robotaxi networks are already betting on this being our future. Uber is launching its own self-driving taxi service this year.
If there were 80% fewer accidents overall, it would save over 30,000 American lives per year. At some point, the benefits will far outweigh our desire to keep driving. Right now, these cars still have their challenges, such as difficult weather, construction zones, and complex urban environments, but it won't be long until these challenges are solved. The real barriers are regulation and public sentiment. Once governments and the public realize the avalanche of benefits from these vehicles, the tipping point will occur, and we will begin our transition. Welcome to the future.
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Stephen Weese is a computer professor and consultant in CS, IT, and AI. He also works in media and is the CEO of Marvelous Spiral Studios.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/the-inevitability-of-self-driving-cars/
Health Foundation: Workforce Plan Must Prioritise Improving Conditions for Staff to Deliver NHS Reforms
LONDON, England, March 13 -- The Health Foundation issued the following news release on March 12, 2026:
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Workforce plan must prioritise improving conditions for staff to deliver NHS reforms
Responding to the annual NHS staff survey results, Ruth Thorlby, Assistant Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, said:
'Today's survey shows that NHS staff remain under significant pressure, posing a serious risk to the government's ability to deliver planned reforms. Over a third of staff say they feel burnt out because of their work, and a similar proportion say there are not enough staff for
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LONDON, England, March 13 -- The Health Foundation issued the following news release on March 12, 2026:
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Workforce plan must prioritise improving conditions for staff to deliver NHS reforms
Responding to the annual NHS staff survey results, Ruth Thorlby, Assistant Director of Policy at the Health Foundation, said:
'Today's survey shows that NHS staff remain under significant pressure, posing a serious risk to the government's ability to deliver planned reforms. Over a third of staff say they feel burnt out because of their work, and a similar proportion say there are not enough staff forthem to do their job properly - both of these scores have worsened slightly in the last two years.
'There has been no improvement in stress levels since last year's results, with 4 in 10 staff reporting that they felt unwell because of work-related stress. Just under a third of staff often think about leaving their jobs.
'The government's plans for reform rest on having a healthy and well-supported workforce to implement them. However, the survey suggests that the health service still has a mountain to climb to make this happen. Meeting waiting time targets, digitising the NHS and redesigning services so that more care can be delivered outside hospitals all depend on an engaged and motivated workforce, but the overall staff engagement score has fallen since 2024.
'Key to delivering the government's ambition is the ability of staff to make improvement happen. The latest data show a concerning gap of more than 20% between the best and worst performing NHS acute hospital trusts. To reduce variation, trusts need the headspace and staff need the support to create the conditions for sustained improvement.
'Today's survey underlines the urgency of a concrete workforce plan to improve working conditions, boost morale and enable staff to improve services. As well as ensuring that the NHS has adequate staff numbers in the future, the government's forthcoming workforce plan must place equal importance on supporting the existing workforce. This will boost retention, attract more people to work in the NHS and ultimately improve services for patients.'
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Original text here: https://www.health.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/workforce-plan-must-prioritise-improving-conditions-for-staff-to-deliver-nhs-reforms
FFRF Op-ed Published in Maryland Newspaper With Illustrious History
MADISON, Wisconsin, March 13 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF op-ed published in Maryland newspaper with illustrious history
Freedom From Religion Foundation Regional Government Affairs Manager Mickey Dollens has had an op-ed published in one of Maryland's most venerable newspapers.
"Theocratically inclined Maryland lawmakers are offering a false solution to a real problem." Dollens begins his column in the Easton Star Democrat, founded in 1799.
The piece goes on to explain:
Like most states, Maryland faces a serious shortage of school
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MADISON, Wisconsin, March 13 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF op-ed published in Maryland newspaper with illustrious history
Freedom From Religion Foundation Regional Government Affairs Manager Mickey Dollens has had an op-ed published in one of Maryland's most venerable newspapers.
"Theocratically inclined Maryland lawmakers are offering a false solution to a real problem." Dollens begins his column in the Easton Star Democrat, founded in 1799.
The piece goes on to explain:
Like most states, Maryland faces a serious shortage of schoolmental-health professionals. The American School Counselor Association recommends a ratio of 250 students per counselor, yet Maryland's average is closer to 327. The gap is even wider for school psychologists, with roughly 1,000 students per psychologist -- nearly double the recommended maximum.
Rather than investing in licensed, trained mental-health professionals, House Bill 24 attempts to address the shortage by inserting unlicensed volunteer chaplain aides into public schools to provide "support services" to students.
The bill lacks even the most basic safeguards. It does not prohibit proselytizing, require parental consent or list any professional standards for chaplains working in schools. It tramples the religious liberty of students and disregards the very same parental rights that some of the bill's supporters claim to value so much.
Don't fall for the rhetoric claiming that public school chaplains won't proselytize. Of course they will -- and that is precisely the point of this bill. HB 24 does nothing to prevent a volunteer chaplain from using a school-sanctioned role to advance religious beliefs during the school day. Imagine a county superintendent who attends a Baptist church recruiting that church's pastor to serve as a school chaplain -- encouraging students to meet with him during the school day and allowing the pastor to proselytize during those meetings. Such a school would obviously be favoring religion over nonreligion, and favoring the county superintendent's own specific denomination over all others. ...
A major driving force behind this legislation is the National School Chaplain Association. Its parent organization has openly stated that it places Christian chaplains in public schools with the goal of converting non-Christian students -- "reaching the largest unreached people group inside of the public schools around the world" to ensure that "the saving grace of Jesus becomes well known." The same organization has said it intends to exploit the "massive lack of school counselors throughout public schools" to insert chaplains to "share God's word" and "disciple" students.
"If lawmakers genuinely care about student well-being, the answer is not to blur the line between state and church," the op-ed further states. "It is to invest in what actually works: hiring more licensed counselors and psychologists trained to support students of all backgrounds without pushing religious doctrine."
You can read the full piece here (https://www.stardem.com/opinion/columns/opinion-chaplain-bill-opens-the-door-to-public-school-proselytizing/article_60c392dd-9994-4c32-9965-fece7e41c1c0.html).
This column is part of FFRF's initiative to engage with pertinent national and state issues and spread the messages of secularism and freethought to a broader audience.
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with 42,000 members nationwide, including close to 1,000 members in Maryland. FFRF's purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-op-ed-published-in-maryland-newspaper-with-illustrious-history/
[Category: Religion]
Creationism Expelled From Colorado School After FFRF Complaint
MADISON, Wisconsin, March 13 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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Creationism expelled from Colorado school after FFRF complaint
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has successfully halted the teaching of creationism in the science curriculum at a Colorado public charter school.
FFRF wrote to the CEO of James Irwin Charter Schools after a concerned parent reported that James Irwin Charter Middle School in Colorado Springs was planning to include "intelligent design" and "creationist theory" alongside evolution in its eighth-grade science curriculum.
According
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MADISON, Wisconsin, March 13 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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Creationism expelled from Colorado school after FFRF complaint
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has successfully halted the teaching of creationism in the science curriculum at a Colorado public charter school.
FFRF wrote to the CEO of James Irwin Charter Schools after a concerned parent reported that James Irwin Charter Middle School in Colorado Springs was planning to include "intelligent design" and "creationist theory" alongside evolution in its eighth-grade science curriculum.
Accordingto an email sent to parents by the school's science lead, the evolution unit proposed to "teach Intelligent Design and evolution" and "present a creationist theory and an evolutionist theory regarding natural selection, adaptation and evolution."
The parent who contacted FFRF expressed concern about the school presenting religious doctrine as science.
"I feel like the public charter school is not trustworthy and I am now questioning the quality of my [child's] education," the parent communicated to the state/church watchdog. "I feel angry that religion is being forced on children and presented as science."
FFRF Staff Attorney Samantha Lawrence wrote to the district explaining that teaching creationism or intelligent design in public school science classes violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
"Promoting creationism, intelligent design or any of its offshoots in public schools is unlawful because creationism is based solely on religion, not scientific fact," her letter stated. FFRF noted that the Supreme Court and federal courts have consistently rejected attempts to introduce religious doctrine into public school science classes, including the landmark ruling in Edwards v. Aguillard (1987) and the federal decision in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District (2005), which struck down policies promoting creationism and intelligent design.
FFRF's intervention had the desired result. Following its letter, the school system investigated the matter and scrapped the pseudoscience portion of the curriculum.
"Please know that this practice has ceased," CEO Rob Daugherty wrote in a response to FFRF. "Intelligent design will not be taught in the middle school or in any other James Irwin Charter School as part of a science curriculum."
The district confirmed that the instruction had occurred sporadically over a period of years but was not part of the official curriculum and had not been known to current administrators until the issue was raised. The school system said it has taken several corrective steps, including halting the instruction, verifying that intelligent design is not taught elsewhere, reviewing lesson plans and instructional materials, and providing additional guidance and training to staff regarding religion in the classroom. The district also plans to adopt formal board action to codify these measures in its curriculum policies.
FFRF is pleased that the district moved quickly to correct the constitutional violation.
"Creationism and intelligent design are religious beliefs, not science," says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "Public schools have a constitutional obligation to teach evidence-based science -- not promote religious doctrine."
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with 42,000 members and several chapters nationwide, including more than 1,400 members and two chapters in Colorado. FFRF's purposes are to defend the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/creationism-expelled-from-colorado-school-after-ffrf-complaint/
[Category: Religion]
Authors of WLF ,Working Paper Receive Burton Awards for Distinguished Legal Writing
WASHINGTON, March 13 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
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Authors of WLF,Working Paper Receive Burton Awards for Distinguished Legal Writing
The law firm Kelley Drye & Warren LLP announced that the Burton Foundation has selected two of its attorneys, partner John Villafranco and associate Andrea deLorimier, as recipients of the Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing for a paper published by Washington Legal Foundation. WLF released the Working Paper, FTC Consumer Protection Orders: The Case for a New Sunset Policy, in May 2025.
WLF
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WASHINGTON, March 13 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
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Authors of WLF,Working Paper Receive Burton Awards for Distinguished Legal Writing
The law firm Kelley Drye & Warren LLP announced that the Burton Foundation has selected two of its attorneys, partner John Villafranco and associate Andrea deLorimier, as recipients of the Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing for a paper published by Washington Legal Foundation. WLF released the Working Paper, FTC Consumer Protection Orders: The Case for a New Sunset Policy, in May 2025.
WLFpublished the paper at a moment when new leadership at the Federal Trade Commission was assessing its priorities and considering possible reforms. Villafranco and deLorimier advanced a thorough, meticulously researched case for why the FTC should depart from its 20-year sunset policy for administrative orders and reconsider its practice of seeking perpetual orders in federal court. The paper also proposed three alternative approaches to better balance consumer welfare with the need to support legitimate, innovative business activity.
Since 1999, the Burton Foundation, a non-profit academic organization devoted to recognizing and rewarding excellence in the legal profession, has chosen 25 partners from the nation's 1,000 largest law firms whose legal writing showcase exceptional clarity, cogency, and persuasion.
"We take great pride in the quality and enduring relevance of its publications and in our successful recruitment of legal experts who write those publications on a pro bono basis," said Glenn G. Lammi, WLF's Executive Director and Vice President of Legal Studies. "John has written multiple papers for us over the years, and we are so pleased to see him and Andrea nationally recognized for this exceptional Working Paper," Lammi added.
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Original text here: https://www.wlf.org/2026/03/13/communicating/authors-of-wlf-working-paper-receive-burton-awards-for-distinguished-legal-writing/
