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Conservation Lands Foundation Urges Senators to Oppose Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act
DURANGO, Colorado, Nov. 10 -- The Conservation Lands Foundation issued the following news:
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The Conservation Lands Foundation Urges Senators to Oppose Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act
November 9, 2026
Manager's amendment added over the weekend fails to address fundamental issues that would decimate core cultural and environmental safeguards.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the Senate votes today to advance consideration of S.5653 the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, the Conservation Lands Foundation remains opposed to the bill as written and urges members of the ... Show Full Article DURANGO, Colorado, Nov. 10 -- The Conservation Lands Foundation issued the following news: * * * The Conservation Lands Foundation Urges Senators to Oppose Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act November 9, 2026 Manager's amendment added over the weekend fails to address fundamental issues that would decimate core cultural and environmental safeguards. - WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the Senate votes today to advance consideration of S.5653 the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, the Conservation Lands Foundation remains opposed to the bill as written and urges members of theSenate to oppose the proposal as it would weaken core cultural resource and environmental safeguards that protect the integrity of the National Conservation Lands -- the 38-million-acre system of national monuments, national conservation areas, wilderness, wilderness study areas, wild and scenic rivers, and national trails managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
"This proposed legislation is a snake in the grass. If the proposal were to clear the Senate in its current form, it would result in cursory review of impacts to cultural resources and Tribal cultural values on public lands during environmental review of industrial projects; allow the federal government to rubber stamp destructive projects on landscapes without sufficient analysis of the impacts on wildlife and communities; and remove options for the public to engage in the process," said Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a nonpartisan, national network of community advocates solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management.
"Voters this past week were loud and clear that they are opposed to the countless assaults our public lands have endured during this Congressional session. Members of Congress should be taking voters' feedback and focusing on strengthening safeguards to prevent future attacks instead of widening loopholes to be exploited for private gain. Therefore, the Conservation Lands Foundation continues to oppose S. 5653 in its current form and urges Congress not to advance it without removing or fundamentally revising the Historic Preservation title and several other sections which weaken meaningful Tribal cultural resource consultation, science-based environmental review, and endangered species safeguards for the National Conservation Lands," said Hill.
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Original text here: https://www.conservationlands.org/the-conservation-lands-foundation-urges-senators-to-oppose-bipartisan-american-affordability-and-jobs-act
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The Conservation Lands Foundation Urges Senators to Oppose Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act
November 9, 2026
Manager's amendment added over the weekend fails to address fundamental issues that would decimate core cultural and environmental safeguards.
-
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the Senate votes today to advance consideration of S.5653 the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, the Conservation Lands Foundation remains opposed to the bill as written and urges members of the ... Show Full Article DURANGO, Colorado, Nov. 10 -- The Conservation Lands Foundation issued the following news: * * * The Conservation Lands Foundation Urges Senators to Oppose Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act November 9, 2026 Manager's amendment added over the weekend fails to address fundamental issues that would decimate core cultural and environmental safeguards. - WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the Senate votes today to advance consideration of S.5653 the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, the Conservation Lands Foundation remains opposed to the bill as written and urges members of theSenate to oppose the proposal as it would weaken core cultural resource and environmental safeguards that protect the integrity of the National Conservation Lands -- the 38-million-acre system of national monuments, national conservation areas, wilderness, wilderness study areas, wild and scenic rivers, and national trails managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
"This proposed legislation is a snake in the grass. If the proposal were to clear the Senate in its current form, it would result in cursory review of impacts to cultural resources and Tribal cultural values on public lands during environmental review of industrial projects; allow the federal government to rubber stamp destructive projects on landscapes without sufficient analysis of the impacts on wildlife and communities; and remove options for the public to engage in the process," said Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a nonpartisan, national network of community advocates solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management.
"Voters this past week were loud and clear that they are opposed to the countless assaults our public lands have endured during this Congressional session. Members of Congress should be taking voters' feedback and focusing on strengthening safeguards to prevent future attacks instead of widening loopholes to be exploited for private gain. Therefore, the Conservation Lands Foundation continues to oppose S. 5653 in its current form and urges Congress not to advance it without removing or fundamentally revising the Historic Preservation title and several other sections which weaken meaningful Tribal cultural resource consultation, science-based environmental review, and endangered species safeguards for the National Conservation Lands," said Hill.
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Original text here: https://www.conservationlands.org/the-conservation-lands-foundation-urges-senators-to-oppose-bipartisan-american-affordability-and-jobs-act
TPPF Research: Texas Local Debt Hits $561 Billion, Up 69% Since 2016
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 9 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation posted the following news release:
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TPPF Research: Texas Local Debt Hits $561 Billion, Up 69% Since 2016
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AUSTIN - Texas cities, counties, school districts, and special districts owed nearly $561 billion in combined principal and interest in fiscal year 2025, according to a new research paper from the Texas Public Policy Foundation. For reference, Texas' local government debt was less than $332 billion in 2016. The current total comes out to $17,706 for every man, woman, and child in the state.
The paper recommends four reforms ... Show Full Article AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 9 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation posted the following news release: * * * TPPF Research: Texas Local Debt Hits $561 Billion, Up 69% Since 2016 * AUSTIN - Texas cities, counties, school districts, and special districts owed nearly $561 billion in combined principal and interest in fiscal year 2025, according to a new research paper from the Texas Public Policy Foundation. For reference, Texas' local government debt was less than $332 billion in 2016. The current total comes out to $17,706 for every man, woman, and child in the state. The paper recommends four reformsto reduce the burden of increased local government debt through greater government transparency and accountability:
* Require bond elections to be held in November, on the uniform election date, to maximize turnout and limit the influence of narrow special interests.
* Establish minimum voter turnout requirements for approving new bond propositions and tax ratification elections.
* Create a local debt limit barring new debt when annual property tax-supported debt service would exceed 10% of the average property tax collections over the prior three fiscal years.
* Strengthen the Voter Information Document created by HB 477 (2019) to prevent data manipulation that intentionally misleads voters, requiring disclosure of all underlying data, and requiring the document to be posted prominently online.
"Texas taxpayers are now on the hook for more than half a trillion dollars in local debt, and that bill is growing nearly five times faster than the population paying for it," said James Quintero, Policy Director for TPPF's Taxpayer Protection Project. "As more local revenue goes to principal and interest, less funding remains for core services. The next Legislature should put guardrails in place so that borrowing goes back to being a tool of necessity rather than a routine habit."
The research draws on Texas Bond Review Board and U.S. Census Bureau data. Read the full paper, Tracking Local Government Debt in Texas: 2016-2025, for more information.
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Original text here: https://www.texaspolicy.com/press/tppf-research-texas-local-debt-hits-561-billion-up-69-since-2016
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TPPF Research: Texas Local Debt Hits $561 Billion, Up 69% Since 2016
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AUSTIN - Texas cities, counties, school districts, and special districts owed nearly $561 billion in combined principal and interest in fiscal year 2025, according to a new research paper from the Texas Public Policy Foundation. For reference, Texas' local government debt was less than $332 billion in 2016. The current total comes out to $17,706 for every man, woman, and child in the state.
The paper recommends four reforms ... Show Full Article AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 9 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation posted the following news release: * * * TPPF Research: Texas Local Debt Hits $561 Billion, Up 69% Since 2016 * AUSTIN - Texas cities, counties, school districts, and special districts owed nearly $561 billion in combined principal and interest in fiscal year 2025, according to a new research paper from the Texas Public Policy Foundation. For reference, Texas' local government debt was less than $332 billion in 2016. The current total comes out to $17,706 for every man, woman, and child in the state. The paper recommends four reformsto reduce the burden of increased local government debt through greater government transparency and accountability:
* Require bond elections to be held in November, on the uniform election date, to maximize turnout and limit the influence of narrow special interests.
* Establish minimum voter turnout requirements for approving new bond propositions and tax ratification elections.
* Create a local debt limit barring new debt when annual property tax-supported debt service would exceed 10% of the average property tax collections over the prior three fiscal years.
* Strengthen the Voter Information Document created by HB 477 (2019) to prevent data manipulation that intentionally misleads voters, requiring disclosure of all underlying data, and requiring the document to be posted prominently online.
"Texas taxpayers are now on the hook for more than half a trillion dollars in local debt, and that bill is growing nearly five times faster than the population paying for it," said James Quintero, Policy Director for TPPF's Taxpayer Protection Project. "As more local revenue goes to principal and interest, less funding remains for core services. The next Legislature should put guardrails in place so that borrowing goes back to being a tool of necessity rather than a routine habit."
The research draws on Texas Bond Review Board and U.S. Census Bureau data. Read the full paper, Tracking Local Government Debt in Texas: 2016-2025, for more information.
***
Original text here: https://www.texaspolicy.com/press/tppf-research-texas-local-debt-hits-561-billion-up-69-since-2016
Senate Permitting Bill Puts Communities at Risk
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 9 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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Senate Permitting Bill Puts Communities at Risk
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November 9, 2026 (Boston, MA) - Senate lawmakers were expected to take up a vote on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA). The permitting bill weakens environmental protections and limits the ability of communities to prevent projects that could harm public health and the environment.
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) President Brad Campbell released the following statement in response:
"Federal permitting needs ... Show Full Article BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 9 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release: * * * Senate Permitting Bill Puts Communities at Risk * November 9, 2026 (Boston, MA) - Senate lawmakers were expected to take up a vote on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA). The permitting bill weakens environmental protections and limits the ability of communities to prevent projects that could harm public health and the environment. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) President Brad Campbell released the following statement in response: "Federal permitting needsa major overhaul, one that reduces needless and sometimes endless delay and stops the Trump administration's unlawful blockade of affordable clean energy.
"But this backroom deal isn't that overhaul, and the revisions don't go nearly far enough to address deficiencies in the first version. The bill includes some sensible reforms to speed energy development. But it pairs them with new (and at times conflicting) rules that maintain a veneer of federal safeguards while in fact stripping the power of federal agencies, states, tribes, and communities to identify and prevent serious harm to health and the environment. It narrows environmental review, limits the remedies when that review falls short, and makes unlawful approvals harder to stop.
"We need a permitting system with firm deadlines that unlocks cheaper, reliable clean energy and good paying jobs, not a system that can never say 'no' to projects that sacrifice Americans' health and household budgets at the altar of fossil fuel and data center developers. Senators should vote no and send negotiators back to write a bill that builds fast and builds right."
***
Original text here: https://www.clf.org/newsroom/senate-permitting-bill-puts-communities-at-risk/
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Senate Permitting Bill Puts Communities at Risk
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November 9, 2026 (Boston, MA) - Senate lawmakers were expected to take up a vote on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA). The permitting bill weakens environmental protections and limits the ability of communities to prevent projects that could harm public health and the environment.
Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) President Brad Campbell released the following statement in response:
"Federal permitting needs ... Show Full Article BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 9 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release: * * * Senate Permitting Bill Puts Communities at Risk * November 9, 2026 (Boston, MA) - Senate lawmakers were expected to take up a vote on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (BAAJA). The permitting bill weakens environmental protections and limits the ability of communities to prevent projects that could harm public health and the environment. Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) President Brad Campbell released the following statement in response: "Federal permitting needsa major overhaul, one that reduces needless and sometimes endless delay and stops the Trump administration's unlawful blockade of affordable clean energy.
"But this backroom deal isn't that overhaul, and the revisions don't go nearly far enough to address deficiencies in the first version. The bill includes some sensible reforms to speed energy development. But it pairs them with new (and at times conflicting) rules that maintain a veneer of federal safeguards while in fact stripping the power of federal agencies, states, tribes, and communities to identify and prevent serious harm to health and the environment. It narrows environmental review, limits the remedies when that review falls short, and makes unlawful approvals harder to stop.
"We need a permitting system with firm deadlines that unlocks cheaper, reliable clean energy and good paying jobs, not a system that can never say 'no' to projects that sacrifice Americans' health and household budgets at the altar of fossil fuel and data center developers. Senators should vote no and send negotiators back to write a bill that builds fast and builds right."
***
Original text here: https://www.clf.org/newsroom/senate-permitting-bill-puts-communities-at-risk/
Getty anuncia un importante proyecto para conservar una de las iglesias sagradas del siglo XVII en Peru
LOS ANGELES, California, Nov. 9 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust posted the following news release:
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Getty anuncia un importante proyecto para conservar una de las iglesias sagradas del siglo XVII en Peru
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El proyecto apoyara el refuerzo antisismico y la conservacion de la Iglesia de Rondocan y su coleccion, incluida una serie de pinturas de Bernardo Bitti que se creian perdidas
Body Content
En las tierras altas andinas de la region peruana de Cusco, la Iglesia de Santo Tomas de Aquino, conocida localmente como la Iglesia de Rondocan, es un sitio sagrado, un importante patrimonio cultural ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, Nov. 9 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust posted the following news release: * * * Getty anuncia un importante proyecto para conservar una de las iglesias sagradas del siglo XVII en Peru * El proyecto apoyara el refuerzo antisismico y la conservacion de la Iglesia de Rondocan y su coleccion, incluida una serie de pinturas de Bernardo Bitti que se creian perdidas Body Content En las tierras altas andinas de la region peruana de Cusco, la Iglesia de Santo Tomas de Aquino, conocida localmente como la Iglesia de Rondocan, es un sitio sagrado, un importante patrimonio culturaly un lugar de reunion de la comunidad circundante.
Los danos causados por terremotos en el pasado en esta region sismicamente activa y otros factores han danado la iglesia del siglo XVII y amenazan la supervivencia de la estructura y su coleccion de mas de 300 objetos culturales, incluida una importante serie de pinturas de Bernardo Bitti.
Para hacer frente a estas amenazas, Getty anuncia el proyecto Patrimonio sagrado en los Andes: proyecto de conservacion de la iglesia barroca de Rondocan, una iniciativa de varios anos que reforzara el sitio, construido en tierra, para protegerlo de futuros terremotos, y apoyara la conservacion y el cuidado a largo plazo del edificio y su coleccion. Expertos de todo Getty trabajaran en colaboracion con la Direccion Desconcentrada de Cultura - Cusco (DDC-C), una oficina regional del Ministerio de Cultura del Peru, para desarrollar un proyecto integral de conservacion y refuerzo antisismico, al tiempo que fomentaran la colaboracion con profesionales locales y con la comunidad para administrar y cuidar el lugar mucho despues de que se complete el proyecto.
La arquitectura de tierra es uno de los tipos de construccion mas antiguos del mundo, que utiliza materiales naturales de tierra como metodo de construccion sostenible. Edificada con un llamativo diseno barroco y gruesos muros de ladrillos de adobe, la iglesia de Rondocan es uno de los muchos lugares sagrados de tierra cruda situados en zonas remotas de Peru y se ha vuelto cada vez mas vulnerable debido a la falta de mantenimiento periodico y a los danos causados por los terremotos. Proteger la iglesia sera una prioridad para el Proyecto de Reacondicionamiento Sismico (SRP) del Instituto de Conservacion Getty, que utiliza tecnicas analiticas de alta tecnologia con materiales, conocimientos especializados y equipos disponibles localmente para fortalecer los bienes patrimoniales de tierra, mejorar su resistencia sismica y crear planes de monitoreo y mantenimiento a largo plazo.
"Desde 2011, el Instituto de Conservacion ha trabajado en todo Peru con profesionales locales de la conservacion para preservar algunos de los edificios de construccion de tierra mas importantes del pais. Estos son los inmuebles en los que transcurre gran parte de la vida cotidiana en estas regiones, pero requieren esfuerzos especializados para su proteccion", afirmo Claudia Cancino, especialista principal de proyectos del Instituto de Conservacion Getty y lider del Proyecto patrimonio sagrado en los Andes. "Con este esfuerzo colectivo, podremos aportar conocimientos y apoyo a la comunidad de Rondocan, que ha sido la principal encargada de cuidar la iglesia y sus increibles colecciones durante generaciones."
"Hoy damos un paso muy importante para proteger uno de los espacios mas queridos y representativos de Rondocan. Este templo es mucho mas que una construccion historica; es parte de la memoria, la identidad y la vida de esta comunidad. Desde el Ministerio de Cultura tenemos el compromiso de trabajar para que este patrimonio llegue en las mejores condiciones a quienes vienen despues de nosotros. Queremos hacerlo junto con la comunidad, reconociendo la dedicacion de quienes, durante tantos anos, han cuidado este templo y han mantenido vivo su significado cultural y espiritual", senalo Fernando Lopez Sanchez, viceministro de Patrimonio Cultural e Industrias Culturales.
Al reconocer que la profunda conexion de la comunidad de Rondocan con el sitio se ve limitada por los recursos, el Instituto de Conservacion ha estado trabajando con miembros de la comunidad local para comprender su significado y definir practicas de conservacion para el sitio y la coleccion de objetos culturales de los siglos XVII y XVIII de su iglesia, que incluye pinturas, retablos de madera dorada y esculturas policromadas relacionadas, textiles eclesiasticos y mas.
El DDC-C examinara y tratara estas colecciones con el apoyo de especialistas de todo Getty. Se elaboraran directrices con la DDC-C para los profesionales locales de la conservacion y la comunidad, que incluiran metodos de tratamiento sostenibles y recomendaciones para la conservacion y el mantenimiento de la coleccion de la iglesia.
"Lo mas singular de la coleccion de la iglesia, ademas de su riqueza para ser un recinto religioso tan aislado, es que no hay evidencia de que haya sido restaurado alguna vez. Por lo tanto, representa una oportunidad unica para documentar los objetos y generar conocimientos utiles para diversas partes interesadas. El estudio de las superficies decorativas de los retablos laterales, por ejemplo, con sus materiales originales rara vez conservados, aportara informacion para la interpretacion de superficies decorativas similares en otras iglesias del Peru", afirmo Stephanie Auffret, especialista senior de proyectos del Instituto de Conservacion Getty. "Este proyecto tambien ofrece una maravillosa oportunidad para interactuar con la comunidad local, que se preocupa profundamente por el lugar y por todos sus objetos culturales, como las esculturas que llevan en las procesiones durante la Semana Santa. La conservacion de una coleccion en uso presenta desafios, asi como valiosos intercambios con los miembros de la comunidad, algo que no se experimenta en el contexto de un museo."
Uno de los aspectos mas destacados de la coleccion es una serie de ocho pinturas del sacerdote jesuita y pintor italiano Bernardo Bitti (1548-1610), un artista que ocupa un lugar fundamental en la historia del arte en las Americas. La serie Principales misterios de la vida y muerte de Cristo Nuestro Salvador y de la Virgen Santisima, que la mayoria de los historiadores del arte consideraba perdida, se pinto en Cusco, probablemente entre 1595 y 1599. Una de las pinturas de la serie, La oracion en el huerto, se transferira a Getty en 2027 para someterla a un analisis cientifico y a un tratamiento de conservacion.
"Nos sentimos honrados de que nuestros socios en Peru nos confien esta esplendida obra de Bernardo Bitti", afirmo Ulrich Birkmaier, conservador senior de pinturas del Museo Getty. "Prevemos que los resultados de nuestro exhaustivo estudio tecnico y del tratamiento nos ayuden a comprender mejor los metodos de trabajo y el uso de materiales por parte de Bitti. En estrecha colaboracion con nuestros socios peruanos en materia de conservacion, la Arquidiocesis de Cusco y el Ministerio de Cultura, nos entusiasma aprender mas sobre este enigmatico pintor y esperamos que este trabajo sirva de base para la conservacion de otras pinturas de la serie."
Tambien se implementara un monitoreo ambiental para identificar formas de reducir el riesgo y promover el mantenimiento continuo de esta valiosa coleccion.
Las obras comenzaran en el sitio en 2027, pues ya se elaboraron y aprobaron los documentos de construccion para el reforzamiento antisismico. La DDC-C financiara y llevara a cabo la construccion, y Getty supervisara el progreso durante los proximos anos.
Se anunciara mas informacion sobre el Proyecto patrimonio sagrado en los Andes a medida que avance el trabajo.
El Consejo de Pinturas del Museo Getty es un patrocinador financiero del Proyecto patrimonio sagrado en los Andes.
***
Original text here: https://www.getty.edu/news/proyecto-conservar-iglesias-sagradas-peru
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Getty anuncia un importante proyecto para conservar una de las iglesias sagradas del siglo XVII en Peru
*
El proyecto apoyara el refuerzo antisismico y la conservacion de la Iglesia de Rondocan y su coleccion, incluida una serie de pinturas de Bernardo Bitti que se creian perdidas
Body Content
En las tierras altas andinas de la region peruana de Cusco, la Iglesia de Santo Tomas de Aquino, conocida localmente como la Iglesia de Rondocan, es un sitio sagrado, un importante patrimonio cultural ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, Nov. 9 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust posted the following news release: * * * Getty anuncia un importante proyecto para conservar una de las iglesias sagradas del siglo XVII en Peru * El proyecto apoyara el refuerzo antisismico y la conservacion de la Iglesia de Rondocan y su coleccion, incluida una serie de pinturas de Bernardo Bitti que se creian perdidas Body Content En las tierras altas andinas de la region peruana de Cusco, la Iglesia de Santo Tomas de Aquino, conocida localmente como la Iglesia de Rondocan, es un sitio sagrado, un importante patrimonio culturaly un lugar de reunion de la comunidad circundante.
Los danos causados por terremotos en el pasado en esta region sismicamente activa y otros factores han danado la iglesia del siglo XVII y amenazan la supervivencia de la estructura y su coleccion de mas de 300 objetos culturales, incluida una importante serie de pinturas de Bernardo Bitti.
Para hacer frente a estas amenazas, Getty anuncia el proyecto Patrimonio sagrado en los Andes: proyecto de conservacion de la iglesia barroca de Rondocan, una iniciativa de varios anos que reforzara el sitio, construido en tierra, para protegerlo de futuros terremotos, y apoyara la conservacion y el cuidado a largo plazo del edificio y su coleccion. Expertos de todo Getty trabajaran en colaboracion con la Direccion Desconcentrada de Cultura - Cusco (DDC-C), una oficina regional del Ministerio de Cultura del Peru, para desarrollar un proyecto integral de conservacion y refuerzo antisismico, al tiempo que fomentaran la colaboracion con profesionales locales y con la comunidad para administrar y cuidar el lugar mucho despues de que se complete el proyecto.
La arquitectura de tierra es uno de los tipos de construccion mas antiguos del mundo, que utiliza materiales naturales de tierra como metodo de construccion sostenible. Edificada con un llamativo diseno barroco y gruesos muros de ladrillos de adobe, la iglesia de Rondocan es uno de los muchos lugares sagrados de tierra cruda situados en zonas remotas de Peru y se ha vuelto cada vez mas vulnerable debido a la falta de mantenimiento periodico y a los danos causados por los terremotos. Proteger la iglesia sera una prioridad para el Proyecto de Reacondicionamiento Sismico (SRP) del Instituto de Conservacion Getty, que utiliza tecnicas analiticas de alta tecnologia con materiales, conocimientos especializados y equipos disponibles localmente para fortalecer los bienes patrimoniales de tierra, mejorar su resistencia sismica y crear planes de monitoreo y mantenimiento a largo plazo.
"Desde 2011, el Instituto de Conservacion ha trabajado en todo Peru con profesionales locales de la conservacion para preservar algunos de los edificios de construccion de tierra mas importantes del pais. Estos son los inmuebles en los que transcurre gran parte de la vida cotidiana en estas regiones, pero requieren esfuerzos especializados para su proteccion", afirmo Claudia Cancino, especialista principal de proyectos del Instituto de Conservacion Getty y lider del Proyecto patrimonio sagrado en los Andes. "Con este esfuerzo colectivo, podremos aportar conocimientos y apoyo a la comunidad de Rondocan, que ha sido la principal encargada de cuidar la iglesia y sus increibles colecciones durante generaciones."
"Hoy damos un paso muy importante para proteger uno de los espacios mas queridos y representativos de Rondocan. Este templo es mucho mas que una construccion historica; es parte de la memoria, la identidad y la vida de esta comunidad. Desde el Ministerio de Cultura tenemos el compromiso de trabajar para que este patrimonio llegue en las mejores condiciones a quienes vienen despues de nosotros. Queremos hacerlo junto con la comunidad, reconociendo la dedicacion de quienes, durante tantos anos, han cuidado este templo y han mantenido vivo su significado cultural y espiritual", senalo Fernando Lopez Sanchez, viceministro de Patrimonio Cultural e Industrias Culturales.
Al reconocer que la profunda conexion de la comunidad de Rondocan con el sitio se ve limitada por los recursos, el Instituto de Conservacion ha estado trabajando con miembros de la comunidad local para comprender su significado y definir practicas de conservacion para el sitio y la coleccion de objetos culturales de los siglos XVII y XVIII de su iglesia, que incluye pinturas, retablos de madera dorada y esculturas policromadas relacionadas, textiles eclesiasticos y mas.
El DDC-C examinara y tratara estas colecciones con el apoyo de especialistas de todo Getty. Se elaboraran directrices con la DDC-C para los profesionales locales de la conservacion y la comunidad, que incluiran metodos de tratamiento sostenibles y recomendaciones para la conservacion y el mantenimiento de la coleccion de la iglesia.
"Lo mas singular de la coleccion de la iglesia, ademas de su riqueza para ser un recinto religioso tan aislado, es que no hay evidencia de que haya sido restaurado alguna vez. Por lo tanto, representa una oportunidad unica para documentar los objetos y generar conocimientos utiles para diversas partes interesadas. El estudio de las superficies decorativas de los retablos laterales, por ejemplo, con sus materiales originales rara vez conservados, aportara informacion para la interpretacion de superficies decorativas similares en otras iglesias del Peru", afirmo Stephanie Auffret, especialista senior de proyectos del Instituto de Conservacion Getty. "Este proyecto tambien ofrece una maravillosa oportunidad para interactuar con la comunidad local, que se preocupa profundamente por el lugar y por todos sus objetos culturales, como las esculturas que llevan en las procesiones durante la Semana Santa. La conservacion de una coleccion en uso presenta desafios, asi como valiosos intercambios con los miembros de la comunidad, algo que no se experimenta en el contexto de un museo."
Uno de los aspectos mas destacados de la coleccion es una serie de ocho pinturas del sacerdote jesuita y pintor italiano Bernardo Bitti (1548-1610), un artista que ocupa un lugar fundamental en la historia del arte en las Americas. La serie Principales misterios de la vida y muerte de Cristo Nuestro Salvador y de la Virgen Santisima, que la mayoria de los historiadores del arte consideraba perdida, se pinto en Cusco, probablemente entre 1595 y 1599. Una de las pinturas de la serie, La oracion en el huerto, se transferira a Getty en 2027 para someterla a un analisis cientifico y a un tratamiento de conservacion.
"Nos sentimos honrados de que nuestros socios en Peru nos confien esta esplendida obra de Bernardo Bitti", afirmo Ulrich Birkmaier, conservador senior de pinturas del Museo Getty. "Prevemos que los resultados de nuestro exhaustivo estudio tecnico y del tratamiento nos ayuden a comprender mejor los metodos de trabajo y el uso de materiales por parte de Bitti. En estrecha colaboracion con nuestros socios peruanos en materia de conservacion, la Arquidiocesis de Cusco y el Ministerio de Cultura, nos entusiasma aprender mas sobre este enigmatico pintor y esperamos que este trabajo sirva de base para la conservacion de otras pinturas de la serie."
Tambien se implementara un monitoreo ambiental para identificar formas de reducir el riesgo y promover el mantenimiento continuo de esta valiosa coleccion.
Las obras comenzaran en el sitio en 2027, pues ya se elaboraron y aprobaron los documentos de construccion para el reforzamiento antisismico. La DDC-C financiara y llevara a cabo la construccion, y Getty supervisara el progreso durante los proximos anos.
Se anunciara mas informacion sobre el Proyecto patrimonio sagrado en los Andes a medida que avance el trabajo.
El Consejo de Pinturas del Museo Getty es un patrocinador financiero del Proyecto patrimonio sagrado en los Andes.
***
Original text here: https://www.getty.edu/news/proyecto-conservar-iglesias-sagradas-peru
Getty Announces Major Project to Conserve One of Peru's Sacred 17th-Century Churches
LOS ANGELES, California, Nov. 9 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust posted the following news release:
* * *
Getty Announces Major Project to Conserve One of Peru's Sacred 17th-Century Churches
*
Project will support seismic retrofitting and conservation of the Church of Rondocan and its collection, including a painting series by Bernardo Bitti once thought lost
Body Content
In the Andean highlands of Peru's Cusco region, the Church of Santo Tomas de Aquino, locally known as the Church of Rondocan, is a sacred cultural heritage site and gathering place for the surrounding community.
Past earthquake ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, Nov. 9 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust posted the following news release: * * * Getty Announces Major Project to Conserve One of Peru's Sacred 17th-Century Churches * Project will support seismic retrofitting and conservation of the Church of Rondocan and its collection, including a painting series by Bernardo Bitti once thought lost Body Content In the Andean highlands of Peru's Cusco region, the Church of Santo Tomas de Aquino, locally known as the Church of Rondocan, is a sacred cultural heritage site and gathering place for the surrounding community. Past earthquakedamage within this seismically active region and other factors have damaged the 17th-century church and threaten the survival of the structure and its collection of more than 300 cultural objects including a major series of paintings by Bernardo Bitti.
To address these threats, Getty announces Sacred Heritage in the Andes: Conserving the Baroque Church of Rondocan Project, a multi-year initiative that will strengthen the earthen site against earthquakes and support the long-term conservation and care of the building and its collection. Experts from across Getty will work in partnership with the Direccion Desconcentrada de Cultura - Cusco (DDC-C), a regional office of the Ministry of Culture of Peru, to develop a comprehensive conservation and retrofitting project, while fostering collaboration with local professionals and the community to steward and care for the site long after the project is completed.
Earthen architecture is one of the world's oldest building types, using natural earth materials as a sustainable building method. Built with striking Baroque design and thick adobe brick walls, the Church of Rondocan is one of many remotely located earthen sacred sites in Peru and has become increasingly vulnerable due to lack of regular maintenance and earthquake damage. Protecting the church will be a priority for the Getty Conservation Institute's Seismic Retrofitting Project (SRP), which uses high tech analytical techniques with locally available materials, skills, and equipment to strengthen earthen heritage sites against earthquakes and create long term monitoring and maintenance plans.
"Since 2011, the Conservation Institute has worked across Peru with local conservation professionals to conserve some of the country's most significant earthen architectural buildings. These are the buildings in which so much of daily life in these regions takes place, but they require specialized efforts for their protection," said Claudia Cancino, principal project specialist at the Getty Conservation Institute, and project lead for the Sacred Heritage in the Andes Project. "With this collective effort, we will be able to provide expertise and support for the Rondocan community who have been the primary caretakers of the church and its incredible collections for generations."
"Today marks an important step toward protecting one of Rondocan's most cherished and meaningful places. This church is much more than a historic building; it is part of the community's memory, identity, and everyday life. At the Ministry of Culture, we are committed to ensuring that this heritage is preserved for future generations. We want to achieve this together with the community, recognizing the dedication of those who, for so many years, have cared for this church and kept its cultural and spiritual significance alive," said Fernando Lopez Sanchez, Vice Minister of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Industries.
Recognizing the Rondocan community's deep connection to the site is met with limited resources, the Conservation Institute has been working with local community members to understand its significance and to define conservation practices for the site and its church's 17th and 18th-century collection of cultural objects, which includes paintings, gilded wooden retablos and associated polychrome sculptures, ecclesiastical textiles and more.
These collections will be examined and treated by the DDC-C with support of specialists from across Getty. Guidelines will be developed with the DDC-C for local conservation professionals and the community, including sustainable treatment methods and recommendations for the conservation and maintenance of the church's collection.
"What makes the church's collection unique, beyond its richness for such an isolated church, is that no evidence suggests it has ever been restored. As such, it represents a rare opportunity to document the artifacts, generating knowledge useful to a variety of stakeholders. The study of the decorative surfaces of the lateral altarpieces for instance, with their rarely preserved original materials, will inform the interpretation of similar decorative surfaces in other churches in Peru," said Stephanie Auffret, senior project specialist at the Getty Conservation Institute. "This project also provides a wonderful opportunity to interact with the local community who cares deeply about the site and all its cultural objects, such as the sculptures they carry as part of processions during the Semana Santa. Preserving a collection in use presents challenges as well as valuable exchanges with community members, something not experienced in a museum's context."
One of the highlights of the collection is a series of eight paintings by the Italian Jesuit priest and painter Bernardo Bitti (1548-1610), an artist who occupies a pivotal position in the history of art in the Americas. The series, "Principales Misterios de la Vida y Muerte de Cristo Nuestro Salvador y de la Virgen Santisima" ("Principal Mysteries of the Life and Death of Christ our Savior and the Holy Virgin Mary"), thought to be lost by most art historians, was painted in Cusco, likely between 1595 and 1599. One painting from the series, "La Oracion en el huerto" ("Prayer in the Garden"), will be transferred to Getty in 2027 to undergo scientific analysis and conservation treatment.
"We are honored our partners in Peru are entrusting us with this splendid work by Bernardo Bitti," said Ulrich Birkmaier, senior conservator of paintings at the Getty Museum. "We anticipate the results of our comprehensive technical study and treatment will illuminate Bitti's working methods and use of materials. Working closely with our Peruvian conservation partners, the Archdiocese in Cusco and the Ministry of Culture, we are thrilled to learn more about this enigmatic painter and anticipate this work will help inform the conservation of other paintings in the series."
Environmental monitoring will also be implemented to identify ways to reduce risk and promote continued maintenance of this treasured collection.
As seismic retrofitting construction documents have been developed and approved, construction will begin on site in 2027. The DDC-C will fund and carry out the construction phase, and Getty will partner to monitor progress over the next several years.
More information on the Sacred Heritage in the Andes Project will be announced as the work continues.
The Getty Museum's Paintings Council is a financial supporter of the Sacred Heritage in the Andes Project.
***
Original text here: https://www.getty.edu/news/major-project-conserve-sacred-church-peru
* * *
Getty Announces Major Project to Conserve One of Peru's Sacred 17th-Century Churches
*
Project will support seismic retrofitting and conservation of the Church of Rondocan and its collection, including a painting series by Bernardo Bitti once thought lost
Body Content
In the Andean highlands of Peru's Cusco region, the Church of Santo Tomas de Aquino, locally known as the Church of Rondocan, is a sacred cultural heritage site and gathering place for the surrounding community.
Past earthquake ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, Nov. 9 -- The J. Paul Getty Trust posted the following news release: * * * Getty Announces Major Project to Conserve One of Peru's Sacred 17th-Century Churches * Project will support seismic retrofitting and conservation of the Church of Rondocan and its collection, including a painting series by Bernardo Bitti once thought lost Body Content In the Andean highlands of Peru's Cusco region, the Church of Santo Tomas de Aquino, locally known as the Church of Rondocan, is a sacred cultural heritage site and gathering place for the surrounding community. Past earthquakedamage within this seismically active region and other factors have damaged the 17th-century church and threaten the survival of the structure and its collection of more than 300 cultural objects including a major series of paintings by Bernardo Bitti.
To address these threats, Getty announces Sacred Heritage in the Andes: Conserving the Baroque Church of Rondocan Project, a multi-year initiative that will strengthen the earthen site against earthquakes and support the long-term conservation and care of the building and its collection. Experts from across Getty will work in partnership with the Direccion Desconcentrada de Cultura - Cusco (DDC-C), a regional office of the Ministry of Culture of Peru, to develop a comprehensive conservation and retrofitting project, while fostering collaboration with local professionals and the community to steward and care for the site long after the project is completed.
Earthen architecture is one of the world's oldest building types, using natural earth materials as a sustainable building method. Built with striking Baroque design and thick adobe brick walls, the Church of Rondocan is one of many remotely located earthen sacred sites in Peru and has become increasingly vulnerable due to lack of regular maintenance and earthquake damage. Protecting the church will be a priority for the Getty Conservation Institute's Seismic Retrofitting Project (SRP), which uses high tech analytical techniques with locally available materials, skills, and equipment to strengthen earthen heritage sites against earthquakes and create long term monitoring and maintenance plans.
"Since 2011, the Conservation Institute has worked across Peru with local conservation professionals to conserve some of the country's most significant earthen architectural buildings. These are the buildings in which so much of daily life in these regions takes place, but they require specialized efforts for their protection," said Claudia Cancino, principal project specialist at the Getty Conservation Institute, and project lead for the Sacred Heritage in the Andes Project. "With this collective effort, we will be able to provide expertise and support for the Rondocan community who have been the primary caretakers of the church and its incredible collections for generations."
"Today marks an important step toward protecting one of Rondocan's most cherished and meaningful places. This church is much more than a historic building; it is part of the community's memory, identity, and everyday life. At the Ministry of Culture, we are committed to ensuring that this heritage is preserved for future generations. We want to achieve this together with the community, recognizing the dedication of those who, for so many years, have cared for this church and kept its cultural and spiritual significance alive," said Fernando Lopez Sanchez, Vice Minister of Cultural Heritage and Cultural Industries.
Recognizing the Rondocan community's deep connection to the site is met with limited resources, the Conservation Institute has been working with local community members to understand its significance and to define conservation practices for the site and its church's 17th and 18th-century collection of cultural objects, which includes paintings, gilded wooden retablos and associated polychrome sculptures, ecclesiastical textiles and more.
These collections will be examined and treated by the DDC-C with support of specialists from across Getty. Guidelines will be developed with the DDC-C for local conservation professionals and the community, including sustainable treatment methods and recommendations for the conservation and maintenance of the church's collection.
"What makes the church's collection unique, beyond its richness for such an isolated church, is that no evidence suggests it has ever been restored. As such, it represents a rare opportunity to document the artifacts, generating knowledge useful to a variety of stakeholders. The study of the decorative surfaces of the lateral altarpieces for instance, with their rarely preserved original materials, will inform the interpretation of similar decorative surfaces in other churches in Peru," said Stephanie Auffret, senior project specialist at the Getty Conservation Institute. "This project also provides a wonderful opportunity to interact with the local community who cares deeply about the site and all its cultural objects, such as the sculptures they carry as part of processions during the Semana Santa. Preserving a collection in use presents challenges as well as valuable exchanges with community members, something not experienced in a museum's context."
One of the highlights of the collection is a series of eight paintings by the Italian Jesuit priest and painter Bernardo Bitti (1548-1610), an artist who occupies a pivotal position in the history of art in the Americas. The series, "Principales Misterios de la Vida y Muerte de Cristo Nuestro Salvador y de la Virgen Santisima" ("Principal Mysteries of the Life and Death of Christ our Savior and the Holy Virgin Mary"), thought to be lost by most art historians, was painted in Cusco, likely between 1595 and 1599. One painting from the series, "La Oracion en el huerto" ("Prayer in the Garden"), will be transferred to Getty in 2027 to undergo scientific analysis and conservation treatment.
"We are honored our partners in Peru are entrusting us with this splendid work by Bernardo Bitti," said Ulrich Birkmaier, senior conservator of paintings at the Getty Museum. "We anticipate the results of our comprehensive technical study and treatment will illuminate Bitti's working methods and use of materials. Working closely with our Peruvian conservation partners, the Archdiocese in Cusco and the Ministry of Culture, we are thrilled to learn more about this enigmatic painter and anticipate this work will help inform the conservation of other paintings in the series."
Environmental monitoring will also be implemented to identify ways to reduce risk and promote continued maintenance of this treasured collection.
As seismic retrofitting construction documents have been developed and approved, construction will begin on site in 2027. The DDC-C will fund and carry out the construction phase, and Getty will partner to monitor progress over the next several years.
More information on the Sacred Heritage in the Andes Project will be announced as the work continues.
The Getty Museum's Paintings Council is a financial supporter of the Sacred Heritage in the Andes Project.
***
Original text here: https://www.getty.edu/news/major-project-conserve-sacred-church-peru
Extraordinary Support Propels Cancer Center Campaign Beyond $25 Million Goal
NEW YORK, Nov. 9 -- The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust posted the following news release:
* * *
Extraordinary Support Propels Cancer Center Campaign Beyond $25 Million Goal
*
JACKSON, WY, November 9, 2026 -- St. John's Health Foundation has surpassed its $25M fundraising goal for the new St. John's Health Cancer Center, marking the successful completion of the largest philanthropic campaign in the Foundation's history.
The $28.4 million milestone reflects support from private donors throughout the community and a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, Nov. 9 -- The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust posted the following news release: * * * Extraordinary Support Propels Cancer Center Campaign Beyond $25 Million Goal * JACKSON, WY, November 9, 2026 -- St. John's Health Foundation has surpassed its $25M fundraising goal for the new St. John's Health Cancer Center, marking the successful completion of the largest philanthropic campaign in the Foundation's history. The $28.4 million milestone reflects support from private donors throughout the community and a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trustfor a transformational expansion of cancer care in Jackson Hole. The new Cancer Center will bring radiation oncology to the community for the first time while expanding chemotherapy, community infusion, imaging, pharmacy, survivorship and other cancer services available locally. All money raised above the $25M goal will support the Oncology Department.
Radiation therapy is a critical component of cancer care, with more than half of cancer patients requiring radiation as part of their treatment plan. Patients in Jackson Hole who need radiation currently have to travel outside the community for that care.
"This campaign is an extraordinary demonstration of what is possible when a community comes together around a shared vision for health care," said Anna Olson, President of St. John's Health Foundation. "Bringing this vision to life was truly a team effort, with donors, Campaign Chairs, Board members, clinical teams and staff all playing an important role. Every gift helped make this possible, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who believed in this project and in what it means for patients and families across our region."
The Cancer Center represents a strategic investment in the future of St. John's Health and in the organization's ability to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the region. Following extensive planning, input from physicians and staff, and analysis of community need and long-term sustainability, oncology emerged as a clear priority for meaningfully expanding access to care close to home.
"Reaching this milestone is a significant step forward for St. John's Health and for the community we serve," said Jeff Sollis, CEO of St. John's Health. "We have an opportunity to make an exceptional health system even stronger by investing in services that are needed and in strong demand now and well into the future. The expansion of medical oncology and radiation oncology services will have a lasting impact on our patients and families for generations to come. The support behind this Cancer Center gives us tremendous confidence in the future of cancer care at St. John's Health."
"For patients facing cancer, having to leave home for treatment adds another layer of difficulty to an already overwhelming experience," said Katharine Conover Keller, St. John's Health Trustee, Cancer Center Campaign Co-Chair and cancer survivor. "My own treatment required chemotherapy and radiation in tandem, which meant leaving Jackson to receive the care I needed. Bringing radiation oncology here means future patients can receive more of their treatment close to home, surrounded by their families, their support systems, and the community that cares for them."
The campaign was made possible through extraordinary generosity, including a lead gift of $5 million from Christian and Caryn Felipe. Their commitment provided significant momentum toward the campaign goal and reflects their belief in the importance of expanding access to exceptional cancer care close to home. St. John's Health Foundation is deeply grateful for their leadership and generosity in helping bring this vision to life.
A significant investment from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust will also help make radiation treatment in Jackson possible. Through its work to expand access to high-quality healthcare in rural communities, Helmsley has committed $4 million to purchase the linear accelerator that will serve as the centerpiece of the Cancer Center's new radiation oncology program. This advanced technology will allow patients to receive precise, high-quality radiation treatment locally, reducing the need to travel long distances for care.
"At Helmsley, we believe where you live should not determine your ability to access the care you need," said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee for the Helmsley Charitable Trust. "Bringing radiation oncology to Jackson means patients can receive more of their cancer treatment in their own community, closer to family and the support systems that matter most. We're proud to support St. John's Health in making high-quality cancer care more accessible."
Construction drawings are currently underway with Earl Swensson Associates. Following completion of the design process, St. John's Health will issue a request for proposals for construction. Groundbreaking for the new Cancer Center, located on the main St. John's Health campus, is anticipated in summer 2027, with the new Cancer Center expected to open in summer 2028.
"This campaign belongs to the entire community," Olson said. "It represents hundreds of individual decisions to invest in the health of our neighbors, our families and the generations who will come after us. It also reflects the collective effort of so many people who helped move this vision forward. We could not be more grateful."
About St. John's Health Foundation
St. John's Health Foundation secures philanthropic support to advance the mission and strategic objectives of St. John's Health, an independent health system providing our unique community and visitors with exceptional and ever-advancing individualized care.
***
Original text here: https://helmsleytrust.org/news-and-insights/extraordinary-support-propels-cancer-center-campaign-beyond-25-million-goal/
* * *
Extraordinary Support Propels Cancer Center Campaign Beyond $25 Million Goal
*
JACKSON, WY, November 9, 2026 -- St. John's Health Foundation has surpassed its $25M fundraising goal for the new St. John's Health Cancer Center, marking the successful completion of the largest philanthropic campaign in the Foundation's history.
The $28.4 million milestone reflects support from private donors throughout the community and a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, Nov. 9 -- The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust posted the following news release: * * * Extraordinary Support Propels Cancer Center Campaign Beyond $25 Million Goal * JACKSON, WY, November 9, 2026 -- St. John's Health Foundation has surpassed its $25M fundraising goal for the new St. John's Health Cancer Center, marking the successful completion of the largest philanthropic campaign in the Foundation's history. The $28.4 million milestone reflects support from private donors throughout the community and a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trustfor a transformational expansion of cancer care in Jackson Hole. The new Cancer Center will bring radiation oncology to the community for the first time while expanding chemotherapy, community infusion, imaging, pharmacy, survivorship and other cancer services available locally. All money raised above the $25M goal will support the Oncology Department.
Radiation therapy is a critical component of cancer care, with more than half of cancer patients requiring radiation as part of their treatment plan. Patients in Jackson Hole who need radiation currently have to travel outside the community for that care.
"This campaign is an extraordinary demonstration of what is possible when a community comes together around a shared vision for health care," said Anna Olson, President of St. John's Health Foundation. "Bringing this vision to life was truly a team effort, with donors, Campaign Chairs, Board members, clinical teams and staff all playing an important role. Every gift helped make this possible, and we are deeply grateful to everyone who believed in this project and in what it means for patients and families across our region."
The Cancer Center represents a strategic investment in the future of St. John's Health and in the organization's ability to meet the evolving healthcare needs of the region. Following extensive planning, input from physicians and staff, and analysis of community need and long-term sustainability, oncology emerged as a clear priority for meaningfully expanding access to care close to home.
"Reaching this milestone is a significant step forward for St. John's Health and for the community we serve," said Jeff Sollis, CEO of St. John's Health. "We have an opportunity to make an exceptional health system even stronger by investing in services that are needed and in strong demand now and well into the future. The expansion of medical oncology and radiation oncology services will have a lasting impact on our patients and families for generations to come. The support behind this Cancer Center gives us tremendous confidence in the future of cancer care at St. John's Health."
"For patients facing cancer, having to leave home for treatment adds another layer of difficulty to an already overwhelming experience," said Katharine Conover Keller, St. John's Health Trustee, Cancer Center Campaign Co-Chair and cancer survivor. "My own treatment required chemotherapy and radiation in tandem, which meant leaving Jackson to receive the care I needed. Bringing radiation oncology here means future patients can receive more of their treatment close to home, surrounded by their families, their support systems, and the community that cares for them."
The campaign was made possible through extraordinary generosity, including a lead gift of $5 million from Christian and Caryn Felipe. Their commitment provided significant momentum toward the campaign goal and reflects their belief in the importance of expanding access to exceptional cancer care close to home. St. John's Health Foundation is deeply grateful for their leadership and generosity in helping bring this vision to life.
A significant investment from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust will also help make radiation treatment in Jackson possible. Through its work to expand access to high-quality healthcare in rural communities, Helmsley has committed $4 million to purchase the linear accelerator that will serve as the centerpiece of the Cancer Center's new radiation oncology program. This advanced technology will allow patients to receive precise, high-quality radiation treatment locally, reducing the need to travel long distances for care.
"At Helmsley, we believe where you live should not determine your ability to access the care you need," said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee for the Helmsley Charitable Trust. "Bringing radiation oncology to Jackson means patients can receive more of their cancer treatment in their own community, closer to family and the support systems that matter most. We're proud to support St. John's Health in making high-quality cancer care more accessible."
Construction drawings are currently underway with Earl Swensson Associates. Following completion of the design process, St. John's Health will issue a request for proposals for construction. Groundbreaking for the new Cancer Center, located on the main St. John's Health campus, is anticipated in summer 2027, with the new Cancer Center expected to open in summer 2028.
"This campaign belongs to the entire community," Olson said. "It represents hundreds of individual decisions to invest in the health of our neighbors, our families and the generations who will come after us. It also reflects the collective effort of so many people who helped move this vision forward. We could not be more grateful."
About St. John's Health Foundation
St. John's Health Foundation secures philanthropic support to advance the mission and strategic objectives of St. John's Health, an independent health system providing our unique community and visitors with exceptional and ever-advancing individualized care.
***
Original text here: https://helmsleytrust.org/news-and-insights/extraordinary-support-propels-cancer-center-campaign-beyond-25-million-goal/
Climate & Health Funders Coalition awards $225 million in first year to accelerate solutions that will improve health and save lives
LONDON, England, Nov. 9 -- Wellcome, a charitable foundation, posted the following news release:
* * *
Climate & Health Funders Coalition awards $225 million in first year to accelerate solutions that will improve health and save lives
*
One year after launching at COP30, the coalition's investments are accelerating action on some of the most urgent health impacts of climate change.
The Climate & Health Funders Coalition has awarded more than $225 million in its first year, putting three-quarters of the initial $300 million pledged towards accelerating solutions on extreme heat, air pollution, ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, Nov. 9 -- Wellcome, a charitable foundation, posted the following news release: * * * Climate & Health Funders Coalition awards $225 million in first year to accelerate solutions that will improve health and save lives * One year after launching at COP30, the coalition's investments are accelerating action on some of the most urgent health impacts of climate change. The Climate & Health Funders Coalition has awarded more than $225 million in its first year, putting three-quarters of the initial $300 million pledged towards accelerating solutions on extreme heat, air pollution,climate-sensitive infectious diseases and data systems that protect people's lives and livelihoods in a changing climate.
The Coalition, a group of leading global and regional philanthropies that made its initial commitment in November 2025 at COP30 in Brazil, now also has an additional $150 million in commitments from new and existing funders - including a matched funding opportunity for initiatives prioritising clean air.
In a year when climate change has hit communities hard all around the world and with an unprecedented El Nino underway, the Climate & Health Funders Coalition is stepping up its support for practical solutions, innovations, policies and research to protect people's health and lives - particularly for communities most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Over $225 million has been awarded globally to 20 solutions programmes and counting. Some of the organisations and initiatives driving impact include:
* The Clean Air Fund which works with a wide range of partners, spanning grassroots actors to governments, to accelerate action on clean air. Through its grants and projects, Clean Air Fund promotes air quality data, builds public awareness and influences policy making. Efforts include work to accelerate action on super pollutants and support cities around the world to clean the air and enhance public health through Breathe Cities.
* DHIS-2 which is integrating climate and environmental data in the health sector through partnerships with governments and national health systems and strengthening the use of open-source climate-health digital tools in low-and-middle-income countries across Africa and Asia.
* The Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN), including its regional Hubs in South Asia and Southeast Asia, which brings together policymakers, scientists and practitioners across sectors to translate knowledge into action and support the implementation of heat-health plans and interventions. GHHIN recently co-organised the flagship Global Heat Forum in Bangkok, convening more than 650 participants, including global experts on climate change, public health and extreme heat, to share solutions and secure investment grounded in scientific evidence, lived experience and proven practice.
* Nexa, a new global climate and health innovation initiative investing in bold, locally led solutions that help health systems anticipate and respond to climate-driven health threats. Co-led by Grand Challenges Canada and regional partners Science for Africa Foundation and Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (Nexa Lighthouse), Nexa funds both climate-informed early warning and monitoring systems and climate-responsive patient care delivery, including climate-smart diagnostics.
* SEWA which works with women workers in India's informal economy to build resilience to climate shocks including extreme heat. SEWA is generating evidence on the physiological impacts of extreme heat exposure and deploying community-led programs including heat insurance and emergency grants to protect women from lost wages during extreme heat events.
* The Super Pollutant Action Alliance which is working to strengthen the global super pollutant ecosystem and accelerate emissions reductions by advancing philanthropic learning and collaboration, building capacity, and addressing barriers to action.
* WISER Africa which is transforming co-produced Weather and climate Information SERvices into action-oriented decision-making at local, national, and regional levels, while mainstreaming robust climate information into policy and planning.
The Coalition brings together institutional and individual funders operating at international, national and regional levels to mitigate climate change while protecting people from its increasing impacts, improving health and saving lives. The Coalition also supports international climate and health frameworks like the Belem Health Action Plan which launched at COP30 in Brazil.
The committed anchor funders include: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Children's Investment Fund Foundation, Gates Foundation, IKEA Foundation, Quadrature Charitable Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, Philanthropy Asia Alliance (by Temasek Trust), and Wellcome. New funders making aligned commitments over the past year include: Novo Nordisk Foundation, Laudes Foundation and the Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation.
Building on the Coalition's early success and interest, the Coalition will soon establish an independent secretariat with a dedicated Executive Director to further connect philanthropies, expertise and investment to accelerate action on climate change and health. The Coalition has also been engaging sector and community leaders to advise on strategy and ensure the supported investments meet the needs of stakeholders in the ecosystem.
Action on climate change has never been more urgent, as it becomes increasingly evident that a rapidly warming world and extreme weather events like heatwaves and floods have the potential to threaten our livelihoods and economic security, our health and wellbeing. But there is also a window of opportunity to build a healthier, fairer and more prosperous future - if we act now and at the scale required through global partnerships.
The latest figures from the Lancet Countdown Report on Health and Climate Change reveal that:
* In 2023 alone, heat was linked to a record 710,000 deaths, with more than 70% of that toll attributable to human-caused climate change. Since the Paris Agreement entered into force ten years ago, human-caused climate change has contributed to an estimated 3 million heat-related deaths.
* Extreme drought affected more than half (51.8%) of global land for at least one month in 2025 - the second-highest level on record - with the affected area expanding more than 700% faster in 2016-2025 than in 2006-2015, exacerbating the risk of food insecurity.
* Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are increasing the environmental suitability for dengue transmission. A record-high number of people (1.72 billion) now live within 100km of coastal waters environmentally suitable for the transmission of Vibrio bacteria.
* Fossil-fuel air pollution still kills an estimated 2.73 million people a year worldwide but we are also starting to see the health gains from clean energy, with cleaner air preventing an estimated 323,000 deaths a year in at least 77 countries where air pollution from fossil fuels has fallen since 2016.
Antha Williams, who leads the Environment Program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, says: "In just one year, the Climate & Health Funders Coalition has shown what's possible when philanthropy comes together to tackle urgent challenges. By supporting solutions that cut air pollution and save lives, we're turning commitments into action and helping build healthier, stronger communities."
Kate Hampton, Chief Executive at the Children's Investment Fund Foundation says: "Climate change is not a distant threat: it already affects the health of millions of people worldwide. Children are among the most exposed, with more than one billion living with multiple climate risks that threaten their health, development and wellbeing. Alongside urgent action to reduce emissions and prevent the worst of the damage, we must help those already experiencing harm. The Climate & Health Funders Coalition exemplifies the cross-sectoral approach we need to respond to climate change."
Marilia Bezerra, Chief Programmes Officer at IKEA Foundation says: "Over the past year, people across the world have experienced the worsening health consequences of climate change, including extreme heat, poor air quality, flooding and displacement. The Climate & Health Funders Coalition has played an important role in bringing greater attention, collaboration and investment to this challenge. IKEA Foundation is encouraged by the momentum it has built in just twelve months and the strong foundation it has laid to carry out its important mission in the years ahead."
Dr. Nitya Mohan Khemka, Advisor, The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation says: "For decades, our work on climate has been rooted in a simple belief: lasting change comes from collective action and strong policy, not isolated efforts. Extreme heat is now one of the clearest ways climate change shows up in people's lives in India, through lost wages, overwhelmed health systems and lives cut short. Protecting people means working at every level, from national policy to states, cities and the local communities on the frontline. In just one year, the Climate & Health Funders Coalition has shown what a meaningful partnership can do. We are proud to join it, and to help turn shared and commitment into resilience that reaches millions."
Leslie Johnston, Chief Executive at the Laudes Foundation says: "As I look towards 2027 and, inevitably, the challenges that business and industry will continue to face in our increasingly fractured world, I remain convinced that philanthropy, at its best, is uniquely suited to meet this moment. We can take the long view, embrace risk, and pivot when the evidence calls for it. Yet we are only as strong as the partners we support. Which means that investing in protecting workers from extreme heat should be understood by employers and industries as a cost of doing business in a hotter world."
Flemming Konradsen, Chief Scientific Officer, Health, Novo Nordisk Foundation says: "Extreme heat disproportionately affects people living with cardiometabolic disease. Thus, in a world with rising temperatures and frequent heatwaves, advancing cardiometabolic disease prevention and care is both a public health imperative and a commitment to health equity. By ensuring that vulnerable populations can access timely prevention, diagnosis and treatment, we can help reduce avoidable harm and build more resilient communities. The collaboration between multiple stakeholders under the Coalition plays an important role in this regard."
Shaun Seow, Chief Executive at Philanthropy Asia Alliance says: "We cannot afford to let proven solutions remain isolated pilots. The Climate & Health Funders Coalition exists to change that, bringing philanthropy together to pool resources and expertise so countries can scale what works. Asia has much to contribute, with locally grounded solutions and lessons that can inform climate and health action globally. By strengthening country-level systems and supporting locally led action, we can turn collective commitment into lasting impact. Together, we can move from protecting hundreds of thousands of people to reaching hundreds of millions."
Masego Madzwamuse, Managing Director at Quadrature Charitable Foundation says: "Healthy people and strong health systems are the foundation of resilient societies. Rising heat, polluted air and infectious disease are testing both, hitting frontline communities the most. Those communities are already leading the way in adapting, but the gaps are too large for any single funder to close. We are delighted to welcome the funders who have joined the coalition, and hope more will follow."
Naveen Rao, Senior Vice President of Health at The Rockefeller Foundation says: "Extreme heat and disease outbreaks are no longer occasional emergencies but conditions every health system must now be built for. In its first year, this Coalition has shown what the next era of global health can look like: funders aligning behind plans countries set for themselves, so communities have the data, tools and partners they need before the next shock hits, not after."
John-Arne Rottingen, Chief Executive at Wellcome says: "Climate action is fundamentally about protecting lives, preventing illness and creating healthier, safer and more resilient communities. We should judge our success not in degrees Celsius but in lives saved and health improved, and we have a duty to protect those people who are most vulnerable to climate change such as children, pregnant women, outdoor workers and older people. The Coalition is funding across sectors and borders to take on the biggest challenge of our time and it is far better to invest now than pay a higher price for inaction later."
Learn more about the Climate & Health Funders Coalition at: https://www.chfcoalition.org/
About Wellcome
Wellcome is a global philanthropy working to build a healthier future for everyone. We are committed to investing PS16 billion in our mission between 2022 and 2032.
We support discovery research and we're taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.
Our independence and long-term resources allow us to think in decades, take risks and support ambitious ideas. We work with decision makers to enable evidence-informed choices that support science and health. We connect science with people's lives through public debate, stories and cultural experiences - including Wellcome Collection: our free museum and library exploring the past, present and future of health.
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Original text here: https://wellcome.org/insights/articles/climate-health-funders-coalition-awards-225-million-first-year-accelerate (TNSmrp)
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Climate & Health Funders Coalition awards $225 million in first year to accelerate solutions that will improve health and save lives
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One year after launching at COP30, the coalition's investments are accelerating action on some of the most urgent health impacts of climate change.
The Climate & Health Funders Coalition has awarded more than $225 million in its first year, putting three-quarters of the initial $300 million pledged towards accelerating solutions on extreme heat, air pollution, ... Show Full Article LONDON, England, Nov. 9 -- Wellcome, a charitable foundation, posted the following news release: * * * Climate & Health Funders Coalition awards $225 million in first year to accelerate solutions that will improve health and save lives * One year after launching at COP30, the coalition's investments are accelerating action on some of the most urgent health impacts of climate change. The Climate & Health Funders Coalition has awarded more than $225 million in its first year, putting three-quarters of the initial $300 million pledged towards accelerating solutions on extreme heat, air pollution,climate-sensitive infectious diseases and data systems that protect people's lives and livelihoods in a changing climate.
The Coalition, a group of leading global and regional philanthropies that made its initial commitment in November 2025 at COP30 in Brazil, now also has an additional $150 million in commitments from new and existing funders - including a matched funding opportunity for initiatives prioritising clean air.
In a year when climate change has hit communities hard all around the world and with an unprecedented El Nino underway, the Climate & Health Funders Coalition is stepping up its support for practical solutions, innovations, policies and research to protect people's health and lives - particularly for communities most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
Over $225 million has been awarded globally to 20 solutions programmes and counting. Some of the organisations and initiatives driving impact include:
* The Clean Air Fund which works with a wide range of partners, spanning grassroots actors to governments, to accelerate action on clean air. Through its grants and projects, Clean Air Fund promotes air quality data, builds public awareness and influences policy making. Efforts include work to accelerate action on super pollutants and support cities around the world to clean the air and enhance public health through Breathe Cities.
* DHIS-2 which is integrating climate and environmental data in the health sector through partnerships with governments and national health systems and strengthening the use of open-source climate-health digital tools in low-and-middle-income countries across Africa and Asia.
* The Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN), including its regional Hubs in South Asia and Southeast Asia, which brings together policymakers, scientists and practitioners across sectors to translate knowledge into action and support the implementation of heat-health plans and interventions. GHHIN recently co-organised the flagship Global Heat Forum in Bangkok, convening more than 650 participants, including global experts on climate change, public health and extreme heat, to share solutions and secure investment grounded in scientific evidence, lived experience and proven practice.
* Nexa, a new global climate and health innovation initiative investing in bold, locally led solutions that help health systems anticipate and respond to climate-driven health threats. Co-led by Grand Challenges Canada and regional partners Science for Africa Foundation and Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (Nexa Lighthouse), Nexa funds both climate-informed early warning and monitoring systems and climate-responsive patient care delivery, including climate-smart diagnostics.
* SEWA which works with women workers in India's informal economy to build resilience to climate shocks including extreme heat. SEWA is generating evidence on the physiological impacts of extreme heat exposure and deploying community-led programs including heat insurance and emergency grants to protect women from lost wages during extreme heat events.
* The Super Pollutant Action Alliance which is working to strengthen the global super pollutant ecosystem and accelerate emissions reductions by advancing philanthropic learning and collaboration, building capacity, and addressing barriers to action.
* WISER Africa which is transforming co-produced Weather and climate Information SERvices into action-oriented decision-making at local, national, and regional levels, while mainstreaming robust climate information into policy and planning.
The Coalition brings together institutional and individual funders operating at international, national and regional levels to mitigate climate change while protecting people from its increasing impacts, improving health and saving lives. The Coalition also supports international climate and health frameworks like the Belem Health Action Plan which launched at COP30 in Brazil.
The committed anchor funders include: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Children's Investment Fund Foundation, Gates Foundation, IKEA Foundation, Quadrature Charitable Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, Philanthropy Asia Alliance (by Temasek Trust), and Wellcome. New funders making aligned commitments over the past year include: Novo Nordisk Foundation, Laudes Foundation and the Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation.
Building on the Coalition's early success and interest, the Coalition will soon establish an independent secretariat with a dedicated Executive Director to further connect philanthropies, expertise and investment to accelerate action on climate change and health. The Coalition has also been engaging sector and community leaders to advise on strategy and ensure the supported investments meet the needs of stakeholders in the ecosystem.
Action on climate change has never been more urgent, as it becomes increasingly evident that a rapidly warming world and extreme weather events like heatwaves and floods have the potential to threaten our livelihoods and economic security, our health and wellbeing. But there is also a window of opportunity to build a healthier, fairer and more prosperous future - if we act now and at the scale required through global partnerships.
The latest figures from the Lancet Countdown Report on Health and Climate Change reveal that:
* In 2023 alone, heat was linked to a record 710,000 deaths, with more than 70% of that toll attributable to human-caused climate change. Since the Paris Agreement entered into force ten years ago, human-caused climate change has contributed to an estimated 3 million heat-related deaths.
* Extreme drought affected more than half (51.8%) of global land for at least one month in 2025 - the second-highest level on record - with the affected area expanding more than 700% faster in 2016-2025 than in 2006-2015, exacerbating the risk of food insecurity.
* Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are increasing the environmental suitability for dengue transmission. A record-high number of people (1.72 billion) now live within 100km of coastal waters environmentally suitable for the transmission of Vibrio bacteria.
* Fossil-fuel air pollution still kills an estimated 2.73 million people a year worldwide but we are also starting to see the health gains from clean energy, with cleaner air preventing an estimated 323,000 deaths a year in at least 77 countries where air pollution from fossil fuels has fallen since 2016.
Antha Williams, who leads the Environment Program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, says: "In just one year, the Climate & Health Funders Coalition has shown what's possible when philanthropy comes together to tackle urgent challenges. By supporting solutions that cut air pollution and save lives, we're turning commitments into action and helping build healthier, stronger communities."
Kate Hampton, Chief Executive at the Children's Investment Fund Foundation says: "Climate change is not a distant threat: it already affects the health of millions of people worldwide. Children are among the most exposed, with more than one billion living with multiple climate risks that threaten their health, development and wellbeing. Alongside urgent action to reduce emissions and prevent the worst of the damage, we must help those already experiencing harm. The Climate & Health Funders Coalition exemplifies the cross-sectoral approach we need to respond to climate change."
Marilia Bezerra, Chief Programmes Officer at IKEA Foundation says: "Over the past year, people across the world have experienced the worsening health consequences of climate change, including extreme heat, poor air quality, flooding and displacement. The Climate & Health Funders Coalition has played an important role in bringing greater attention, collaboration and investment to this challenge. IKEA Foundation is encouraged by the momentum it has built in just twelve months and the strong foundation it has laid to carry out its important mission in the years ahead."
Dr. Nitya Mohan Khemka, Advisor, The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation says: "For decades, our work on climate has been rooted in a simple belief: lasting change comes from collective action and strong policy, not isolated efforts. Extreme heat is now one of the clearest ways climate change shows up in people's lives in India, through lost wages, overwhelmed health systems and lives cut short. Protecting people means working at every level, from national policy to states, cities and the local communities on the frontline. In just one year, the Climate & Health Funders Coalition has shown what a meaningful partnership can do. We are proud to join it, and to help turn shared and commitment into resilience that reaches millions."
Leslie Johnston, Chief Executive at the Laudes Foundation says: "As I look towards 2027 and, inevitably, the challenges that business and industry will continue to face in our increasingly fractured world, I remain convinced that philanthropy, at its best, is uniquely suited to meet this moment. We can take the long view, embrace risk, and pivot when the evidence calls for it. Yet we are only as strong as the partners we support. Which means that investing in protecting workers from extreme heat should be understood by employers and industries as a cost of doing business in a hotter world."
Flemming Konradsen, Chief Scientific Officer, Health, Novo Nordisk Foundation says: "Extreme heat disproportionately affects people living with cardiometabolic disease. Thus, in a world with rising temperatures and frequent heatwaves, advancing cardiometabolic disease prevention and care is both a public health imperative and a commitment to health equity. By ensuring that vulnerable populations can access timely prevention, diagnosis and treatment, we can help reduce avoidable harm and build more resilient communities. The collaboration between multiple stakeholders under the Coalition plays an important role in this regard."
Shaun Seow, Chief Executive at Philanthropy Asia Alliance says: "We cannot afford to let proven solutions remain isolated pilots. The Climate & Health Funders Coalition exists to change that, bringing philanthropy together to pool resources and expertise so countries can scale what works. Asia has much to contribute, with locally grounded solutions and lessons that can inform climate and health action globally. By strengthening country-level systems and supporting locally led action, we can turn collective commitment into lasting impact. Together, we can move from protecting hundreds of thousands of people to reaching hundreds of millions."
Masego Madzwamuse, Managing Director at Quadrature Charitable Foundation says: "Healthy people and strong health systems are the foundation of resilient societies. Rising heat, polluted air and infectious disease are testing both, hitting frontline communities the most. Those communities are already leading the way in adapting, but the gaps are too large for any single funder to close. We are delighted to welcome the funders who have joined the coalition, and hope more will follow."
Naveen Rao, Senior Vice President of Health at The Rockefeller Foundation says: "Extreme heat and disease outbreaks are no longer occasional emergencies but conditions every health system must now be built for. In its first year, this Coalition has shown what the next era of global health can look like: funders aligning behind plans countries set for themselves, so communities have the data, tools and partners they need before the next shock hits, not after."
John-Arne Rottingen, Chief Executive at Wellcome says: "Climate action is fundamentally about protecting lives, preventing illness and creating healthier, safer and more resilient communities. We should judge our success not in degrees Celsius but in lives saved and health improved, and we have a duty to protect those people who are most vulnerable to climate change such as children, pregnant women, outdoor workers and older people. The Coalition is funding across sectors and borders to take on the biggest challenge of our time and it is far better to invest now than pay a higher price for inaction later."
Learn more about the Climate & Health Funders Coalition at: https://www.chfcoalition.org/
About Wellcome
Wellcome is a global philanthropy working to build a healthier future for everyone. We are committed to investing PS16 billion in our mission between 2022 and 2032.
We support discovery research and we're taking on three worldwide health challenges: mental health, infectious disease and climate and health.
Our independence and long-term resources allow us to think in decades, take risks and support ambitious ideas. We work with decision makers to enable evidence-informed choices that support science and health. We connect science with people's lives through public debate, stories and cultural experiences - including Wellcome Collection: our free museum and library exploring the past, present and future of health.
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Original text here: https://wellcome.org/insights/articles/climate-health-funders-coalition-awards-225-million-first-year-accelerate (TNSmrp)