Foundations
Here's a look at documents from U.S. foundations
Featured Stories
Targeted Therapy Shrinks Advanced Gastrointestinal Tumours for 65% of Patients in an Early Study
LONDON, England, June 2 (TNSxrep) -- The Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust issued the following news:
* * *
New targeted therapy shrinks advanced gastrointestinal tumours for 65% of patients in an early study
65% of patients who received velzatinib as first-line therapy experienced tumour shrinkage of 30 per cent or over, with all patients showing some reduction in tumour size.
*
A new, targeted cancer therapy for advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) has shown promising early results, with 65 per cent of patients who received velzatinib as first-line treatment
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, June 2 (TNSxrep) -- The Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust issued the following news:
* * *
New targeted therapy shrinks advanced gastrointestinal tumours for 65% of patients in an early study
65% of patients who received velzatinib as first-line therapy experienced tumour shrinkage of 30 per cent or over, with all patients showing some reduction in tumour size.
*
A new, targeted cancer therapy for advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) has shown promising early results, with 65 per cent of patients who received velzatinib as first-line treatmentexperiencing tumour shrinkage of 30 per cent or over. The results could pave the way for a larger trial to evaluate this therapy as a first-line alternative to imatinib, which has been the standard treatment for more than two decades.
Initial results from the ongoing StrateGIST 1 clinical trial, an international, multi-centre Phase 1/1b trial with contributions from The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, have been presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.
The trial, involving patients in the UK and internationally, is evaluating velzatinib as a first- and second-line treatment for advanced GIST. Velzatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), a type of targeted cancer therapy that works by blocking specific enzymes involved in cell signalling, helping to control cancer cell growth and division.
It is designed to target a broad range of mutations in the KIT gene, including those linked to treatment resistance.
Drawing on data from 71 patients, the researchers found that, of those patients taking velzatinib as their first treatment (N=23), 65 per cent experienced complete or partial reduction in tumour size. For patients who took velzatinib as a second-line treatment (N=48), 40 per cent experienced a reduction in tumour size, with a median of 13.7 months before the disease started to progress.
For 24 years, imatinib has remained an effective, well-tolerated standard treatment for patients with advanced GIST. However, around half of patients will develop resistance to imatinib within two years due to mutations in the KIT gene, causing cells to grow and divide unchecked, and making their tumours more challenging to treat.1 As a result, there is a clinical need for therapies that can target a broader range of KIT mutations and provide longer-term disease control.
The findings from this early-stage trial indicate that velzatinib may be an effective first- and second-line treatment for advanced GIST. It shows positive results across a broad range of relevant KIT mutations as a second-line treatment, and presents a manageable safety profile, with many side effects being mild to moderate and in line with what is typically seen for this type of drug.
Overall, these results are promising and support further evaluation in larger, later-stage studies to better understand its impact on patients.
Professor Robin Jones, Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Professor in Sarcoma Oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, who presented the study findings at ASCO, said:
"While imatinib revolutionised treatment when it was first approved more than two decades ago, many patients eventually develop resistant disease and their cancer becomes increasingly difficult to manage. The initial results from this trial are very promising in terms of how long we may be able to control the disease when velzatinib is used as a first- or second-line treatment.
"Critically, these findings allow us to initiate a randomised trial to determine whether velzatinib could become a new first-line treatment for patients living with advanced GIST."
After being diagnosed with an advanced GIST in 2023, Dominic Taplin, 63, a pub owner from West Sussex, was referred to The Royal Marsden and placed on the standard treatment, which initially showed positive results. However, after around two years, the treatment began to lose effectiveness. Dominic then joined the StrateGIST 1 trial at The Royal Marsden in August 2025, where he has been receiving treatment with velzatinib, which is helping to keep his cancer under control. He said:
"After two years of receiving my initial treatment, I was offered the chance to join a clinical trial at The Royal Marsden, which meant being right at the forefront of new treatments.
"The drug is keeping the cancer at bay, and I can do everything I would normally do; it's not holding me back at all. I'm still working, running my business, and looking after my children--I'm still picking my daughter up from school and even doing things like cleaning the lines at the pub. Without this drug, I wouldn't be able to do any of that."
The StrateGIST 1 study is funded by IDRx. Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
* * *
Original text here: https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/new-targeted-therapy-shrinks-advanced-gastrointestinal-tumours-65-patients
Asia Foundation Supports ASEAN Regional Workshop on Digital Human Security
SAN FRANCISCO, California, June 2 -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news:
* * *
The Asia Foundation Supports ASEAN Regional Workshop on Digital Human Security
Jakarta - ASEAN convened a regional workshop to advance development of the ASEAN Development Outlook (ADO) Volume 2 on Digital Human Security, bringing together policymakers, researchers, technical experts, and development partners from across Southeast Asia to examine the opportunities and risks shaping the region's digital future.
The ADO volume 2 is supported by the ASEAN-Canada Trust Fund and is implemented by The Asia
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, June 2 -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news:
* * *
The Asia Foundation Supports ASEAN Regional Workshop on Digital Human Security
Jakarta - ASEAN convened a regional workshop to advance development of the ASEAN Development Outlook (ADO) Volume 2 on Digital Human Security, bringing together policymakers, researchers, technical experts, and development partners from across Southeast Asia to examine the opportunities and risks shaping the region's digital future.
The ADO volume 2 is supported by the ASEAN-Canada Trust Fund and is implemented by The AsiaFoundation, in close consultation with the ASEAN Secretariat
The workshop examined issues shaping Southeast Asia's digital future, including cybersecurity, online safety, digital inclusion, AI governance, and digital resilience. Discussions emphasized the importance of ensuring that digital transformation remains people-centered, inclusive, and responsive to evolving societal challenges in the region.
The initiative reflects growing regional recognition that digital transformation extends beyond economic growth and technological adoption. Participants underscored the closed links between digital systems, public trust, governance, safety, and human security, while highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration and evidence-based policy dialogue in helping ASEAN Member States navigate increasingly complex digital challenges.
The workshop builds on The Asia Foundation's broader efforts supporting digital governance, cybersecurity, online safety, and technology policy engagement across Southeast Asia, while helping strengthen regional cooperation and dialogue on emerging digital policy priorities.
Read the full update from the ASEAN Secretariat: https://asean.org/asean-convenes-regional-workshop-to-advance-development-of-ado-volume-2-on-digital-human-security/.
* * *
Original text here: https://asiafoundation.org/the-asia-foundation-supports-asean-regional-workshop-on-digital-human-security/
WLF Asks Supreme Court to Require Jury Findings for Criminal Forfeiture
WASHINGTON, June 1 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
WLF Asks Supreme Court to Require Jury Findings for Criminal Forfeiture
*
"Judicial fact-finding by a mere preponderance for criminal forfeiture eviscerates the Sixth Amendment and invites arbitrary deprivations of property on a massive scale."
-Cory Andrews, WLF General Counsel & Vice President of Litigation
Click HERE to read WLF's brief.
WASHINGTON, DC-Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to grant certiorari and overrule Libretti v. United
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 1 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
WLF Asks Supreme Court to Require Jury Findings for Criminal Forfeiture
*
"Judicial fact-finding by a mere preponderance for criminal forfeiture eviscerates the Sixth Amendment and invites arbitrary deprivations of property on a massive scale."
-Cory Andrews, WLF General Counsel & Vice President of Litigation
Click HERE to read WLF's brief.
WASHINGTON, DC-Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to grant certiorari and overrule Libretti v. UnitedStates, which held that the Sixth Amendment does not require a jury to determine the facts necessary for criminal forfeiture. WLF contends that permitting judges to determine facts necessary to impose criminal forfeiture by a mere preponderance of the evidence violates the Sixth Amendment and erodes the jury's historic role as a check on government power. The Due Process Institute, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and National Association for Public Defense joined WLF on the brief.
The case arises from Martin Mizrahi's conviction after trial in the Southern District of New York on federal fraud and money laundering charges. The district court ordered him to forfeit more than $4.5 million, relying heavily on its own finding by a preponderance of the evidence that millions of dollars constituted illicit proceeds of narcotics trafficking. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the conviction and forfeiture order.
In its amicus brief, WLF argues that criminal forfeiture is punishment, and centuries of common-law practice requires that juries-not judges-find the facts that increase a defendant's penalty. Libretti is thus irreconcilable with that history as well as the Court's subsequent Apprendi line of cases. Its stale rule exposes defendants to billions of dollars in annual forfeitures without the procedural safeguards the Constitution demands. WLF's brief was prepared with the generous pro bono support of William Havemann, Kristina Alekseyeva, Natalie Nogueira, Samantha Ilagan, and Jonathan Wampler of Milbank LLP.
***
Original text here: https://www.wlf.org/2026/06/01/communicating/wlf-asks-supreme-court-to-require-jury-findings-for-criminal-forfeiture/
Health Foundation: Generation at Risk of Lives Left Unfulfilled Due to Ill Health
LONDON, England, May 29 (TNSrep) -- The Health Foundation issued the following statement on May 28, 2026, by policy and research manager Sam Atwell:
* * *
Generation at risk of lives left unfulfilled due to ill health
Responding to Alan Milburn's interim report findings published today, Sam Atwell, Policy and Research Manager at the Health Foundation, said:
'Today's report from Alan Milburn offers a devastating but clear-eyed account of how ill health, inadequate support and a lack of opportunities are holding back over a million young people from work and education. This story of lives left
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, May 29 (TNSrep) -- The Health Foundation issued the following statement on May 28, 2026, by policy and research manager Sam Atwell:
* * *
Generation at risk of lives left unfulfilled due to ill health
Responding to Alan Milburn's interim report findings published today, Sam Atwell, Policy and Research Manager at the Health Foundation, said:
'Today's report from Alan Milburn offers a devastating but clear-eyed account of how ill health, inadequate support and a lack of opportunities are holding back over a million young people from work and education. This story of lives leftunfulfilled adds to a growing array of evidence about the human and economic toll taken by the UK's worsening health.
'The report sets out how poor health combines with a range of interrelated factors including reduced work opportunities, pressures on schools and the structure of the welfare system to drive young people away from work and education.
'Figures show nearly half of NEET young people (44%) said in 2025 that poor health was a barrier to work, up from 26% in 2015. In our new analysis published today (https://www.health.org.uk/reports-and-analysis/analysis/young-people-with-mental-health-conditions-are-now-more-likely-to-be-NEET), we find that over the same period the share of young people who are NEET because of mental health conditions has substantially increased. This reflects growing awareness of mental ill health, rising levels of distress among young people and, in recent years, young people with mental health conditions becoming more likely to be NEET.
'The higher share of NEET young people reporting ill health makes tackling the issue all the more urgent. More young people reporting health barriers signals that policymakers face an even greater challenge in connecting them to the workplace or study. Without addressing these barriers more young people could be locked out of opportunities in the future, with even greater long-term costs to their health and incomes.
'The Milburn review's final report this autumn must set out how earlier intervention and practical support can help prevent ill health from developing in the first place. Alongside this should be more active support for young people to get back into learning and employment, particularly those with health barriers. This will require coordinated action across government, as well as cooperation from schools and colleges, the health and welfare systems, and employers.'
* * *
Notes to Editors
Office for National Statistics (ONS) (https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment/bulletins/youngpeoplenotineducationemploymentortrainingneet/may2026), published 28 May 2026, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), UK, May 2026
* * *
Original text here: https://www.health.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/generation-at-risk-of-lives-left-unfulfilled-due-to-ill-health
FFRF Examining Reports of House Speaker's Midterm Coordination With Churches
MADISON, Wisconsin, May 29 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
FFRF examining reports of House speaker's midterm coordination with churches
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is scrutinizing disturbing reports of House Speaker Mike Johnson's coordinated political activity with pastors ahead of the midterm elections.
As first reported by Right Wing Watch, Christian nationalist evangelist David Herzog revealed during a recent appearance on the "Elijah Streams" program that pastors attending the Trump administration's "National Jubilee of Prayer,
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, May 29 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
FFRF examining reports of House speaker's midterm coordination with churches
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is scrutinizing disturbing reports of House Speaker Mike Johnson's coordinated political activity with pastors ahead of the midterm elections.
As first reported by Right Wing Watch, Christian nationalist evangelist David Herzog revealed during a recent appearance on the "Elijah Streams" program that pastors attending the Trump administration's "National Jubilee of Prayer,Praise & Thanksgiving" event on the National Mall were invited to a private briefing with Johnson and MAGA pastor Lorenzo Sewell. According to Herzog, Johnson urged the pastors to politically mobilize their congregations in support of the administration's agenda and Republican midterm election efforts, stressing that churches and religious leaders were essential to advancing the movement's goals.
Herzog described Johnson as telling pastors that churches and religious leaders would make the "difference" in determining whether the country "is going to go one way or the other" and emphasized the need for churches to "spread" the Trump administration's message and mobilize the vote to preserve President Trump's political power.
If his claims are accurate, this raises profound constitutional and legal concerns.
"The federal government may not use official events, public resources or political access to organize churches as partisan campaign machines," says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "Herzog describes the man who is third in line to be president as essentially promising select Christian churches the fulfillment of their Christian nationalist dreams if they can deliver in the midterms."
Also alarming are Herzog's claims that administration officials promised pastors access to "billions of dollars" in government funding for church-run programs. Those remarks come amid a broader push by the Trump administration to steer taxpayer-funded social services through religious organizations, including recent efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to recruit faith-based groups for federally funded addiction and behavioral health programs.
"Directing taxpayer money to politically aligned churches while encouraging them to function as electoral organizing hubs represents a dangerous fusion of church and state," says FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott. "Americans should be deeply troubled by any effort to transform houses of worship into government-favored political actors."
Herzog additionally framed the effort as part of a broader campaign to preserve Christian nationalist political control, warning pastors about Democrats taking power and invoking inflammatory rhetoric about Muslims and "Sharia law." He described the administration as handing churches "the baton" to advance Trump's agenda.
FFRF is currently evaluating the potential legal and constitutional implications of the reported activities, including possible violations involving partisan political coordination, misuse of government resources, preferential treatment of religious organizations and threats to church-state separation.
The federal government serves and should represent all Americans, not just conservative Christians. Using religion as a political weapon undermines both democracy and religious liberty.
* * *
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With more than 41,000 members, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-examining-reports-of-house-speakers-midterm-coordination-with-churches/
[Category: Religion]
FFRF Demands Removal of Texas Courthouse Ten Commandments Monument
MADISON, Wisconsin, May 29 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
FFRF demands removal of Texas courthouse Ten Commandments monument
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is calling on Rockwall County, Texas, to remove a newly installed Ten Commandments monument from the grounds of the county courthouse.
FFRF's letter to the Rockwall County Commissioners Court details how the county unanimously approved the monument in May before unveiling it during a public ceremony featuring Christian prayers and speeches from religious and political figures. The
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, May 29 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
FFRF demands removal of Texas courthouse Ten Commandments monument
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is calling on Rockwall County, Texas, to remove a newly installed Ten Commandments monument from the grounds of the county courthouse.
FFRF's letter to the Rockwall County Commissioners Court details how the county unanimously approved the monument in May before unveiling it during a public ceremony featuring Christian prayers and speeches from religious and political figures. Themonument, rendered in the King James Bible translation, prominently displays explicitly religious commandments, including directives to worship the biblical god exclusively, avoid "graven images" and observe the Sabbath.
"Courthouses are supposed to symbolize equal justice under secular law for all citizens, regardless of religion," says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "Installing sectarian scripture at the seat of county government sends the message that Christians are favored insiders while non-Christians and nonreligious residents are outsiders."
The monument's design and presentation make clear that it is intended to promote Christianity rather than educate the public about history.
"Far from serving a neutral historical purpose, the monument's approval, presentation and unveiling demonstrate a coordinated governmental effort to promote a particular religious viewpoint," FFRF Legal Counsel Chris Line writes in the letter.
FFRF notes that the unveiling ceremony itself underscored the monument's religious nature. The event opened and closed with Christian prayer, featured a representative from First Liberty Institute, a conservative Christian nationalist legal organization, and included remarks from County Judge Frank New encouraging attendees to "embrace God's love."
The monument was reportedly donated by the American History & Heritage Foundation, founded by Christian nationalist activist Jason Rapert, who also founded the National Association of Christian Lawmakers.
FFRF argues that the county cannot shield the display from constitutional scrutiny merely by claiming it has historical significance.
"Claims that the Ten Commandments reflect the historical foundations of American law are historically inaccurate," Line writes. "The United States was founded on secular legal principles derived primarily from English common law, Enlightenment philosophy and classical sources, not biblical mandates."
FFRF points out that many of the displayed commandments, including "prohibitions on worshiping other gods" and "commands to observe the Sabbath," are purely religious directives with no basis in American law.
FFRF's letter distinguishes the Rockwall monument from the Ten Commandments display upheld by the Supreme Court in Van Orden v. Perry. Unlike the decades-old Texas Capitol monument at issue in that case, the Rockwall display is a newly installed, stand-alone religious monument placed at a courthouse in an overtly religious context.
FFRF is urging the county to remove the display immediately out of respect for the First Amendment and the rights of conscience of all Rockwall County residents.
* * *
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with over 42,000 members and several chapters nationwide, including more than 1,700 members and a chapter in Texas. FFRF's purposes are to defend the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.
* * *
Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-demands-removal-of-texas-courthouse-ten-commandments-monument/
[Category: Religion]
Central New York Community Foundation: Oswego Health Chosen by Oswego County Residents to Receive $75K for Youth Mental Health Efforts
SYRACUSE, New York, May 29 -- The Central New York Community Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
Oswego Health Chosen by Oswego County Residents to Receive $75K for Youth Mental Health Efforts
The winning proposal, focused on expanding the organization's outpatient behavioral health programs, school-based therapy services, and its Teen Wellness Group.
*
The Central New York Community Foundation has named Oswego Health Foundation the winner of a $75,000 participatory budgeting grant to support comprehensive mental health initiatives focused on youth and young adults aged 11-20
... Show Full Article
SYRACUSE, New York, May 29 -- The Central New York Community Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
Oswego Health Chosen by Oswego County Residents to Receive $75K for Youth Mental Health Efforts
The winning proposal, focused on expanding the organization's outpatient behavioral health programs, school-based therapy services, and its Teen Wellness Group.
*
The Central New York Community Foundation has named Oswego Health Foundation the winner of a $75,000 participatory budgeting grant to support comprehensive mental health initiatives focused on youth and young adults aged 11-20in Oswego County. The winning proposal, focused on expanding the organization's outpatient behavioral health programs, school-based therapy services, and its Teen Wellness Group, was selected through a public vote held Thursday, May 28, as part of the Community Foundation's participatory budgeting initiative celebrating its upcoming centennial.
Voting took place online throughout the day and in person during a live community celebration held at the Children's Museum of Oswego County. A total of 888 votes were cast.
The winning grant will help Oswego Health enhance staffing and service availability at school-based mental health clinics in Hannibal, Fulton and Oswego, while building on recently expanded services at CiTi BOCES in Mexico. The project will provide early intervention and treatment for youth experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma and other behavioral health concerns, helping them build resilience, strengthen coping skills and access care in familiar, supportive settings. Oswego Health also plans to explore additional community partnerships and future expansion opportunities to ensure more young people receive the mental health support they need regardless of their ability to pay.
"We are incredibly proud of the work our Mental Health and Wellness team does every day to support youth and families throughout our community," said Michael Backus, president & CEO of Oswego Health. "This grant is especially meaningful because it reflects the confidence and support of our community members, who took the time to cast their votes on our behalf. We are also deeply grateful to the Oswego Health Foundation for its ongoing commitment to securing additional funding opportunities that strengthen and sustain our nonprofit healthcare system. Together, these funds will allow us to expand access to critical mental health resources and ensure young people in our region receive the care, guidance, and support they need to thrive."
Thursday's vote marked the culmination of a month-long community engagement process that invited Oswego County residents to help determine how funding should be invested locally. During two participatory budgeting sessions held earlier this month at Camp Zerbe, residents worked to identify pressing community challenges and develop project ideas that would best support local needs. Participants identified comprehensive mental health support for youth and young adults as the community's top funding priority.
"This process was designed to ensure that residents had a direct voice in shaping solutions for their community," said Qiana Williams, senior program officer at the Community Foundation. "Community members shared their experiences, identified what they believed was most needed and helped guide this investment from start to finish. That level of participation and collaboration is what makes participatory budgeting so meaningful."
The ballot also included proposals submitted by Haven of Hope and Fulton Public Library. Participating nonprofit organizations worked closely with Community Foundation staff to refine their ideas and ensure proposals reflected community input gathered during the participatory budgeting sessions.
The Oswego County initiative is the first of five participatory budgeting projects the Community Foundation will host across its service area as part of its two-year centennial celebration leading up to 2027. Collectively, the initiatives will distribute $500,000 in funding through projects selected directly by residents. Additional participatory budgeting initiatives will take place in Madison, Cortland, Cayuga and Onondaga counties.
Participatory budgeting is a community engagement process in which residents help decide how funding is allocated through a structured process of community need identification, prioritization and voting. In partnership with residents, nonprofits and grassroots organizations, participants identify priorities, co-design solutions and ultimately select the project they believe will best address a community need.
To learn more about the Community Foundation's participatory budgeting initiative, visit cnycf.org/pboswegocounty.
* * *
Original text here: https://cnycf.org/oswego-health-chosen-by-oswego-county-residents-to-receive-75k-for-youth-mental-health-efforts/
