Foundations
Here's a look at documents from U.S. foundations
Featured Stories
WLF Urges Ninth Circuit to Apply Direct-Purchaser Rule in Civil RICO Cases
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release on Oct. 10, 2025:
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WLF Urges Ninth Circuit to Apply Direct-Purchaser Rule in Civil RICO Cases
"Extending RICO standing beyond direct purchasers would unleash duplicative lawsuits, draining judicial resources and undermining enforcement efficiency."
--Cory Andrews, WLF General Counsel & Vice President of Litigation
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Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) today urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to affirm dismissal of a civil-RICO claim in a class action against a leading automotive
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 11 -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release on Oct. 10, 2025:
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WLF Urges Ninth Circuit to Apply Direct-Purchaser Rule in Civil RICO Cases
"Extending RICO standing beyond direct purchasers would unleash duplicative lawsuits, draining judicial resources and undermining enforcement efficiency."
--Cory Andrews, WLF General Counsel & Vice President of Litigation
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Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) today urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to affirm dismissal of a civil-RICO claim in a class action against a leading automotivemanufacturer under the direct-purchaser rule announced in Illinois Brick Co. v. Illinois. WLF contends that allowing indirect purchasers to sue under RICO would create risks of multiple liability and overdeterrence, contrary to the statute's history and unanimous courts of appeals' precedents. WLF's brief was prepared with the generous pro bono assistance of Ryan Sandrock, co-chair of Shook, Hardy & Bacon's antitrust practice group.
The case stems from a 2023 lawsuit by California consumers alleging FCA US LLC installed "defeat devices" in RAM diesel trucks to evade emissions standards, leading to inflated prices passed on to dealerships. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed the RICO claim, holding plaintiffs lacked standing as indirect purchasers, while allowing state-law fraud and warranty claims to proceed. The plaintiffs appealed.
In its amicus brief, WLF argues that the direct-purchaser rule, grounded in the Clayton Act's private right of action and affirmed by the Supreme Court, applies to civil RICO's analogous private-action provision. By limiting standing to direct purchasers and avoiding complex pass-on defenses, the rule promotes efficient litigation. Rejecting plaintiffs' call for a case-by-case proximate-cause analysis, WLF warns that such a rule would complicate causation and damages determinations for multi-level distribution chains.
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Original text here: https://www.wlf.org/2025/10/10/litigation-updates/wlf-urges-ninth-circuit-to-apply-direct-purchaser-rule-in-civil-rico-cases/
[Category: Law/Legal]
New Sculpture by James Surls Installed at the George W. Bush Presidential Center
DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 11 -- The George W. Bush Presidential Center issued the following news release on Oct. 10, 2025:
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New Sculpture by James Surls Installed at the George W. Bush Presidential Center
Reflections, by celebrated Texas-native artist, brings striking visual presence to the Bush Center
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The George W. Bush Presidential Center announced today the installation of a new sculpture by artist renowned artist James Surls. Completed in August 2025, Reflections is thoughtfully integrated into the Bush Center's natural and architectural surroundings.
James Surls, a proud Texas native,
... Show Full Article
DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 11 -- The George W. Bush Presidential Center issued the following news release on Oct. 10, 2025:
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New Sculpture by James Surls Installed at the George W. Bush Presidential Center
Reflections, by celebrated Texas-native artist, brings striking visual presence to the Bush Center
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The George W. Bush Presidential Center announced today the installation of a new sculpture by artist renowned artist James Surls. Completed in August 2025, Reflections is thoughtfully integrated into the Bush Center's natural and architectural surroundings.
James Surls, a proud Texas native,is widely recognized for creating large-scale sculptures crafted from wood, steel, and bronze. His work is known for its organic forms and raw, expressive aesthetic, which is reflected in his newest installation at the Bush Center.
"Having the opportunity to make something for a space like the Bush Center...it's a real honor and challenge to get to do it," said Surls.
The sculpture is a gift from Shirley and Bill McIntyre, whose support made this installation possible.
"We are proud to welcome Reflections by James Surls to the Bush Center and are grateful to Shirley and Bill McIntyre for their generous contribution," said Rachel Mabry, Vice President of Development at the George W. Bush Presidential Center. "We're excited to share this beautiful piece with the many guests and supporters who visit the Bush Center."
Carved from cedar trees native to Surls' home in Splendora, Texas, the artist named the sculpture Reflections to represent the Bush Center's role as a place for the exchange of ideas. The sculpture has two sides, each facing opposite directions, symbolizing two perspectives in dialogue, with a central "reflection point" where front and back - or differing views - meet.
Surls' work is displayed in various public museum collections including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum of Modern Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, Dallas Museum of Art, Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Meadows Museum at SMU, and many others.
Reflections is installed in the Cross Hall inside the Bush Center, a space open to the public during special events in the adjacent auditorium.
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George W. Bush Presidential Center
Located on the SMU campus in Dallas, Texas, the George W. Bush Presidential Center is a nonpartisan institution advancing the timeless values of freedom, opportunity, accountability, and compassion. The Bush Center comprises the George W. Bush Presidential Museum and the George W. Bush Institute, a solution-oriented policy organization focused on ensuring opportunity for all, strengthening democracy, and advancing free societies through policy solutions and public engagement. The Bush Center also houses the George W. Bush Presidential Library, operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, which provides access to official documents and artifacts from the George W. Bush Administration. Learn more about the Bush Center at bushcenter.org.
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Original text here: https://www.bushcenter.org/newsroom/new-sculpture-by-james-surls-installed-at-the-george-w-bush-presidential-center
Foundation for Economic Education Issues Commentary: Mexicans Must Pay to Play?
DETROIT, Michigan, Oct. 11 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary on Oct. 10, 2025:
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Mexicans Must Pay to Play?
Mexico's proposed 8% tax on violent video games.
By Sergio Martinez
The Mexican federal government has announced a new 8% excise tax on violent video games. The justification? That violent games are responsible for violent behavior.
Violence is indeed a heavy problem in Mexico, and organized crime has left significant parts of the country in a state of terror. But attacking video games seems a poor policy-choice that echoes the moral panics
... Show Full Article
DETROIT, Michigan, Oct. 11 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary on Oct. 10, 2025:
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Mexicans Must Pay to Play?
Mexico's proposed 8% tax on violent video games.
By Sergio Martinez
The Mexican federal government has announced a new 8% excise tax on violent video games. The justification? That violent games are responsible for violent behavior.
Violence is indeed a heavy problem in Mexico, and organized crime has left significant parts of the country in a state of terror. But attacking video games seems a poor policy-choice that echoes the moral panicsof the 1990s--when games like Mortal Kombat triggered congressional hearings and headlines about the corruption of the youth that led to the creation of the ESRB system. Such panics gain political traction even when evidence is lacking.
To support the claim that video games inspire violence, the government cited only a single academic article--no broad review of the research, no comparison of diverse findings, and no solid data.
This lack of rigor matters. When a government intervenes in markets, the burden of proof must rest squarely on its shoulders. By failing to substantiate its claims, the Mexican state undermines the legitimacy of its proposal.
Freedom requires institutions that protect property rights and ensure that voluntary exchanges are not restricted arbitrarily by the state. When the government wishes to intrude on these exchanges, it must show that doing so is not only justified but necessary. It is insufficient to declare that an activity might generate bad side effects. The government must prove that, in the absence of intervention, third parties would be gravely harmed. The burden of proof falls on the state, not the citizen. In the case of the violent video game tax, the Mexican government falls far short of this standard.
The rationale used by the government illustrates the idea of a Pigouvian tax. An economic concept named after economist Arthur C. Pigou, the idea is that when private activities generate negative externalities--costs that spill over onto others--the state can impose a tax to reflect these costs. If violent games really do foster aggression or social harm, this is a cost to society, and a corrective tax could, in theory, make sense.
But the government would first need to prove the following:
* Do violent video games in fact generate measurable negative externalities?
* Even if they do, has the government shown that an 8% tax is the correct tool and rate to offset them?
The answer to both questions is NO.
Even if one accepts that violent video games cause some level of social harm, the Mexican government has not shown that its proposed 8% tax is a fair assessment. The tax claims to be corrective, but it is just revenue-oriented and symbolic.
The literature on violent games and violence is divided and nuanced. It is important to distinguish between aggression--often measured in laboratory tasks or surveys--and actual violent crime. Many studies show small increases in short-term aggression after playing violent games, but evidence linking them to criminal violence is lacking.
Anyone searching for evidence that violent video games fuel aggression will find studies to lean on. The 2010 meta-analysis by Anderson and colleagues linked violent games to increases in aggressive thoughts and less empathy. Similarly, Matt DeLisi's 2013 work on incarcerated youth found correlations between violent gameplay and delinquency, hinting that in already high-risk populations, games might add yet another nudge toward antisocial behavior.
But there is a crucial difference between experiencing aggressive feelings and the commission of violent crimes. Studies that seek to uncover a causal link between explicit criminal violence and video games come up empty. Christopher Ferguson, in a body of work spanning from 2007 to 2019, found that once you correct for publication bias--journals favoring studies that report significant effects, the supposed connection largely vanishes. And some economists have found an opposite pattern. In a 2016 study using US crime data, Cunningham and colleagues found that in weeks with higher violent game sales, violent crime rates actually dipped slightly. Time spent playing games keeps some people away from riskier activities. And more recently, a large-scale study by Przybylski and Weinstein (2019), in a preregistered investigation in the United Kingdom, reported no link between violent gameplay and adolescent aggression.
So yes, violent games may stir emotions or spark brief flashes of aggression, but they don't seem to turn players into violent offenders. If anything, the evidence suggests they might even keep people away from crime. On Pigouvian grounds, that wouldn't justify a tax at all. It would call for subsidies!
Mexico has over 72.6 million gamers and a gaming market worth $2.6 billion annually. Between 2015 and 2024, the number of households with consoles rose from 3.6 million to 8.1 million, an increase of 125%. Gaming is a booming industry, creating jobs, attracting investment, and fostering innovation.
Analysts at GameMetron--a Mexican Legaltech firm specializing in the video game and esports industry-- estimate that a title priced at MX$100 would cost MX$124 after the new tax. Consumers who value the game at above MX$100 but below MX$124 will no longer purchase it. These foregone transactions mean that consumers lose enjoyment, firms lose sales, and the government gains nothing from the missed tax revenue.
Developers and publishers may reduce investment or delay releases in Mexico, perceiving the market as less profitable. Smaller domestic studios, already operating on thin margins, may find themselves particularly disadvantaged. The tax may paradoxically reduce VAT revenues, as lower sales volume negate gains from the surcharge.
The violent video game tax fails on both the scientific and economic fronts. It is not backed by solid evidence of harm, nor is it calibrated as a Pigouvian correction. It risks damaging a dynamic industry, raising consumer prices, and distorting incentives, all while offering negligible social benefit. More importantly, it erodes the principle that government interventions in free markets must be justified with strong evidence. To impose an arbitrary tax on a cultural and technological sector based on weak correlations is to substitute prejudice for analysis.
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Sergio Martinez
Sergio Martinez is an Editorial Associate at the Foundation for Economic Education, with a background in the public sector and experience speaking at numerous forums and seminars on economic education.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/mexicans-must-pay-to-play/
There is No Separating Safety From Health - Trump's Deployments are Dangerous for People Living With HIV, and All Our Well-Being
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 10 -- The AIDS Foundation of Chicago issued the following news on Oct. 9, 2025:
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There is no separating safety from health. Trump's deployments are dangerous for people living with HIV, and all our well-being.
By John Peller, President & CEO
The recent incidents of ICE and Trump-deployed federal agents' violence against Chicagoans is reprehensible and violates of our laws and the principles of dignity and human rights upon which AIDS Foundation Chicago and the HIV movement were founded. Shootings, assault, chemical weapons, abductions, and incarceration are devastating
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 10 -- The AIDS Foundation of Chicago issued the following news on Oct. 9, 2025:
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There is no separating safety from health. Trump's deployments are dangerous for people living with HIV, and all our well-being.
By John Peller, President & CEO
The recent incidents of ICE and Trump-deployed federal agents' violence against Chicagoans is reprehensible and violates of our laws and the principles of dignity and human rights upon which AIDS Foundation Chicago and the HIV movement were founded. Shootings, assault, chemical weapons, abductions, and incarceration are devastatingto the health of the victims, and we send our most sincere condolences to those individuals and their families who have been harmed and disappeared. The specter of violence threatens all our health and well-being.
We know that racism is a public health crisis, and the racism motivating these federal deployments will exacerbate existing disparities in healthcare access for our Latine and Black communities. We are fighting alongside our partners to push back against the Trump administration in the courtroom, on Capitol Hill, and on the streets of Chicago.
As our city is militarized and our Latine and Black communities are violently repressed, it is no wonder that people are feeling afraid. One consequence of this fear caused by Trump's deployments is restricted freedom of movement. Already, AFC clients are feeling too afraid to risk trips to make their appointments. Some are not answering their phones out of fear, making it difficult for case managers to reach them. Our case managers and staff themselves are afraid of being harassed or worse by ICE and DHS agents. This stress and fear will drive negative health outcomes, including worsened mental health, and missed appointments could lead to preventable illness and jeopardize clients' ability to stay connected to HIV care.
We are doing everything we can to innovate safe ways to deliver the services our clients need to be healthy. We are responding proactively by being flexible - meeting our clients where they are in safe community spaces, and by ensuring our teams travel in groups, among other approaches. But any barrier to health care access will harm the health of our clients and Chicagoans as a whole. We reject the Trump administration's deployments and will continue to fight until ICE, DHS, and the National Guard are out of Chicago.
AIDS Foundation Chicago Communications are not supported by federal funds.
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Original text here: https://www.aidschicago.org/there-is-no-separating-safety-from-health-trumps-deployments-are-dangerous-for-people-living-with-hiv-and-all-our-well-being/
Health Foundation Responds to Launch of GP Funding Review
LONDON, England, Oct. 10 -- The Health Foundation posted the following news release on Oct. 9, 2025:
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The Health Foundation responds to launch of GP funding review
Responding to a six-month review of the GP funding formula, set to be announced today by Minister of State Stephen Kinnock MP, Luisa Pettigrew, Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation, said:
'General practices in poorer areas are under-doctored and under-funded compared to practices in richer areas, after accounting for differences in health needs - so reviewing general practice funding to make it fairer and reduce inequalities
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, Oct. 10 -- The Health Foundation posted the following news release on Oct. 9, 2025:
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The Health Foundation responds to launch of GP funding review
Responding to a six-month review of the GP funding formula, set to be announced today by Minister of State Stephen Kinnock MP, Luisa Pettigrew, Senior Policy Fellow at the Health Foundation, said:
'General practices in poorer areas are under-doctored and under-funded compared to practices in richer areas, after accounting for differences in health needs - so reviewing general practice funding to make it fairer and reduce inequalitiesis a positive and welcome step.
'The review should look at the range of funding sources going into general practice, how this money is best used, and the extra investment needed to avoid patients in some areas losing out. Making this happen will depend on additional funding going into general practice - and not removing it from one area of general practice in favour of another or relying on savings from hospitals which may never materialise.
'This is not the first time that general practice funding has been reviewed - the real test for government is whether they follow it up with the policy change and investment needed in response.'
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Original text here: https://www.health.org.uk/press-office/press-releases/the-health-foundation-responds-to-launch-of-gp-funding-review
Ginsburg Institute at Nemours Children's Health Convenes Central Florida Organizations at Child Health Symposium to Develop Strategies to Help Youth Thrive
JACKSONVILLE, Florida, Oct. 10 -- Nemours Foundation posted the following news release:
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Ginsburg Institute at Nemours Children's Health Convenes Central Florida Organizations at Child Health Symposium to Develop Strategies to Help Youth Thrive
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ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2025) - Nearly 300 individuals from the healthcare, community nonprofit, performing arts, education, and public policy sectors gathered to improve overall health and well-being of children in Central Florida during the Ginsburg Institute at Nemours Children's Health's third annual Child Health Symposium in Orlando.
Attendees
... Show Full Article
JACKSONVILLE, Florida, Oct. 10 -- Nemours Foundation posted the following news release:
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Ginsburg Institute at Nemours Children's Health Convenes Central Florida Organizations at Child Health Symposium to Develop Strategies to Help Youth Thrive
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ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2025) - Nearly 300 individuals from the healthcare, community nonprofit, performing arts, education, and public policy sectors gathered to improve overall health and well-being of children in Central Florida during the Ginsburg Institute at Nemours Children's Health's third annual Child Health Symposium in Orlando.
Attendeesrepresenting nearly 100 different organizations heard impassioned reflections and expert insights from a distinguished lineup of speakers, and worked collectively to develop strategies and solutions to address physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being gaps impacting children across the region. With the theme of "Healing Through the Arts," the conference allowed attendees to explore ways in which the arts can serve as a powerful conduit for healing, connectivity, and self-expression.
"We know that nurturing the health of the whole child is critically important, and that means looking beyond medicine-based solutions and addressing the other factors that impact children," said Nancy Molello, Executive Director for the Ginsburg Institute at Nemours Children's Health. "The Child Health Symposium is uniquely designed to create space for some of Central Florida's most impactful change agents and advocates to fully immerse themselves in a collective focus on the well-being of children. As it grows, we will see the positive effects manifest in the form of programs and interventions that help foster healthy, thriving children across the community."
The Symposium featured a number of interactive art therapy activities and panel discussions. Live performances by Opera Orlando, Central Florida Vocal Arts, saxophonist Napoleon Holliday and spoken word artist Alana Jackson put powerful storytelling through artful expression on full display.
In addition, the REED Charitable Foundation, a local nonprofit working to increase literacy and empower children with dyslexia, received the Ginsburg Institute's 2025 Community Champion Award. The award recognizes organizations for their commitment to advancing child and adolescent well-being through impactful programs.
"The Child Health Symposium is a catalyst for community action--uniting leaders, decision-makers, and organizations to better understand the challenges our youth face and identify actionable solutions," said Jen Knopf, President for REED Charitable Foundation. "By convening so many key stakeholders, the Symposium fosters vital connections among organizations in the community, accelerating collaboration and expanding the impact of those working to improve outcomes for children and families."
Established in 2023, the Child Health Symposium promotes collaboration and solutions that go beyond medical interventions to help the community better navigate social drivers that impact the lives of children. In its third year, the Symposium has grown in attendance annually since the inaugural event, with the 2025 Symposium drawing its largest group of attendees yet.
About Nemours Children's Health
Nemours Children's Health is one of the nation's largest multistate pediatric health systems, which includes two free-standing children's hospitals and a network of more than 70 primary and specialty care practices. Nemours Children's seeks to transform the health of children by adopting a holistic health model that utilizes innovative, safe, and high-quality care, while also addressing children's needs well beyond medicine. In producing the highly acclaimed, award-winning pediatric medicine podcast Well Beyond Medicine, Nemours underscores that commitment by featuring the people, programs and partnerships addressing whole child health. Nemours Children's also powers the world's most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, Nemours KidsHealth.org.
The Nemours Foundation, established through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to the children, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit Nemours.org.
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Original text here: https://nemours.mediaroom.com/GinsburgInstituteChildHealthSymposium2025
Digital Scoping and Mapping of Fiji and Vanuatu
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Oct. 10 (TNSrpt) -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news on Oct. 9, 2025:
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Digital Scoping and Mapping of Fiji and Vanuatu
Building on the success of the Go Digital ASEAN program supported by Google.org, The Asia Foundation has expanded the impactful digital training and literacy program to the Pacific Islands. This report presents the findings of Catalpa International's Digital Scoping and Mapping study of Fiji and Vanuatu.
The study highlights both the aspirations and barriers encountered by government staff, community organizations, training providers,
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Oct. 10 (TNSrpt) -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news on Oct. 9, 2025:
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Digital Scoping and Mapping of Fiji and Vanuatu
Building on the success of the Go Digital ASEAN program supported by Google.org, The Asia Foundation has expanded the impactful digital training and literacy program to the Pacific Islands. This report presents the findings of Catalpa International's Digital Scoping and Mapping study of Fiji and Vanuatu.
The study highlights both the aspirations and barriers encountered by government staff, community organizations, training providers,and businesses as they transition to increasingly digital ways of working and delivering services.
This report sets the foundation for country-level planning and training initiatives. The recommendations emphasize building on existing successes, adopting a systems approach that integrates supportive policies with community advocacy, and fostering acceptance of digital approaches.
Ultimately, the study's recommendations aim to ensure that digital skills training--backed by a range of enabling conditions--can help underserved communities in Fiji and Vanuatu fully participate in and benefit from the evolving digital economy.
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REPORT: https://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Go-Digital-ASEAN-2-Impact-Research-Regional-Summary-Report_December-2024.pdf
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Original text here: https://asiafoundation.org/publication/digital-scoping-and-mapping-of-fiji-and-vanuatu/
