Foundations
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from U.S. foundations.
Featured Stories
Two Olympians From Thurgood Marshall College Fund Member-School Howard University to Watch in Paris
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The Thurgood Marshall College Fund issued the following news release:
While the 2024 Paris Olympics are officially underway, two Olympians from Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) member-school Howard University will compete in Paris later this summer.
Jessika Gbai represents Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in the 200-meter dash in the 2024 Olympics, while Sydney Satchell is a member of the United States women's sitting volleyball team in the 2024 Paralympic Games.
"The Summer Games are always exciting to watch, but it's extra special when two of our alumnae are Olympians,"
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WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The Thurgood Marshall College Fund issued the following news release:
While the 2024 Paris Olympics are officially underway, two Olympians from Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) member-school Howard University will compete in Paris later this summer.
Jessika Gbai represents Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in the 200-meter dash in the 2024 Olympics, while Sydney Satchell is a member of the United States women's sitting volleyball team in the 2024 Paralympic Games.
"The Summer Games are always exciting to watch, but it's extra special when two of our alumnae are Olympians,"Dr. Harry L. Williams, president & CEO of TMCF, said. "I'll be closely following Jessika and Sydney as they represent Howard University on an international stage."
Gbai and Satchell are part of a long history of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) athletes competing as Olympians.
"Facing historic underfunding and societal injustice, our member-schools have consistently produced Olympians for decades," Dr. Williams said. "It's only one example out of many of HBCUs doing more with less."
The women's 200-meter dash begins Aug. 4 at 4:55 a.m. EST. Sitting volleyball play begins for Team USA against China in the preliminary round on Aug. 30 at 6 a.m. EST.
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Original text here: https://www.tmcf.org/events-media/tmcf-in-the-media/two-olympians-from-thurgood-marshall-college-fund-member-school-howard-university-to-watch-in-paris/
San Diego Foundation Selected to Receive $20M U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant to Support Sustainability, Climate Resiliency in Central Historic Barrios
SAN DIEGO, California, July 26 -- The San Diego Foundation issued the following news release on July 25, 2024:
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Grant to Fully Fund Transformative Climate Communities Local Health Initiative
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San Diego Foundation (SDF) announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected it to receive $19,999,317 for its joint initiative with the Environmental Health Coalition to help fund climate-resilient projects that will preserve, protect and strengthen San Diego's central historic barrios.
"We are grateful to the EPA for recognizing how transformational this funding will
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SAN DIEGO, California, July 26 -- The San Diego Foundation issued the following news release on July 25, 2024:
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Grant to Fully Fund Transformative Climate Communities Local Health Initiative
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San Diego Foundation (SDF) announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected it to receive $19,999,317 for its joint initiative with the Environmental Health Coalition to help fund climate-resilient projects that will preserve, protect and strengthen San Diego's central historic barrios.
"We are grateful to the EPA for recognizing how transformational this funding willbe for San Diegans," said Mark Stuart, President & CEO, SDF. "This federal grant is an endorsement of our coalition of partners and community-driven approach to fund much-needed projects that will improve the health and lives of residents in our central historic barrios and create a healthier, more vibrant and resilient community,"
The EPA grant will be combined with a previously announced $22 million grant received in December 2023 from the California Strategic Growth Council for the Transformative Climate Communities initiative, "Rooted in Comunidad, Cultivating Equity."
"San Diego's central historic barrio communities are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change like extreme heat or wildfires, because of existing toxic pollution, disinvestment and chronic disease like asthma," said Jose Franco Garcia, Executive Director, Environmental Health Coalition. "Residents that suffer these conditions have voiced the community's need for investments in clean air, green spaces, healthy homes and pollution-free transit. Now, we can put their vision into action in order to help their families and neighbors thrive for generations to come."
"Today's announcement is welcome news for families in San Diego and across the region. This funding demonstrates our continued commitment to addressing long-standing environmental and climate justice challenges and investing in the health and wellbeing of our communities," said Representative Juan Vargas (CA-52). "I'm proud to have voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to support projects just like this one and look forward to seeing the positive impacts to come."
"Efforts to address climate change need to include all communities, especially neighborhoods that have historically been underfunded. The nearly $20 million in Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change grant money coming to San Diego will fund much-needed improvements to air quality, expand access to clean public transportation, and provide green space that will mitigate extreme heat and beautify neighborhoods. This is another great example of how the Biden-Harris administration's Inflation Reduction Act is truly helping all Americans," said Representative Scott Peters (CA-50).
Through the grants, the neighborhoods encompassing San Diego's central historic barrios will experience unprecedented investment in green spaces, housing and transportation, community-led food production and distribution, and community centers, among other climate-resilient and community benefit projects. San Diego's central historic barrios include the seven neighborhoods of Logan, Stockton, Grant Hill, Mt. Hope, Sherman, Southcrest and Shelltown. For a full description of projects, visit the Environmental Health Coalition's project proposal website.
In 2022, Environmental Health Coalition and SDF, along with 10 partners, worked to ensure their project plan was grounded in the community and led by the community. During the application-building period for the California Strategic Growth Council, Environmental Health Coalition hosted a survey and two community workshops that included participation and feedback from 400-plus community members.
The EPA grant is one of seven awarded in California and one of 21 nationwide by the EPA during this inaugural round of funding. Selected applicants help disadvantaged communities tackle environmental and climate justice challenges through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience and build community capacity. Made possible by the federal Inflation Reduction Act, the Community Change Grants Program is the single-largest investment in environmental and climate justice in history. The funding announcement is the first tranche of nearly $2 billion from the program that was designed based on community input to award grants on a rolling basis. For more information on the Community Change Grants Program and a full listing of awards, visit EPA.gov.
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About San Diego Foundation
San Diego Foundation inspires enduring philanthropy and enables community solutions to improve the quality of life in our region. Our strategic priorities include advancing racial and social justice, fostering equity of opportunity, building resilient communities, and delivering world-class philanthropy to realize our vision of just, equitable and resilient communities. The Environment Initiative preserves and protects our resources, builds a more sustainable path of economic growth and ensures a higher quality of life for those who call San Diego home. For nearly 50 years, SDF and its donors have granted $1.8 billion to support nonprofit organizations strengthening our community.
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Original text here: https://www.sdfoundation.org/news-events/sdf-news/san-diego-foundation-selected-to-receive-20m-u-s-environmental-protection-agency-grant-to-support-sustainability-climate-resiliency-in-central-historic-barrios/
PA Teachers Union Accused of Laundering $1.5 Million in Members' Dues to Bankroll Josh Shapiro's 2022 Candidacy
OLYMPIA, Washington, July 26 -- The Freedom Foundation issued the following news release on July 25, 2024:
In a series of three complaints filed yesterday with state and federal authorities, the Freedom Foundation alleges that the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) executed an illegal scheme during the 2022 Pennsylvania general election to surreptitiously use nearly $1.5 million in teachers' union dues to back then-candidate Josh Shapiro's gubernatorial campaign.
Presumptive Democratic nominee for president, Vice President Kamala Harris,
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OLYMPIA, Washington, July 26 -- The Freedom Foundation issued the following news release on July 25, 2024:
In a series of three complaints filed yesterday with state and federal authorities, the Freedom Foundation alleges that the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) and the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) executed an illegal scheme during the 2022 Pennsylvania general election to surreptitiously use nearly $1.5 million in teachers' union dues to back then-candidate Josh Shapiro's gubernatorial campaign.
Presumptive Democratic nominee for president, Vice President Kamala Harris,is reportedly considering Shapiro as a potential running mate.
Pennsylvania campaign finance and collective bargaining laws prohibit unions from using their general treasury funds to make contributions to political candidates, though federal court rulings allow unions to use such funds to independently purchase their own advertisements supporting or opposing candidates for office.
Nevertheless, the complaints document how PSEA made two, six-figure contributions from its general treasury to the Fund for Student Success (FSS), a little-known political fund operated by the union, which then contributed the funds to the DGA in May 2022 which, in turn, contributed heavily to Shapiro's successful campaign for governor.
Additionally, the transactions were not publicly disclosed as required by the Pennsylvania Election Code. PSEA failed to register the FSS, which it quietly launched in 2018, as a political committee with the Department of State, meaning none of its contributions or expenditures -- including the two contributions to the DGA in 2022 -- have been publicly disclosed as required. While the DGA has registered as a political committee and files the applicable disclosures, it failed to report receiving the two contributions from the FSS in May 2022.
While the transactions do not appear anywhere in Pennsylvania campaign finance records, both the FSS and DGA acknowledged they occurred on obscure disclosures filed with the Internal Revenue Service.
However, in an additional attempt to mask the illegal contributions, the FSS fraudulently claimed on its 2022 federal tax return that its contributions went to Put Pennsylvania First -- an independent expenditure political committee to which it could have legally contributed -- not the DGA. However, Put Pennsylvania First did not disclose receiving any funds from the FSS.
"PSEA's scheme to secretly launder nearly $1.5 million in members' dues through the Democratic Governors Association to support Josh Shapiro's 2022 candidacy appears to have violated both an array of Pennsylvania laws and the Internal Revenue Code," said Maxford Nelsen, the Freedom Foundation's director of research and government affairs.
"In the process, PSEA executives displayed as much contempt for their own members as they did for Commonwealth law and voters. Pennsylvania teachers deserve to know that their union's assurances that the dues deducted from their hard-earned paychecks aren't being used to back political candidates are worth no more than a politician's campaign promises."
Willful violations
The exhaustive complaints show that PSEA officers were well aware of the applicable laws, but chose to ignore them anyway, deceiving Pennsylvania teachers in the process.
PSEA maintains two political committees: PSEA-PACE and the Fund for Student Success. PACE is public-facing, and PSEA regularly solicits voluntary contributions to PACE from its members in addition to their regular dues. PACE registered as a political committee in 1968 and has disclosed its contributions and expenditures to the Pennsylvania Department of State ever since, showing that PSEA is aware of and familiar with state campaign finance reporting rules.
Additionally, when soliciting membership and PACE contributions, PSEA has repeatedly, publicly and correctly noted that Pennsylvania law prevents it from using members' dues to contribute to political candidates or parties. In past litigation, and referencing the applicable Pennsylvania laws, even PSEA's own in-house attorney admitted that, "...states like Pennsylvania can, and sometimes do, permissibly prohibit unions from using general treasury funds to make contributions to candidates or political parties in connection with elections."
Created in 2018, the Fund for Student Success is both far newer than PACE and less visible to PSEA members.
The only reference to the FSS on PSEA's website is found in a brief article from the September 2018 edition of the union's membership newsletter, which notes that, "The Fund for Student Success will not - and legally cannot - provide campaign contributions to candidates, elected officials, or campaign committees."
Despite their knowledge of Pennsylvania campaign finance registration and reporting requirements, as evidenced by their management of PACE, and their understanding of the prohibitions against using members' dues for political contributions, PSEA executives nonetheless dipped into the union's general treasury for almost $1.5 million in funds to back Shapiro. This was both in addition to and dwarfed the $800,000 legally contributed to Shapiro for Pennsylvania by the voluntarily funded PSEA-PACE.
Implications for the debate over lifeline scholarships?
As has been widely reported, Gov. Shapiro differed from candidate Shapiro on whether the state should fund lifeline scholarships to allow families with children in the Commonwealth's poorest performing public schools to pay for private alternatives.
After initially supporting a lifeline scholarship proposal offered by Senate Republicans last year, Shapiro ultimately line-item vetoed the budget appropriation for the program after the PSEA blasted the proposal as "unacceptable." The debate over lifeline scholarships continued this year but again failed in the face of opposition from teachers unions and House Democrats. Critics chided Shapiro for failing to expend the "political capital" necessary "to sway his fellow party members."
While the PSEA's strong support for Shapiro is well-known, the fact that the teachers union spent $1.5 million more backing his 2022 candidacy than has been previously reported is, if nothing else, important added context for the governor's change of heart and the debate over lifeline scholarships in Harrisburg.
The complaints
The first complaint -- alleging violations of the Election Code and certain criminal statutes by the PSEA, FSS, and DGA -- was filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and the Dauphin County District Attorney. A copy of the complaint is available here (https://www.freedomfoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PSEAFSSDGA-complaint-for-PA-DoSAGDCDA.pdf).
The second complaint was filed with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board and alleges violations of the Public Employee Relations Act by PSEA. A copy of the complaint is available here (https://www.freedomfoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PLRB-complaint-PSEA.pdf).
And the third complaint, which alleges the Fund for Student Success submitted a fraudulent 2022 tax return, was filed with the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Philadelphia field office. A copy of the complaint is available here (https://www.freedomfoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IRS-complaint-FSS-contributions-to-DGA.pdf).
Under both applicable Pennsylvania law and the Internal Revenue Code, some of the alleged violations may result in civil fines, while most of the alleged violations, if done willfully, are treated as criminal misdemeanors or even felonies punishable with financial penalties and/or imprisonment.
A graphic depicting the transactions and primary allegations in the complaints is available here (https://www.freedomfoundation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PSEA-complaints-handout.pdf).
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Original text here: https://www.freedomfoundation.com/press-release/pa-teachers-union-accused-of-laundering-1-5-million-in-members-dues-to-bankroll-josh-shapiros-2022-candidacy/
Greater Dayton Charities Receive $847,100 in Dayton Foundation Competitive Grant Awards
DAYTON, Ohio, July 26 -- The Dayton Foundation issued the following news release:
Eighteen discretionary and Greenlight GrantsSM totaling $847,100 were awarded by The Dayton Foundation's volunteer Grants Committee and approved by the Foundation's Governing Board to address emerging needs and opportunities in the region. These grants, made possible thanks to individuals who have established unrestricted or lightly restricted charitable funds, promoted efforts in the arts and culture, health, education, human services, philanthropy and other community-building endeavors.
Discretionary grants totaling
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DAYTON, Ohio, July 26 -- The Dayton Foundation issued the following news release:
Eighteen discretionary and Greenlight GrantsSM totaling $847,100 were awarded by The Dayton Foundation's volunteer Grants Committee and approved by the Foundation's Governing Board to address emerging needs and opportunities in the region. These grants, made possible thanks to individuals who have established unrestricted or lightly restricted charitable funds, promoted efforts in the arts and culture, health, education, human services, philanthropy and other community-building endeavors.
Discretionary grants totaling$795,000 were awarded to the following organizations and initiatives.
Dayton Performing Arts Alliance ($30,000) to establish the Dayton Ballet Studio Company, an apprentice company for dancers who have graduated from high school but are not yet ready for full membership in a professional company.
Dayton Workforce Coalition ($500,000) to support this new Dayton Foundation leadership initiative that will work to ensure a robust pipeline of human capital for in demand jobs within the region over the next five years. In partnership with Air Camp, Engineering and Science Foundation, Entrepreneurs' Center, General Motors, Learn to Earn Dayton and National Aviation Heritage Alliance, the initiative will prepare 20,000 individuals per year across the region for local jobs.
Hannah's Treasure Chest ($75,000) to purchase and renovate a permanent facility to provide a safe and efficient home for the organization to carry out its mission, expand its programs and serve more children.
Miami Valley Urban League ($40,000) to create and release the 2024 State of Black Dayton Report, a tool to help raise awareness and understanding of issues facing Black communities, build coalitions around priorities for collective impact and advance policy changes to achieve equity.
Preble County Youth Foundation ($75,000) to construct a new gym at the YMCA in Eaton, Ohio.
Wright Dunbar ($50,000) to construct a Medal of Honor Memorial that will pay tribute to the 40 Medal of Honor recipients living in the Dayton area and 100,000 local veterans.
Yellow Springs Home ($25,000) to provide eight new, affordable rental units for low-income older adults, in close proximity to numerous amenities that will directly improve residents' quality of life and well-being.
The Foundation's Greenlight Grants program assists organizations seeking quick, small grants for special projects, program expansions, capital improvements or capacity building. In recent months, $52,100 in Greenlight Grants was awarded to the following organizations.
Dayton Dream Center ($6,000) to purchase software to assist in logging guest visits, program participation and connecting clients to community resources.
Felons with a Future ($5,000) to provide supplies and automotive training for five participants.
Greater Dayton Volunteer Lawyers ($3,000) to support strategic-planning services for the organization's pro bono program, ultimately expanding its reach.
Greater Edgemont Community Coalition ($5,000) to automate the organization's popcorn shelling and harvesting processes, helping to turn its popcorn pilot project into a sustainable business model and educational tool for the Edgemont community.
Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton ($4,100) to commission playwright Michael London to complete an adaptation of the Holocaust memoir, Anschel's Story.
Joshua Recovery Ministries ($7,500) to purchase two homes for additional client lodging.
Kids in New Directions (KIND) ($5,000) to purchase a van to serve an additional 12 students.
Omega Community Development Corporation ($7,500) to create a community garden, with an intergenerational design and structure focusing on seniors, residents and youth.
RaiseSTEM! ($2,500) to purchase hardware and equipment to manufacture, build and program a 120-pound robot for outreach and recruiting events.
Spectrum New Beginnings ($2,500) to develop a strategic plan.
United Rehabilitation Services ($4,000) to complete the organizations Adapted Therapy Apartment, including purchasing and installing assistive technology to better serve clients.
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Original text here: https://www.daytonfoundation.org/Greater-Dayton-Charities-Receive-S847-100-in-Dayton-Foundation-Competitive-Grant-Awards
Fifth Circuit Strikes Down FCC's Unconstitutional Universal Service Fund
AUSTIN, Texas, July 26 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release:
Washington, D.C. -- On Wednesday, July 24th, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) "Universal Service Fund" (USF) is unconstitutional under the nondelegation doctrine.
Boyden Gray PLLC and Texas Public Policy Foundation are proud to represent the challengers, with Boyden Gray Partner Trent McCotter arguing the case before the en banc Fifth Circuit in the fall and Boyden Gray Counsel Jared Kelson leading the briefing effort.
Congress
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AUSTIN, Texas, July 26 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release:
Washington, D.C. -- On Wednesday, July 24th, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) "Universal Service Fund" (USF) is unconstitutional under the nondelegation doctrine.
Boyden Gray PLLC and Texas Public Policy Foundation are proud to represent the challengers, with Boyden Gray Partner Trent McCotter arguing the case before the en banc Fifth Circuit in the fall and Boyden Gray Counsel Jared Kelson leading the briefing effort.
Congressauthorized the FCC to raise money for the USF, supposedly to expand telephone service. But Congress never set any limits on how much the FCC can collect, handing a blank check to an agency full of bureaucrats. And then the FCC redelegated this taxing power to a private entity full of self-interested telecom insiders, in effect allowing an unelected corporation to set the tax rates paid by millions of Americans.
The Fifth Circuit held that this unprecedented "combination of delegations, subdelegations, and obfuscations of the USF Tax mechanism offends Article I, Sec. 1 of the Constitution."
Given the lack of political oversight and responsibility, it is unsurprising the USF tax rate climbs higher every year, with significant amounts wasted and siphoned off, and that no one ensures the money is being spent wisely.
As the majority opinion concludes: "American telecommunications consumers are subject to a multibillion-dollar tax nobody voted for. The size of that tax is de facto determined by a trade group staffed by industry insiders with no semblance of accountability to the public."
"This ruling is a victory for American consumers and the rule of law," says Chance Weldon, Director of Litigation at TPPF. "The FCC's practice of allowing a private entity to tax citizens was an egregious overreach of governmental authority. Today's decision reaffirms the fundamental principle that only Congress has the power to tax and that this power cannot be delegated away lightly."
The Fifth Circuit's opinion can be read here (https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/22/22-60008-CV2.pdf).
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Original text here: https://www.texaspolicy.com/press/fifth-circuit-strikes-down-fccs-unconstitutional-universal-service-fund
Electronic Frontier Foundation to Present Annual EFF Awards to Carolina Botero, Connecting Humanity, and 404 Media
WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation issued the following news release:
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2024 Awards Will Be Presented in a Live Ceremony Thursday, Sept. 12 in San Francisco
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SAN FRANCISCO -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is honored to announce that Carolina Botero, Connecting Humanity, and 404 Media will receive the 2024 EFF Awards for their vital work in ensuring that technology supports freedom, justice, and innovation for all people.
The EFF Awards recognize specific and substantial technical, social, economic, or cultural contributions in diverse fields including
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WASHINGTON, July 26 -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation issued the following news release:
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2024 Awards Will Be Presented in a Live Ceremony Thursday, Sept. 12 in San Francisco
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SAN FRANCISCO -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is honored to announce that Carolina Botero, Connecting Humanity, and 404 Media will receive the 2024 EFF Awards for their vital work in ensuring that technology supports freedom, justice, and innovation for all people.
The EFF Awards recognize specific and substantial technical, social, economic, or cultural contributions in diverse fields includingjournalism, art, digital access, legislation, tech development, and law.
The EFF Awards ceremony will start at 6:30 pm PT on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at the Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop in San Francisco's Presidio. Guests can register at https://www.eff.org/event/eff-awards-2024. The ceremony will be livestreamed and recorded.
For the past 30 years, the EFF Awards--previously known as the Pioneer Awards--have recognized and honored key leaders in the fight for freedom and innovation online. Started when the internet was new, the Awards now reflect the fact that the online world has become both a necessity in modern life and a continually evolving set of tools for communication, organizing, creativity, and increasing human potential.
"Maintaining internet access in a conflict zone, conducting fearless investigative reporting on how tech impacts our lives, and bringing the fight for digital rights and social justice to significant portions of Latin America are all ways of ensuring technology advances us all," EFF Executive Director Cindy Cohn said. "This year's EFF Award winners embody the internet's highest ideals, building a better-connected and better-informed world that brings freedom, justice, and innovation for everyone. We hope that by recognizing them in this small way, we can shine a spotlight that helps them continue and even expand their important work."
Carolina Botero: Fostering Digital Human Rights in Latin America
Carolina Botero is a researcher, lecturer, writer, and consultant who is among the foremost leaders in the fight for digital rights in Latin America. In more than a decade as executive director of the Colombia-based Karisma Foundation -- founded in 2003 to ensure that digital technologies protect and advance fundamental human rights and promote social justice -- she transformed the organization into an outspoken voice fostering freedom of expression, privacy, access to knowledge, justice, and self-determination in our digital world, with regional and international impact. She left that position this year, opening the door for a new generation while leaving a strong and inspiring legacy for those in Latin America and beyond who advocate for a digital world that enhances rights and empowers the powerless. Botero holds a master's degree in international law and cooperation from Belgium's Vrije Universiteit Brussel and a master's degree in commercial and contracting law from Spain's Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. She frequently authors op-eds for Colombia's El Espectador and La Silla Vacia, and serves on the advisory board of The Regional Center for Studies for the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br), monitoring the adoption of information and communication technologies in Brazil. She previously served on the board of Creative Commons and as a member of the UNESCO Advisory Committee on Open Science.
Connecting Humanity: Championing Internet Access in Gaza
Connecting Humanity is a Cairo-based nonprofit organization that helps Palestinians in Gaza regain access to the internet - a crucial avenue for free speech and the free press. Founded in late 2023 by Egyptian journalist, writer, podcaster, and activist Mirna El Helbawi, Connecting Humanity collects and distributes embedded SIMs (eSIMs), a software version of the physical chip used to connect a phone to cellular networks and the internet. Connecting Humanity has collected hundreds of thousands of eSims from around the world and distributed them to people in Gaza, providing a lifeline for many caught up in Israel's war on Hamas. People in crisis zones rely upon the free flow of information to survive, and restoring internet access in places where other communications infrastructure has been destroyed helps with dissemination of life-saving information and distribution of humanitarian aid, ensures that everyone's stories can be heard, and enables continued educational and cultural contact. El Helbawi previously worked as an editor at 7 Ayam Magazine and as a radio host at Egypt's NRJ Group; she was shortlisted for the Arab Journalism Award in 2016, and she created the podcast Helbing.
404 Media: Fearless Journalism
As the media landscape in general and tech media in particular keeps shrinking, 404 Media -- launched in August 2023 -- has tirelessly forged ahead with incisive investigative reports, deep-dive features, blogs, and scoops about topics such as hacking, cybersecurity, cybercrime, sex, artificial intelligence, consumer rights, government and law enforcement surveillance, privacy, and the democratization of the internet. Co-founders Jason Koebler, Sam Cole, Joseph Cox, and Emanuel Maiberg all worked together at Vice Media's Motherboard, but after that site's parent company filed for bankruptcy in May 2023, the four journalists resolved to go out on their own and build what Maiberg has called "very much a website by humans, for humans about technology. It's not about the business of technology -- it's about how it impacts real people in the real world." Among many examples, 404 Media has uncovered a privacy issue in the New York subway system that let stalkers track peoples' movements, causing the MTA to shut down the feature; investigated a platform being used to generate non-consensual pornography with AI, causing the platform to make changes limiting abuse; and reported on dangerously inaccurate AI-generated books that Amazon then removed from sale.
To register for this event: https://www.eff.org/event/eff-awards-2024
For past honorees: https://www.eff.org/awards/past-winners
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Original text here: https://www.eff.org/press/releases/electronic-frontier-foundation-present-annual-eff-awards-carolina-botero-connecting
Community Foundation for Greater New Haven: 2024 Responsive Grant Awards
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, July 26 -- The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven issued the following news release:
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The Community Foundation delivers $4.63 million to local nonprofits in a year of high demand for funding
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The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven has awarded $4,626,285 in grants to a large and diverse group of nonprofit organizations serving Greater New Haven through its annual responsive grants program.
Grants are being given to 142 nonprofits, a record total for The Community Foundation, from one of the largest applicant pools in The Foundation's history.
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NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, July 26 -- The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven issued the following news release:
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The Community Foundation delivers $4.63 million to local nonprofits in a year of high demand for funding
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The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven has awarded $4,626,285 in grants to a large and diverse group of nonprofit organizations serving Greater New Haven through its annual responsive grants program.
Grants are being given to 142 nonprofits, a record total for The Community Foundation, from one of the largest applicant pools in The Foundation's history.Of the total awards, 70 are for one year and 72 are for two or three years, and the average amount for the first year is $22,000. All grant awards are for general operating support.
Nonprofits face several challenges that are contributing to the increased demand including the end of COVID-19 era federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Rising costs associated with recent inflation are also affecting nonprofits, and changes in Medicaid eligibility and funding is creating budget gaps among healthcare providers.
"We had many difficult decisions to make with the responsive grant docket this year," said The Community Foundation President and CEO Will Ginsberg. "In response to the unprecedented demand for funding, The Foundation took a broad approach to our grantmaking to fund as many nonprofits as possible. We understand our critical role in providing general operating grants that are so important to the organizations delivering the effective and impactful programs and services that contribute so much to our region."
Also factoring into the increased number of grant applications is The Foundation's work to broaden its reach to new and smaller organizations, according to Christina Ciociola, senior vice president for planning and community strategies.
"The purpose of the responsive grant process has always been to cast a wide net across the diverse set of needs and opportunities in the region," Ciociola said. "The Foundation's current strategic plan prioritizes broadening our reach and this grant docket demonstrates our success in reaching more organizations and making our resources more accessible."
Thirty-one of the grants are to organizations receiving responsive awards for the first time or with operating budgets of under $200,000. Nearly one third (30%) of the grants are to Black- or Brown-led nonprofits and 80% are to organizations serving a majority Black and Brown population.
2024 Responsive Grant Awards
One-year grant recipients
4-CT - $20,000
50CAN, Inc. d/b/a ConnCAN - $9,750
Agency on Aging of South Central CT - $22,750
All Our Kin - $29,250
Amity Teen Center Inc - $8,000
American Red Cross Connecticut Chapter - $16,250
Applied Behavioral Rehabilitation Institute, Inc. d/b/a Homes for the Brave - $8,450
Arts for Learning Connecticut - $16,250
Best Video Film & Cultural Center - $16,250
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Connecticut, Inc. - $16,250
Boys & Girls Village - $22,750
Bridges Healthcare, Inc. - $29,250
cARTie - $9,750
Central Connecticut Coast YMCA - $19,500
Children in Placement - CT, Inc. - $19,500
Children's Law Center, Inc. - $9,750
City Angels Baseball Academy - $9,750
CitySeed Inc. - $29,250
CLICC Inc. - $19,500
Columbus House, Inc. - $29,250
Concepts for Adaptive Learning - $19,500
Connecticut Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) - $22,750
Connecticut Audubon Society - $16,250
Connecticut Foodshare - $16,250
Dwight Hall at Yale - $10,000
Eli Whitney Museum & Workshop - $13,000
Elm City Internationals - $13,000
Ely Center of Contemporary Art - $15,000
Gaylord Hospital, Inc. - $32,500
Governor's Partnership to Protect CT's Workforce d/b/a The Governor's Prevention Partnership - $19,500
Guilford Art Center - $22,750
Guilford Performing Arts Festival Company - $10,000
Habitat for Humanity of Greater New Haven - $16,250
Haven's Harvest - $26,000
Helping Our People to Excel, Incorporated - $19,500
Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Programs, Inc. - $19,500
Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven - $16,250
Latinas & Power Inc. - $16,250
Lawyers for Children America - $13,000
Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership, Inc. - $29,250
Legacy Theatre - $12,300
Liberty Community Services, Inc. - $26,000
Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven - $22,750
Local Initiatives Support Corporation - $25,000
Madison Lyric Stage - $6,500
Massaro Community Farm - $13,000
New Haven Chorale - $20,000
New Haven Reads - $29,250
New Haven Symphony Orchestra - $13,000
New HYTEs Inc - $9,750
NXTHVN Inc - $25,000
Operation Fuel - $22,750
Pequenas Ligas Hispanas de New Haven, Inc. - $11,700
Pro Bono Partnership - $13,000
Prosperity House Inc - $13,000
Rape Crisis Center of Milford, Inc. - $12,350
Room 17 Math, Inc. - $17,900
SARAH Inc. - $10,400
Save the Sound - $22,750
Soul Friends Inc - $13,000
St. Lawrence School - $10,400
Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, Inc. - $13,000
Tommy Fund for Childhood Cancer - $13,000
United Way of Greater New Haven - $32,500
Urban Community Alliance - $26,000
Women and Family Life Center - $19,500
Women's Business Development Council - $19,500
Yale-China Association - $9,100
Youth Continuum, Inc. - $25,000
Youth Entrepreneurs Inc - $9,750
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Two-year grant recipients
Apostle Immigrant Services, Corp. - $40,000
Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven - $40,000
Career Resources, Inc. - $42,000
Center for Children's Advocacy - $25,000
Clelian Adult Day Center (Apostles of the Sacred Heart Clelian Center Inc) - $25,000
CMWP Foundation, Inc. - $20,000
Connecticut Voices for Children - $45,000
Connecticut Women's Consortium - $35,000
EIR Urban Youth Boxing, Inc - $25,000
Elm City LITFest KulturallyLIT - $30,000
Havenly, Inc. - $40,000
Huneebee Project - $30,000
Loaves & Fishes - $40,000
'r kids Inc. - $40,000
Young Men's Institute Library - $25,000
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Three-year grant recipients
A Better Way Foundation - $50,000
Adam Wysota Foundation dba Adam's House - $18,000
Animal Haven - $52,500
Arts Council of Greater New Haven - $35,000
Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church (Social Integration Program) - $40,000
BHcare - $40,000
Boundless Literacy Inc. - $40,000
Boys & Girls Club of Milford - $55,000
Canal Dock Boathouse, Inc. - $35,000
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Hartford - $40,000
Community Action Agency of New Haven, Inc. - $67,000
Community Nursery School - $50,000
Community Soup Kitchen - $55,000
Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut (CONECT) - $50,000
Connecticut Community Bicycle Workshop - $26,000
Connecticut Players Foundation, Inc. d/b/a Long Wharf Theatre - $95,000
Connecticut Violence Intervention Program, INC. - $55,000
Continuum of Care, Inc. - $55,000
Cornell Scott-Hill Health Corporation - $60,000
Diaper Bank of Connecticut - $50,000
Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen, Inc. - $55,000
Elm Shakespeare Company - $40,000
Fellowship Place Inc. - $55,000
Freedom Reads - $35,000
Gather New Haven - $60,000
Greater New Haven Cat Project, Inc. - $53,900
Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce - $75,000
Guilford Community Television, Inc. - $45,000
Health Equity Solutions - $41,750
Horizons at Foote - $54,500
Inspired Communities, Inc. - $55,000
Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers of Greater New Haven - $50,000
International Festival of Arts & Ideas - $50,000
IRIS - Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services - $65,000
Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven - $40,000
Literacy Volunteers of Southern CT - $35,000
Mary Wade - $65,000
Masters Manna - $45,000
Music Haven - $55,000
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven - $55,000
Neighborhood Music School - $55,000
New Haven Legal Assistance Association Inc. - $45,000
New Haven Pride Center - $60,000
New Reach - $60,000
Nutrition Security Solutions, Inc. - $25,000
Open Communities Alliance - $40,000
Planned Parenthood of Southern New England - $70,000
Project Access of New Haven - $85,000
Read to Grow, Inc. - $45,000
Saint Martin de Porres Academy - $40,000
Solar Youth, Inc. - $50,000
The Storehouse Project - $57,500
The Whitney Players Theater Company - $42,000
Urban Resources Initiative - $40,000
West Haven Child Development Center - $60,000
WHEAT, Inc. - $61,035
Winning Ways Inc - $45,000
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About The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven's mission is to inspire, support, inform, listen to and collaborate with the people and organizations of Greater New Haven to build an ever more connected, inclusive, equitable and philanthropic community. Established in 1928, The Foundation is one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the U.S. Generations of donors past and present have built the Foundation's permanent charitable endowment, which serves 20 towns in Greater New Haven. The Foundation operates under a strategic plan to expand opportunity and equity throughout our region.
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Original text here: https://www.cfgnh.org/articles/2024-responsive-grant-awards
