Foundations
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from U.S. foundations.
Featured Stories
Walton Family Foundation: Arizonans Want State Leaders to Take Action to Protect Vital Groundwater Supplies
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Walton Family Foundation issued the following news release:
A poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the Walton Family Foundation shows almost 9 in 10 voters (88%) are concerned about groundwater supplies in Arizona and believe that limiting unregulated groundwater pumping should be a priority for the state. Almost three-quarters (74%) think the Governor should use existing laws to manage rural groundwater if the Arizona State Legislature fails to enable rural communities to regulate their own groundwater.
Only 34% of Arizonans believe the state will have enough
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WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Walton Family Foundation issued the following news release:
A poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the Walton Family Foundation shows almost 9 in 10 voters (88%) are concerned about groundwater supplies in Arizona and believe that limiting unregulated groundwater pumping should be a priority for the state. Almost three-quarters (74%) think the Governor should use existing laws to manage rural groundwater if the Arizona State Legislature fails to enable rural communities to regulate their own groundwater.
Only 34% of Arizonans believe the state will have enoughwater to support its population in 15 years. Only 13% believe Arizona will have enough water in 50 years. Almost all (92%) of voters say that Arizona needs to prioritize the health of rivers and streams to address Arizona's drought and decreasing groundwater supplies.
"Arizonans are saying loud and clear they want the state to take more action to protect its vital rivers and streams, regulate groundwater pumping and recognize the rights of Tribal Nations," said Moira Mcdonald, Environment Program Director of the Walton Family Foundation. "Arizonans are looking for bold action to ensure there is enough water in the state now and for future generations."
Other key findings from the poll include:
* There is consensus among Arizonans that drought and water shortages (87%) and lowering water levels in the Colorado River (84%) are serious issues for the state.
* 85% of Arizonans believe that new urban developments should be required to prove they have a 100-year water supply.
* Arizonans overwhelmingly support the needs of Tribal Nations. Almost 9 in 10 (88%) voters believe Tribal nations deserve to have their water rights recognized by state and federal governments. Three in four (76%) say tribes should be able to access all the water on their land.
* 80% agree urgent action is needed and Arizona should invest now in groundwater management to safeguard our water resources.
* 92% say funding the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the Arizona Department of Water Resources should be a priority for the state.
Polling Methodology:
This poll was conducted between May 3-May 8, 2024 among a sample of 800 registered voters in Arizona. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of registered voters in Arizona based on gender by age, educational attainment, race, marital status, home ownership, race by educational attainment, and 2020 presidential vote. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. Additional analysis was provided by Beck Research.
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About the Walton Family Foundation
The Walton Family Foundation is, at its core, a family-led foundation. Three generations of the descendants of our founders, Sam and Helen Walton, and their spouses, work together to lead the foundation and create access to opportunity for people and communities. We work in three areas: improving education, protecting rivers and oceans and the communities they support, and investing in our home region of Northwest Arkansas and the Arkansas-Mississippi Delta. To learn more, visit waltonfamilyfoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Original text here: https://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/arizonans-want-state-leaders-to-take-action-to-protect-vital-groundwater-supplies
TMCF Statement on HBCU Investments in the Biden Administration
WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Thurgood Marshall College Fund issued the following statement on May 17, 2024:
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The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) expresses its appreciation for the historic investments and tremendous strides that the Biden Administration has made over the past three years as it relates to its support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
"The Biden Administration, unlike any other presidential administration before it, has broken barriers regarding being intentional about investing in HBCUs and their students," said TMCF President and CEO Dr. Harry
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WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Thurgood Marshall College Fund issued the following statement on May 17, 2024:
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The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) expresses its appreciation for the historic investments and tremendous strides that the Biden Administration has made over the past three years as it relates to its support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
"The Biden Administration, unlike any other presidential administration before it, has broken barriers regarding being intentional about investing in HBCUs and their students," said TMCF President and CEO Dr. HarryL. Williams. "Both the President and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona have been cognizant about providing the requisite support to address our unique challenges while also leveraging our strengths in ways that benefit the nation as a whole."
Over the course of the past three years, through the work of the Biden Administration with the support of Congress, HBCUs have seen tremendous progress as it relates to increases in Title III discretionary funding, which supports capacity building efforts at HBCUs. Additionally, the Biden Administration has consistently requested significant increases in the President's recommended budgets for all student aid programs including the Pell grant program, Work Study program and the Federal Supplemental Equal Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program. Increases in these programs, while benefiting low-income students regardless of where they attend, have an outsized impact on HBCUs, who specialize in serving students with high levels of financial need.
In regards to research investment, the administration is to be specifically applauded for making history by awarding the first-ever University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) to Howard University in 2023 and for developing and advocating for the HBCU MSI Research and Development Infrastructure fund which has invested $50 million dollars each of the last two years into the research infrastructure at HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions. The administration is also to be lauded for its engagement on the issue of the historic underfunding of our publicly-supported HBCUs at a state level, which is a problem most acute at, but not unique to our 1890 Land-Grant institutions.
Beyond these accomplishments, there are several areas in which we hope to continue to work with the Biden Administration going forward, including with respect to the policy proposal to require all universities with over a $1 billion endowment to subcontract at least 10% of their federal contracts with an HBCU or MSI. More active engagement of our schools in the federal government's research and development (R&D) enterprise is critical to ensuring institutional sustainability and keeping our nation globally competitive in the second half of the 21st Century.
We also look forward to continuing the momentum towards the goal of doubling the Pell Grant despite such funding being held flat for 2024-25 academic year, particularly given the recent inflationary pressures forcing most schools to increase tuition for the upcoming school year.
We look forward to continuing to work with the Biden Administration and Congressional leadership on both sides of the aisle for the continued benefit of HBCUs and their students going forward.
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About the Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation's largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member schools include the publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Community Colleges, and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending Black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs. TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit http://www.tmcf.org.
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Original text here: https://www.tmcf.org/events-media/tmcf-in-the-media/tmcf-statement-on-hbcu-investments-in-the-biden-administration/
Prevent Cancer Foundation Responds to FDA Approval of HPV Self-Collection Screening
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, May 18 -- The Prevent Cancer Foundation issued the following news release on May 17, 2024:
This week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection screening. Previously, HPV testing could be performed only by a health care provider, but now people will be able to collect their own samples in a private room at their provider's office or other health care facility (similar to how you would collect your own urine sample, only this is with a vaginal swab).
The Prevent Cancer Foundation(R) is optimistic about increased access and
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ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, May 18 -- The Prevent Cancer Foundation issued the following news release on May 17, 2024:
This week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection screening. Previously, HPV testing could be performed only by a health care provider, but now people will be able to collect their own samples in a private room at their provider's office or other health care facility (similar to how you would collect your own urine sample, only this is with a vaginal swab).
The Prevent Cancer Foundation(R) is optimistic about increased access anda new option for early detection of HPV. Since this test can be done at urgent care clinics, doctors' offices and pharmacies, it may eliminate some barriers to getting this vital screening. Those in medically underserved areas may no longer need to travel long distances to get screened, and those avoiding a screening due to discomfort with the procedure could now opt to collect their own sample for testing.
HPV screening is paramount to preventing cancer. The virus causes more than 90% of cervical cancer cases, but by detecting and treating HPV, you can stop cervical cancer before it starts. By increasing access to HPV testing, we can prevent more cancers and save lives.
HPV self-sampling in a health care setting is also the first step toward making at-home testing available, which would further increase access. In the Prevent Cancer Foundation's 2024 Early Detection Survey, 26% of women who are behind on their routine cervical cancer screening said that they would prioritize their screening if an at-home test option were available--and 24% said they would prioritize it if there were a different or less invasive test or screening. This self-sampling indicates major progress in making those options a reality for women and people with a cervix in the U.S.
This screening option does not replace the need for your annual primary care and gynecologist visits, where other important health care conversations and checks take place.
To protect yourself from HPV and reduce your risk of cancer, you should get vaccinated against the virus. HPV vaccination is recommended for all young people beginning at age 9 and up to age 26. (If you are age 27-45, HPV vaccination is FDA-approved. Talk to your health care provider to see if it makes sense for you.)
HPV is also linked to at least five other types of cancer including vulvar, vaginal, penile and anal cancers, as well as oropharyngeal cancer, a cancer of the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils.
In addition to HPV testing, Pap tests are available to screen for cervical cancer. With routine screening, you can find precancerous cervical cells (which can later be removed) before they become cancer or you can detect cancer early, which can lead to better outcomes.
If you are of average risk, follow these screening guidelines:
* Ages 21-29: Have a Pap test every 3 years.
* Ages 30-65: Have any of these options:
* A Pap test alone every 3 years.
* A high-risk HPV test alone every 5 years.
* A high-risk HPV test with a Pap test (co-testing) every 5 years.
If you are at increased risk for cervical cancer because of a suppressed immune system (for example, from HIV infection, organ or stem-cell transplant or long-term steroid use), because you were exposed to DES in utero or because you have had cervical cancer or certain precancerous conditions, you may need to be screened more often. Follow the recommendations of your health care provider.
After age 65, talk with your health care provider about whether you still need to be screened.
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Original text here: https://www.preventcancer.org/2024/05/prevent-cancer-foundation-responds-fda-approval-hpv-self-collection/
Pearl S. Buck International: Dedicated to Serving Multicultural Families, Children in Korea
PERKASIE, Pennsylvania, May 18 -- The Pearl S. Buck International, an organization that says it bridges cultures and changes lives through humanitarian aid, intercultural education and historical tours of the Pearl S. Buck House, a National Historic Landmark museum, issued the following news on May 17, 2024:
According to the data and materials released by the Korean government, as of 2021, there are 385,000 multicultural households in Korean society, which account for 1.8% of all households. As the settlement of multicultural families has grown, the number of children from multicultural families
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PERKASIE, Pennsylvania, May 18 -- The Pearl S. Buck International, an organization that says it bridges cultures and changes lives through humanitarian aid, intercultural education and historical tours of the Pearl S. Buck House, a National Historic Landmark museum, issued the following news on May 17, 2024:
According to the data and materials released by the Korean government, as of 2021, there are 385,000 multicultural households in Korean society, which account for 1.8% of all households. As the settlement of multicultural families has grown, the number of children from multicultural familiesaged 7 to 18 is fast growing as well.
Pearl S. Buck Foundation Korea (PSBFK) continues to carry out various support projects such as educational support for multicultural children and adolescents and livelihood support for vulnerable multicultural families (single parent families, families with disabilities, families suffering from disease, etc.). PSBFK also provides multicultural understanding education to help enhance awareness about the families they serve. PSBFK has implemented several projects to help support the multicultural families of Korea, including a kiosk donation campaign in the Samsung employee dining hall. The funds from this project provide medical support for a multicultural adolescent suffering from a rare and incurable disease as well as livelihood support for his single mother.
PSBFK's most successful project of the past year was "Science Magic," a creative science support project for the education and care of the children of multicultural families. 30 children from underprivileged multicultural families participated in 'Science Magic,' receiving four types of "science magic" teaching aids. They also participated in six contactless science programs. Consequently, the children were able to spend their leisure time after school engaged in these activities instead of spending that time alone; in particular, they were able to spend their time usefully instead of sitting on their mobile phones or watching television.
Other projects implemented by Pearl S. Buck Foundation Korea supported the health, educational, livelihood, nutritional, and psycho-social needs of their constituents, including an after-school program for teenagers, creative science support, multicultural festivals, mask donations, meal support for children of multicultural families, a Pearl S. Buck 130th birthday celebration, legal advice for multicultural families, and learning support for multicultural family communication improvement.
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Original text here: https://pearlsbuck.org/dedicated-to-serving-multicultural-families-and-children-in-korea/
David Suzuki Foundation: Ontario's Caribou Report "Death by Process"
TORONTO, Canada, May 18 (TNSres) -- The David Suzuki Foundation issued the following news release on May 16, 2024:
TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE MISSISSAUGAS OF THE CREDIT, ANISHNABEG, CHIPPEWA, HAUDENSOAUNEE AND WENDAT PEOPLES -- Today, the federal and Ontario governments released a progress report on caribou recovery in the province.
This follows on the heels of federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault's assessment that the province wasn't effectively protecting caribou habitat and the April 2024 deadline given to the province to align its policy with recovery measures outlined in the
... Show Full Article
TORONTO, Canada, May 18 (TNSres) -- The David Suzuki Foundation issued the following news release on May 16, 2024:
TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE MISSISSAUGAS OF THE CREDIT, ANISHNABEG, CHIPPEWA, HAUDENSOAUNEE AND WENDAT PEOPLES -- Today, the federal and Ontario governments released a progress report on caribou recovery in the province.
This follows on the heels of federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault's assessment that the province wasn't effectively protecting caribou habitat and the April 2024 deadline given to the province to align its policy with recovery measures outlined in thefederal caribou recovery strategy.
Commenting on the findings, Rachel Plotkin, Boreal Project Manager with the David Suzuki Foundation, said:
"The fed-provincial report is an example of death by process. Caribou are one of the most studied animals in Canada, and the science that details what they need to recover has been available since 2008. Reporting that 'Progress has been made on designing an approach to develop a Boreal Caribou science plan' is absurd, as we know what caribou need: on-the-ground habitat protection and restoration, steps neither of which have been taken by the province. In terms of forest management, there's no way that Ontario's caribou recovery measures can be said to meet federal Species at Risk Act conditions until Ontario puts limits on the extent of the forestry footprint within caribou ranges. The province's solutions must match the scale of this long-standing ecological crisis."
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Notes to editors:
* Environment and Climate Change Canada identified that a minimum threshold of 65 per cent of undisturbed boreal caribou range is needed for local populations to have a 60 per cent chance to be self-sustaining.
* The federal government mandated that Ontario illustrate how its caribou recovery policy measures are equivalent to those under the Species at Risk Act.
* A recent federal progress report on implementation of the federal boreal caribou recovery strategy found (page 83) that Ontario:
* Has developed an "alternative approach" to range planning that is described as policies from 2009 and 2014 that "support" the implementation of a range management approach -- even if they do not achieve it.
* Does not set a goal to maintain or achieve an explicit, range-scale minimum threshold of undisturbed habitat.
* Does not include habitat-restoration strategies.
* Does not include range-level projected disturbance levels (i.e., if/how undisturbed habitat will be maintained).
* Ontario received an "F" in the 2023 Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society report card that evaluated provincial protected areas efforts.
* The forest industry is exempt from the prohibitions against the destruction of caribou habitat under Ontario's Endangered Species Act.
* Science that details the relationship between habitat disturbance and calf survival, which can be used to facilitate recovery, has been available since 2008.
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REPORT: https://wildlife-species.az.ec.gc.ca/species-risk-registry/virtual_sara/files//Sa-BorealCaribouBoreale-v00-2024Ma-eng.pdf
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Original text here: https://davidsuzuki.org/press/ontarios-caribou-report-death-by-process/
Chula Vista Community Foundation Grants $63,800 at Annual Grant Awards Celebration
SAN DIEGO, California, May 18 -- The Chula Vista Community Foundation, a regional affiliate of the San Diego Foundation, issued the following news release:
On Thursday, May 16, Chula Vista Community Foundation (CVCF), an affiliate of San Diego Foundation (SDF), held its Annual Grant Awards Celebration and awarded $63,800 to three local nonprofits that provide programs that address the need for education projects supporting science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM), technical training, small business assistance, and increased access and resources for those facing barriers.
"We
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SAN DIEGO, California, May 18 -- The Chula Vista Community Foundation, a regional affiliate of the San Diego Foundation, issued the following news release:
On Thursday, May 16, Chula Vista Community Foundation (CVCF), an affiliate of San Diego Foundation (SDF), held its Annual Grant Awards Celebration and awarded $63,800 to three local nonprofits that provide programs that address the need for education projects supporting science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM), technical training, small business assistance, and increased access and resources for those facing barriers.
"Wewere overwhelmed by the response to this year's grant cycle. More than 70 different nonprofits serving Chula Vista applied, showing the need for support for educational programs in Chula Vista," said Lisa Johnson, CVCF Board Chair. "We are very excited by the projects being awarded, which will provide services for entrepreneurs, elementary STEAM education and healthcare workforce preparedness."
Since 2011, CVCF has granted more than $745,000 to over 40 nonprofit programs that strengthen the quality of life for all who live, work and enjoy Chula Vista.
The list of 2024-2025 grantees includes:
* Accessity - $10,000 for Technical Assistance for Chula Vista Small Businesses. Accessity will connect Chula Vista small business owners with the training and technical assistance they need to start or grow their businesses, support their families and create jobs in the community.
* Generation STEAM - $20,000 for Life Science Station, which provides free access to high-quality education and career opportunities. LSS levels the playing field for 4,000 Chula Vista Elementary School District students who may not otherwise have had access to these opportunities.
* Southwest Sports Wellness Foundation - $33,800 for their Healthcare Boost Camp. This program offers training and access to students who are interested in sports medicine and related healthcare fields, especially those students who face societal barriers and inequities.
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About Chula Vista Community Foundation & the Regional Affiliate Program
The Regional Affiliate program, including the Chula Vista Community Foundation, was established by San Diego Foundation to create a regional network of affiliate foundations by leveraging local leadership, building endowments, increasing impactful philanthropy and promoting civic engagement. Affiliates reside in Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Escondido, Oceanside, Ramona and Rancho Bernardo. The Regional Affiliate program has exceeded 1,000 members, established endowments of more than $5 million overall, and granted more than $9 million in total to nonprofit organizations throughout the region.
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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. For more than 49 years, SDF and its donors have granted more than $1.8 billion to support nonprofit organizations strengthening our community. Learn more at SDFoundation.org.
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Original text here: https://www.sdfoundation.org/news-events/sdf-news/chula-vista-community-foundation-grants-63800-at-annual-grant-awards-celebration/
COPD Foundation Honors Impact of Gerard Turino, M.D.
MIAMI, Florida, May 18 -- The COPD Foundation issued the following news release on May 16, 2024:
The COPD Foundation is proud to honor Gerard Turino, M.D., an innovative leader in pulmonary medicine and research, as he celebrates his 100th birthday today, May 16, 2024.
Dr. Turino's career has spanned 72 years and counting, as he still has an appointment as an attending physician at Mount Sinai West Hospital and Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital in New York. He also has an appointment as the John H. Keating Senior Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons
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MIAMI, Florida, May 18 -- The COPD Foundation issued the following news release on May 16, 2024:
The COPD Foundation is proud to honor Gerard Turino, M.D., an innovative leader in pulmonary medicine and research, as he celebrates his 100th birthday today, May 16, 2024.
Dr. Turino's career has spanned 72 years and counting, as he still has an appointment as an attending physician at Mount Sinai West Hospital and Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital in New York. He also has an appointment as the John H. Keating Senior Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeonsin New York.
His list of achievements includes the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the COPD Conference, an awardee of the Edward Livingston Trudeau Medal for Research, Teaching and Clinical Care and the 2013 Breathing for Life Award, both from the American Thoracic Society, and the Distinguished Service Award in the Clinical Sciences from the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Dr. Turino is the founder and director of the James P. Mara Center for Lung Disease at Mount Sinai West (formerly St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital), which is dedicated to research in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, asthma and intensive care. Research supported by the James P. Mara Center has led to the development of a biomarker for COPD and a potential therapy, currently awaiting further clinical trial.
Dr. Turino also cofounded the COPD Foundation and was the first chair of the organizations Board of Directors. He helped found the American Thoracic Society Foundations Board of Directors and was an early member of the Board of Directors of the Alpha-1 Foundation.
He currently serves as a Board Member Emeritus of the COPD Foundation, in addition to roles on the COPD Foundations Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee and the Content Review and Evaluation Committee.
"Dr. Turino is one of the giants in pulmonary medicine," said Byron Thomashow, M.D., cofounder and senior medical advisor of the COPD Foundation. "His contributions to the field have been truly unique as a researcher, a clinician, a teacher and a mentor. I have had the honor of working with him for more than 40 years and have the privilege of having him as a friend. There is no one better. He leaves an indelible mark on all those he touches."
Dr. Turino's research interests include lung matrix remodeling, the mechanisms of lung matrix injury and evaluating specific protease inhibitors in the therapy of certain lung diseases. He has authored more than 200 publications during his career, which have been supported by both public and private funding.
He has partnered with many impactful colleagues in medicine, including Jerome Cantor, M.D., Dickinson W. Richards, M.D. and Alfred P. Fishman, M.D. He is quick to recognize the role of his mentors and colleagues as an integral part of his success.
"Medical science has a limitless frontier of new knowledge," Dr. Turino said. "Whatever recognition I have received for any contributions should be shared with my fine collaborators over the years."
In honor of Dr. Turino's 100th birthday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a proclamation announcing May 16, 2024 as "Gerard M. Turino, M.D. Day" in the City of New York, recognizing him as "truly a catalyst for scientific discovery" who "has repeatedly gone above and beyond in his service to mankind." The COPD Foundation is also celebrating Dr. Turino's centennial birthday by declaring May 16 "Gerard M. Turino, M.D. Day" to honor his contributions to pulmonary health.
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About the COPD Foundation
The COPD Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help millions of people live longer and healthier lives by advancing research, advocacy, and awareness to stop COPD, bronchiectasis, and NTM lung disease. The Foundation does this through scientific research, education, advocacy, and awareness to prevent disease, slow progression, and find a cure.
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Original text here: https://www.copdfoundation.org/About-Us/Press-Room/Press-Releases/Article/1947/COPD-Foundation-Honors-Impact-of-Gerard-Turino-MD.aspx
