Fundraising, Nonprofit Management
PR Newswire | February 02, 2024
The American Camp Association® (ACA) is honored to announce that Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded ACA a $45,535,623 grant to support the creation of a new, multiyear initiative to grow, improve, and celebrate character development at camps across the United States.
Character at Camp is an innovative initiative anchored in the belief that summer and year-round camp programs provide an unparalleled opportunity to promote the character development of young people. While camps vary greatly in their mission, size, activities, programming, and location, many are run with an intrinsic focus on youth development and character-building skills and traits. ACA's recent National Camp Impact Study demonstrated that camp experiences support social connectedness among youth and the development of skills and traits such as perseverance, responsibility, and the willingness to try new things. This study also found that these skills and traits last over time. Individuals who attended camp as children demonstrate these skills and traits throughout academic environments and well into their early careers.
For more than a century, character development has been foundational to the camp experience, as each camp distinctively offers a variety of opportunities to develop important character skills and traits. Camps provide young people with experiences in less-distracting settings, often surrounded by nature, that can help support character development through social interactions with peers and counselors, time for reflection and other activities. For example, campers learn responsibility as they help set tables in the dining hall, engage in leadership when guiding groups during hikes, and practice empathy when they support fellow campers who are missing home.
In today's world, the benefits of building character skills and traits such as gratitude, kindness, creativity, curiosity, perseverance, resiliency, empathy, courage, and teamwork could not be more important.
The Character at Camp initiative will be conducted during the next six years. ACA will make available in-person and virtual training opportunities, educational tools, and other resources to camps to strengthen, expand, or establish character development programs at the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps across the US. As a direct result of this new initiative, ACA will invite camp leaders to participate in educational and peer-learning opportunities, networking, training, other experiences to learn how to help develop character skills and traits at camp. ACA will work with camp professionals, youth-development experts, and others to create new educational resources, training, and assessment tools to provide camps with opportunities to engage in this important initiative.
Starting in 2025, all eligible nonprofit camps will have the opportunity to apply for competitive one-, two-, or three-year grants to support their character development programs. Eligible organizations will be able to apply for funding in amounts ranging from $50,000 to up to $300,000 based on the length of the grant period. Funds may be used for staffing, training, curricula, assessment, communications, and/or outreach and partnership efforts to support camps' specific goals related to character development. The initiative will support a broad range of camps serving young people from varied backgrounds and experiences, including under-resourced and underrepresented youth, as well as provide funding for developing character-based programming that is culturally relevant and values the diverse perspectives of youth and families.
"We are deeply grateful for Lilly Endowment's support of ACA and our shared commitment to support camps across the country with the funding, tools, resources, and education to expand and prioritize character development programs," said Tom Rosenberg, ACA president/CEO. "This Character at Camp initiative recognizes the diverse needs of children and youth. We know camp experiences build a world of belonging and growth, and we're excited to engage camps as they work to strengthen their character development programs."
"Lilly Endowment's founders firmly believed that developing the character of young people was vital to the future of communities and our country, and they supported many efforts to understand how character is formed," said N. Clay Robbins, Lilly Endowment's chairman and CEO. "For decades, well run camps have had a positive impact on the character development of thousands of campers. We believe, with the commitment, leadership, and expertise of ACA, its Character at Camp initiative can meaningfully enhance and expand character development from a variety of perspectives and in a diverse array of young people throughout the nation."
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Fundraising, Nonprofit Management
PR News | January 30, 2024
In partnership with Thompson Child & Family Focus (Thompson), Charlotte Community Health Clinic (CCHC) announces the January 30, 2024 grand opening of the Dave Cathcart Pediatric Clinic, named after the long-serving volunteer and Board member who passed away in 2022. The clinic will offer comprehensive pediatric care, including well and sick child visits, acute care services, dental services, immunizations, and behavioral health integration.
With this new location at the Dave Cathcart Pediatric Clinic, we uphold our vision of a healthy community where all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay, have access to comprehensive, coordinated, affordable, and quality health care," said CCHC CEO Carolyn Allison.
This new CCHC location is the result of a convergence of three main factors – the people, the place, and the project funding. Initially, the introduction of CEOs led to a relationship between the two agencies who serve similar populations of youth and families receiving Medicaid or are under-insured. Then came the discussion of the existing Thompson location in Grier Heights that could accommodate the clinic space needed and fill an unmet need for pediatric care in the area. Finally, CCHC received Health Resources and Services Administration funding focused on capital projects for community health centers – the investment needed to renovate and upfit the space donated by Thompson.When CCHC approached us to collaborate – we could foresee the benefits this partnership would bring to the youth in this community. Integrating physical health care services to our main hub for community mental health services is a triple win, stated Thompson President/CEO Will Jones. "It's a win for those we serve who need physical health care, a win for CCHC's patients who need mental health care, and a win for the Thompson mission to strengthen children, families, and communities.
The Dave Cathcart Pediatric Clinic is located at 769 N. Wendover Road, Suite A, Charlotte, NC 28211.
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Nonprofit Management, Financial Management
PR Newswire | January 10, 2024
In a remarkable leap towards a community-led energy future, Energy Allies, the startup energy justice nonprofit based in Boston and New York, has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Liberty Mutual Foundation.
Renowned for actively involving and working alongside communities most impacted by climate change, Energy Allies imagines a future where every person lives in flourishing, resilient homes powered independently by clean energy. At the heart of their strategy lies the innovative Community Advisory Board (CAB), a collective of community members and organizational representatives compensated for their essential role in developing and endorsing local green energy solutions.
"In our quest for equitable access to sustainable power sources, this grant represents a significant step toward building sturdy, self-reliant communities. It enables us to expedite our community-driven initiatives while reinforcing the conviction that given opportunities, communities are best positioned to lead progress towards clean energy," says Sara Chandler, Chairperson of Energy Allies' Board of Directors.
The first CAB established in Boston ensures that community-led solar projects align with the specific needs of the locality. In partnership with PUSH Buffalo in Buffalo, NY, another CAB was formed under Energy Allies' guidance, with community leadership designing an energy project to create intergenerational wealth for those living in communities most impacted by climate change.
"Yesenia Rivera, Executive Director at Energy Allies, adds, "This funding propels us into new heights of fulfilling our mission objectives. Our approach centered around communities, exemplified by Community Advisory Boards, is pivotal in making lasting impacts. We appreciate the support that allows us to expand our efforts to build equitable clean energy solutions."
Being a significant contributor to the movement towards fair access to clean energy, Energy Allies strategically partners with community members, local organizations, and property owners. Together, they pinpoint ideal locations for green energy projects and devise programs to democratize the power system for all community dwellers.
Community-driven power represents an innovative solution addressing challenges posed by unreliable, costly, and potentially dangerous traditional grids. Energy Allies emphasizes the importance of a movement led by communities advocating for energy justice while highlighting the risk of worsening existing issues without it.
With its roots in research, Energy Allies has emerged as a leader concerning income-eligible community solar access. In collaboration with the Department of Energy, MIT, and Stanford University, this nonprofit developed 'Energy Score,' an accurate predictor of energy payments inclusive to all households. Through alliances with the Department of Energy Solar Technologies Office (SETO), it advocates policies promoting equal inclusion across all income brackets, emphasizing communities' vital role in co-designing local power.
This $100,000 funding from Liberty Mutual Foundation places an already impactful organization - 'Energy Allies', into a position where it could further amplify its contributions towards cleaner and more balanced prospects. This financial boost will kickstart community-led solar initiatives while strengthening efforts to eliminate historical disparities in access to clean energy resources.
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Fundraising, Philanthropy
PR Newswire | January 04, 2024
Colossal Management, a pioneering force in changing the landscape of fundraising through online competitions, announces the allocation of over $23 million in donation funds raised in 2023. Colossal's unique approach to fundraising benefits both charities and competitors, bringing together communities to support important causes. Through various competitions, Colossal has successfully raised substantial amounts, and the funds are now being directed toward impactful initiatives. All donations raised from associated votes cast during a Colossal competition go directly to DTCare, a 501(c)(3) charity, which subsequently grants the donations to a designated nonprofit at the end of the competition.
The following are standout examples of the impact a Colossal competition can make.
Favorite Chef
Benefiting James Beard Foundation (JBF)
Guest Appearance: Carla Hall
2023 grant amount: over $4.7 million
The grant enables JBF to:
Dedicate extra resources to advocacy around the Farm Bill, a major piece of federal legislation.
Add another WEL (Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership) cohort to their planned programming.
Produce a new series of toolkits for the virtual resource library to support culinary entrepreneurs.
Expand JBF Leadership Workshops across the country.
Develop a series of Advocacy Meetups and mini-training refreshers to bring chefs and other culinary workers together to collaborate on key advocacy issues (sustainability, farming practices, SNAP access, healthier school lunches, etc.).
Invest in a new Sustainability Certificate program that would incentivize independent restaurants to build more robust, sustainable infrastructures.
Help support chefs in residence at Platform by JBF, the new culinary performance and dining space at Pier 57 in New York City.
"We are absolutely delighted to see how Colossal competitions bring so many people together around food, and we are deeply grateful that this initiative will benefit the Foundation's efforts to champion a standard of good food anchored in talent, equity, and sustainability." –Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation
Super Mom
Benefiting Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH)
2023 donation amount: over $2.6 million
The Super Mom campaign was the largest first-year donation they've received to date, according to Frances Fu, Chief Financial and Strategy Officer of CMNH. For every $1 raised through underwriting, CMNH turns it into $8 in donations for children's hospitals to, in turn, use where they're needed most.
The grant enables CMNH to:
Help provide charitable care.
Support research & treatments.
Provide education.
Provide advancement services.
Contribute to patient services.
Improve life-saving equipment.
"The Colossal team is amazing at building online communities through their competitions that have made an unprecedented impact for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals! Their expertise and passion for fundraising and our mission are second to none." –Todd Fisher, Sr. Director of Business Development
Fab Over 40
Benefiting National Breast Cancer Foundation
Guest Appearance: Dolores Catania
2022 donation amount: over $8.2 million
The associated grant, generously presented to NBCF by Colossal's dedicated partner, DTCare, enabled the foundation to channel resources into critical programs and services, encompassing education, detection, navigation, and inspiration for individuals battling breast cancer and their loved ones.
The grant enabled NBCF to:
Navigate support for 51,047 patients.
Provide breast health education for 16,137 women.
Give 9,771 mammograms.
Make and distribute 6,745 HOPE Kits.
Provide outreach to 1,721 women through community programs.
"Colossal has helped us provide education, early detection, and support services to thousands of women affected by breast cancer over the last two years through the Fab Over 40 Competition. We are truly grateful for their generosity." –Candice Hensley, Sr. Manager of Strategic Partnerships, NBCF
Tony Hawk's Skatepark Hero
Benefiting The Skatepark Project
Guest appearance: Tony Hawk
2023 donation amount: $768,498.50
The grant enables The Skatepark Project to:
Help build new skateparks while also funding the nearly 700 public skateparks in underserved communities across all 50 states.
Increase access to outdoor recreation and free play through the creation of safe and inclusive community skateparks.
Support 'Supply the Ride,' a program dedicated to breaking down barriers and promoting accessibility by providing skateboards, helmets, and pads to youth in under-resourced communities.
Support the 'Fellowship' program, which works to guide the next generation of BIPOC skate advocates on how to create public skateparks in their own communities.
"The Skatepark Hero Competition is a celebration of the spirit and talent that drive skateboarding and will shape the future of this incredible sport!" –Tony Hawk
America's Favorite Pet
Benefiting Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
2023 grant amount: over $3.2 million
Colossal raised an impressive $3.2 million through the 2023 America's Favorite Pet (AFP) Competition and was presented the prestigious inaugural Colossal Kindness Award at PAWS' 56th annual Wild Night gala.
The grant enables PAWS to:
Extend reach to areas affected by natural disasters.
160 animals from California saved during extreme flooding.
130 animals saved from New Orleans.
Many animals rescued after the Maui fires.
Complete Snohomish Wildlife Center built on a secluded 25-acre site to rehabilitate wildlife.
Enhance PAWS' professional training programs.
Broaden its community outreach initiatives.
Create new educational programs tailored to underserved youth to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of animal welfare.
Offer low-cost spay and neuter surgeries to address the critical issue of pet overpopulation.
"This generous contribution has catalyzed PAWS' efforts to provide comprehensive care for thousands of cats and dogs. Many of these animals have been rescued from overcrowded shelters where euthanasia was imminent. Because of this generous grant, PAWS can provide safe shelter to animals like Odette, a senior dog with medical needs. Thanks to Colossal and DTCare, Odette was recently adopted into a loving home where her new family appreciates her calm nature and graying muzzle." –Heidi Wills Yamada, PAWS CEO
In 2024, Colossal continues to offer extraordinary experiences for competitors in a variety of fundraising campaigns, all in the name of charity. Past winners include the first-ever Super Mom, London Reber; the Skatepark Hero, Michael Manion; and the 2023 Favorite Chef, Karen Jenkins. Who's Next?
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