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| Path: Main Street : NewsWeek : Archive : NewsBytes : Article |
This is an archive of CharityVillage NewsWeek. To find a word on the page,
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at their publishing date, the quick-changing nature of the web means that some
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To view other articles in the archive, use our Chronological Index.
NewsBytes: December, 2003
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
McMaster University receives unprecedented donation
December 22, 2003
Canadian businessman and philanthropist Michael G. DeGroote made history last week when he donated $105 million to McMaster University's medical school. It is the largest single cash gift ever made in Canada, topping the Moffat family's donation of $100 million to the Winnipeg Foundation two years ago. "This gift is intended to support healthcare research and education," said DeGroote. "Health and healthcare are clearly the most prominent concerns for Canadians. I am investing in new discoveries in healthcare and in the delivery of healthcare." In recognition of the donation, the medical school will now be known as the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University, the first Canadian medical school to bear the name of a benefactor. For more information, visit: dailynews.mcmaster.ca/story.cfm?id=2421.
December 22, 2003
A British Columbia Court of Appeal ruled last week that the federal government, and not the United Church, was liable for compensation payments arising from sexual abuse cases at a Vancouver Island school. The decision raises questions about whether the Canadian government alone will have to make all the compensation payments to about 12,000 Aboriginals who allege they were sexually or physically abused in residential schools.
Previous court decisions found that the church and the government should share compensation costs, prompting the government to pursue agreements with several other churches, in which compensation was to be shared on a 70-30 split. "We don't know yet what this judgment fully means and of course we'll have to wait to see if the feds or any of the plaintiffs appeal, but it certainly seems significant," said Keith Howard, a spokesperson for the B.C. Conference, United Church of Canada.
Fast Fact: Fundraisers optimistic this holiday season
December 22, 2003
The latest Philanthropic Giving Index (PGI) from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University finds that fundraisers are more optimistic about the giving climate than they were six months ago. Although 57% of survey respondents still believe that the economy is currently having a negative or very negative impact on giving, that number is down sharply from six months ago when 85% expressed the same attitude. Fundraisers at religious organizations were less optimistic than their peers, while those at educational organizations were the most optimistic about the current giving climate. The PGI also found that the most successful solicitation techniques at this time are planned giving and major gifts. The least successful techniques include telephone solicitation, e-mail, and Internet fundraising. -- Indiana University
December 22, 2003
Last week, dozens of former and current employees of JDS Uniphase presented the Ottawa Hospital with the largest gift in the history of healthcare in Ottawa. The $15 million donation was spearheaded by JDS Uniphase co-founder Jozef Straus, who is also co-chair of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation's Legacy Campaign. "This is a new type of philanthropy," said Susan Doyle, president and CEO of the foundation. "It is the first time that a group of donors has come together in this way and given so much. We are very fortunate to have a group of people who are so committed to improving healthcare in our community." The funds will go toward construction of a new critical care wing at the hospital. For more information, visit: www.ohfoundation.ca.
December 22, 2003
The ePhilanthropy Foundation launched a new online tool that it hopes will help promote high ethical standards in online fundraising and build trust among donors. The Code of Ethics Self Test is available for anyone to take online free of charge. It poses 15 simple questions that, when answered, provide an instant report identifying strengths and weaknesses in an organization's online practices. In addition to the report, the foundation's web site also offers tips, training, and best practices for improving online donor relations, fundraising, and advocacy. For more information or to take the test, visit: www.ephilanthropy.org/selftest.
December 22, 2003
A survey of charities in the United Kingdom finds that only 49% have any sort of long-term plan, while 59% of those with staff or volunteers do not have a plan that ensures they are able to meet their commitments as employers. Only 19% of charities have both a yearly and a three-to-five year plan, while 30% plan a year ahead at a time. Fourteen percent said they make plans "on an ad hoc basis", 10% respond to events "as they occur", and 24% said they see "no need for a strategic plan". The survey also found that almost 40% of charities underestimated the amount of time it would take to run the organization, while 18% were not fully prepared for the complexity of the accounting involved. -- UK Charity Commission
December 22, 2003
TD Bank Financial Group (TDBFG) employees announced a donation of $5.2 million to the United Way. Employee-driven events generated $3.4 million, which was combined with a corporate gift of $1.8 million. "This donation is a wonderful example of the ongoing generosity and community leadership that TDBFG employees demonstrate to support the United Way and many other charities across Canada each year," said Michael Foulkes, executive vice president, TDBFG and chair of the bank's Caring Together Campaign for Ontario. "We know this contribution will play a key role in helping to build stronger communities through the many important United Way service and support agencies." For more information, visit: www.td.com.
December 22, 2003
Following Alberta's lead, the Salvation Army in British Columbia is testing portable Interac machines at its Christmas kettles in Greater Vancouver so that donors will be able to give using their credit or debit cards as well as by dropping in cash. "You've got to change with the times," said provincial spokesperson Capt. John Murray. "People use so much plastic while Christmas shopping these days that they don't always have a lot of cash in their pockets." The machines are already being used on a test basis in Edmonton and Calgary and Murray says that if the Vancouver test goes well, they'll add more machines in future. For more information about the Salvation Army, visit: www.salvationarmy.ca.
December 22, 2003
Despite the fact that most people still have reservations about shopping online, Statistics Canada's annual study of household e-commerce revealed that Canadians spent more than $2.4 billion online in 2002, up 35% from $1.8 billion the year before. The number of people that shopped online also increased. About 2.8 million Canadian households ordered items via the Internet in 2002 compared with 2.2 million a year earlier. Reading material accounted for about 27% of online purchases, followed by travel at 18%. Clothing and accessories came in just under 18% and computer hardware was 14%. -- Statistics Canada
December 22, 2003
Sears Canada raised $150,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation this year through the sale of its commemorative teddy bear 'Forever Hope'. For the second year in a row, Sears partnered with Estée Lauder during the month of October to sell more than 20,000 bears in just three weeks at Sears Estée Lauder counters across Canada. The funds will be used for breast cancer research and awareness. For more information about the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, visit: www.cbcf.org.
December 15, 2003
For the first time, the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy (CCP) has compiled information about how Canadians in each province donate money to charitable and nonprofit organizations and volunteer in their communities. This latest analysis of data gathered in the 2000 National Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating (NSGVP) finds that: residents of Newfoundland and Labrador lead the country in door-to-door canvassing and volunteering by young people; New Brunswick residents give a higher percentage of their donations to faith-based causes; Saskatchewan leads the country in overall volunteer rates; and British Columbia and Quebec have the lowest rates of volunteering in the country. For more information, visit: www.givingandvolunteering.ca/formedia.asp.
December 15, 2003
There was a flurry of spontaneous giving at a recent fundraising gala in Vancouver. At this year's Crystal Ball, a benefit for the B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation, local entrepreneurs Joe Segal and Bill Sauder took the stage to announce that each was personally donating $100,000 to the foundation. They then worked their way through the room persuading others to do the same. Developer David Podmore, the incoming foundation chair, matched the donation, as did eight others. "It's hard to get people to put in money when you don't yourself," said Podmore. "The foundation is embarking on a major capital program and this was a great way to launch our new initiatives." For more information about the foundation, visit: www.bcchf.ca.
December 15, 2003
Jean Chrétien stepped down as prime minister last week, handing the reins over to Paul Martin. The new PM quickly announced his cabinet, which includes many new faces as well as a few familiar ones. David Anderson remains as the Minister of the Environment. Claudette Bradshaw retains her place as Minister of Labour and Minister responsible for Homelessness. Ethel Blondin-Andrew will stay on as Minister of State (Children and Youth), and Jean Augustine remains as Minister of State (Multiculturalism and Status of Women). Stan Kazmierczak Keyes was appointed Minister of National Revenue and Minister of State (Sport). Joseph Volpe is Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. Hélène Chalifour Scherrer is the new Minister of Canadian Heritage, and Liza Frulla is Minister of Social Development. To view the complete list of new appointments, visit: www1.pm.gc.ca/eng/new_team.asp.
December 15, 2003
The Fraser Institute's annual Generosity Index compares monetary generosity in Canada's 10 provinces and 3 territories and in the 50 US states and the District of Columbia. For the fourth consecutive year, Manitoba had the highest percentage of tax-filers donating to charity (28.7%) of any jurisdiction in Canada. Nunavut ranked last with only 11.2% of tax-filers donating to charities. In terms of average size of donations, the western provinces and Ontario dominated the top of the list. Alberta and Ontario had average donations of $1,294 and $1,189, respectively. Quebec ranked last with an average donation of $473, less than half of the national average. -- Fraser Institute
December 15, 2003
A fundraising campaign at Woodstock General Hospital in Ontario received a million-dollar boost from local businessman Bill Tatham. He and his wife Janna are the campaign's honorary co-chairs and this donation is one of the largest individual contributions to a fundraising project in the city's history. "We're extremely pleased," said campaign chair Dave MacKenzie. "They're very generous. It's really given us a boost." The hospital is almost halfway to its $10 million goal and officials hope to break ground on a new project by the spring. For more information about the Woodstock Hospital Foundation, visit: www.wgh.on.ca/found.htm.
December 15, 2003
The fourth study in the Canadian Policy Research Network's series on human resources in the nonprofit sector finds that the sector is under stress, but also highly innovative in its responses. Coping with Change: Human Resource Management in Canada's Non-profit Sector, by Kathryn McMullen and Richard Brisbois, examines the impact of changes in the external environment on both organization and human resources policies of nonprofits. "The nonprofit sector is a critical part of the delivery system Canadians rely on for their quality of life," says Ron Saunders, director of the CPRN Work Network. "That's why the sector's ability to adapt and survive is of vital public interest."
The study finds that many nonprofit organizations have a comparative advantage over other sectors in areas such as individual control over work, shared decision-making, and mutual respect and trust in the employment relationship. "These are advantages the sector would be wise to build upon," says McMullen, "since the current funding environment prevents many organizations from offering high salaries or long-term permanent jobs." For more information or to download the full report, visit: www.cprn.org/en/doc.cfm?doc=492.
December 15, 2003
The Salvation Army in Winnipeg is facing an unusual dilemma this holiday season. It has thousands of donated toys and not enough needy families coming forward to claim them. Last year, the agency gave out about 5,000 toys to children living in poverty. So far, about 3,000 toys have been distributed this season, but a couple thousand more are still up for grabs. Spokesperson Jon Einarson said the need among Winnipeg's poorest citizens likely hasn't dropped. "We just don't want people to miss out this year by not calling in time. We know they're out there. We know they need the toys." The Salvation Army toy line can be reached at (204) 989-8697.
December 15, 2003
Canadian Business magazine's fifth annual Rich 100 issue reports that the combined net worth of Canada's super-wealthy this year is $120.5 billion - up 8.5% from last year's total of $111.1 billion. Kenneth Thomson and his family once again top the list with a net worth of $21.67 billion, up from $21.48 billion last year. Grocery king Galen Weston remains in the No. 2 spot with a net worth of $9.27 billion, and Jeff Skoll, co-founder of eBay, remains Canada's richest tech entrepreneur at $4.63 billion, up from $3.47 billion last year. -- Canadian Business magazine
December 15, 2003
Thousands of Canadians across the country helped make the inaugural Rick Hansen Wheels In Motion event a success, raising more than $600,000. "The funds raised from Wheels In Motion provides us with the opportunity to help meet the needs of people living with a spinal cord injury, from the point of injury through to integration into the community," said Hansen, president and CEO of the Rick Hansen Man In Motion Foundation. Half of the funds raised will be disbursed into communities across Canada to support initiatives such as improving peer support, residential access ramps, training assistance dogs, wheelchair purchases, sports and recreation programs, accessibility to children's play park structures, transportation services, accessibility to residential homes, accessible washrooms, and more. The other half will help establish a national Spinal Cord Injury Translational Research Network. For more information, visit: www.rickhansen.com/PressRoom/News2003/QOL_funds.htm.
December 15, 2003
The Canadian Labour Congress recently published a document that highlights what it considers to be workplaces that work for working people. "As trade unionists, we advocate our vision of how the various pieces that make up a workplace should work. We do this in many different ways, with many different voices and from a range of different perspectives. A Workplace That Works represents our first attempt to bring all of these pieces together, to step back and describe, from a working person's point of view, our vision of a good Canadian workplace," says Ken Georgetti, president of the CLC. "We hope it serves as a starting point in policy debates and decision making about workplaces that value workers' rights and quality of life," he added.
The document covers familiar topics, such as wages and benefits, unionization, health and safety, and training. However, it also identifies some important emerging workplace issues - job quality, equality in the workplace, and balancing work and family. For more information or to view the full document, visit: clc-ctc.ca/web/workplace_works/en/index.html.
December 15, 2003
A former US citizen who has lived in Canada since the 1950s recently gave $750,000 to the University of Western Ontario to help encourage more studies of the complicated Canada-US relationship. "What I'm hoping for is genuine scholarship. There's so much anti-Americanism in Canada," said 79-year-old Katherine Morrison. "I trust this will make a big difference." The donation will go to UWO's Centre for American Studies in Canada to fund a new undergraduate program and support existing programs, curriculum development, and awards. The donation will allow the centre to "position itself as one of the premiere centres in Canada," said Don Abelson, a member of the centre. For more information, visit: communications.uwo.ca.
December 15, 2003
The deadline to nominate someone for Volunteer Vancouver's 2004 Volunteer Recognition Awards is fast approaching. Awards recognize and honour extraordinary individuals, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations in six categories: Leadership, Innovation, Leaders of Tomorrow, Caring Companies, and Community Service by an Individual and by a Group. The deadline for nominations is December 19. For more information or a nomination form, visit: www.volunteervancouver.ca/volunteering/awards.asp.
December 8, 2003
On December 5th, the second anniversary of the signing of An Accord Between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector, the two groups released a report on the progress that has been made toward implementation of the Accord. Taking the Accord Forward: The First Report to Canadians on Implementing An Accord Between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector highlights successes to date and identifies priorities for the future. As well, Heritage Minister Sheila Copps announced that local networks have been established in each province and territory to complement the work of national centres that were set up last year through the Canada Volunteerism Initiative (CVI) to support volunteerism. For more information or to download the report, visit: www.vsi-isbc.org/eng/relationship/accord_report/index.cfm.
December 8, 2003
The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (CCRA) is reminding donors and charities that while making in-kind donations to a charity is legitimate, there are risks associated with certain donation arrangements. These arrangements involve items sold, often in bulk, through a promoter who donates them to a registered charity which then issues a tax receipt for a considerably higher amount than was paid for the donated items. This type of donation scheme results in an income tax credit for the donor greater than the price paid, and may be disallowed by the CCRA at a later date. Charities found to be involved in these tax shelter arrangements face the possibility of civil penalties as well as the loss of their charitable status. For more information, visit: www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca.
December 8, 2003
A US study of the giving and volunteering habits among different ethnic groups found that they are more similar than different, though some differences do exist regarding whom they donate to and where they volunteer their time. Ninety percent of African-Americans report volunteering on their own and with organizations and their efforts tend to focus on poverty, minority rights, religious institutions, their neighborhoods, and tutoring. Asian-Americans are most likely to support museums, theatres, libraries, or other cultural and arts organizations. Hispanic people volunteer the most hours per month (22 hours). Non-Hispanic Whites are more likely to volunteer than the other groups with animals (34%), the environment (36%) and public servants including firefighters, police officers, and military personnel (37%). In terms of donations, Asian-Americans have the highest rate of giving (91%), followed by non-Hispanic Whites (88%), African-Americans (85%), and Hispanics (82%). -- AARP
December 8, 2003
The Ontario government will spend $112 million to boost the literacy and math skills of low-income, single-parent, and immigrant students. "Our government will not leave kids behind just because they have extra challenges," said Education Minister Gerard Kennedy. "We're going to help them over these hurdles." Kennedy said $95 million will go towards helping students from low-income and single-parent families, as well as recent immigrants since research indicates that these factors can affect student achievement. Another $17 million is earmarked for services for students whose second language is English.
December 8, 2003
Maple Lodge Farms made a significant contribution to Canada's second largest food bank to kick off the season of giving. A full tractor-trailer arrived at Toronto's Daily Bread Food Bank last week to deliver 145,000 servings of chicken products. "This donation is so appreciated," says Susan Cox, the food bank's executive director. "It's partners like Maple Lodge Farms that assist in helping us reach our goals." Cox stressed the need for these types of donations, pointing out that 160,000 people in the Greater Toronto Area rely on food relief programs each month, almost 40% of whom are children. For more information about the Daily Bread Food Bank, visit: www.dailybread.ca.
December 8, 2003
A study by social research firm D-Code finds that young Canadians (ages 15-34) are more engaged as citizens than is commonly believed. The study looked at such things as charitable giving, volunteerism, voting, participation in political parties, activism, recreation and social participation, faith-based participation, and employment. One of the findings was that, more than their older counterparts, young Canadians want their charitable donations to count, and are more interested in supporting initiatives that tackle root causes rather than simply dealing with effects. For more information or to download the full report, visit: www.d-code.com/citizenregen.html.
December 8, 2003
In a national study of donor communications, 93% of individual donors receive newsletters from charities they support, and 77% feel that newsletters are effective in providing useful information about gifts at work. However, only 37% of corporate donors felt the same way. As well, 62% of corporate donors and 75% of individual donors feel that charities' newsletters are too long, and that they do not have the time to read them thoroughly. Regarding frequency of newsletters, 54% of corporate donors report that three or four issues of a charity's newsletter each year is too much. -- Burk & Associates
December 8, 2003
According to a report from CTV News, a federal program designed to help families care for gravely ill loved-ones is set to begin early in the new year. "It is an income support that will allow someone to make a decision that perhaps they haven't been able to make in the past; to leave work and, for a period of time, care for a dying family member," said Jane Stewart, federal human resources minister. The compassionate-care program, originally announced in last February's federal budget, is expected to begin January 4, 2004. It provides up to six weeks of paid compassionate leave to those caring for a gravely ill child, parent or spouse. To qualify, applicants must provide a medical certificate stating the family member is at risk of dying within six months. CTV reported that early estimates indicate 270,000 Canadians will apply to the program at an estimated cost of $340 million a year. For more information about compassionate care benefits, visit: www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ae-ei/menu/faq/compassionate_care.shtml.
December 8, 2003
CBC Television is producing a new dramatic mini-series that will air in January. Human Cargo is a six-part drama that takes an unflinching look at the world of refugees and tells six different stories that intertwine across the globe, from war-torn nations to courtrooms to boardrooms. It aims to put a human face to news headlines about the worldwide refugee crisis, the devastating impact of civil war, and corporate investment in third world countries. The series debuts on CBC Television on January 4. For more information, visit: www.cbc.ca/humancargo.
December 8, 2003
A study of average citizens around the world revealed that North American consumers represent the most socially demanding market for companies. In the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as Great Britain, there is a high expectation that companies will be socially responsible. Companies can expect modest demands to be socially responsible in Asia, Turkey, Brazil, and most European countries. India, Russia, and Nigeria reported the least demand that companies be socially responsible. -- Environics International
December 8, 2003
Hundreds of children and families in Montreal and throughout Quebec will benefit from the success of the Valero Texas Open and Valero's Benefit for Children Golf Classic, two golf tournaments sponsored by Valero Energy Corporation, the parent company of Ultramar Ltd. Ultramar announced that it will donate $92,400 from the proceeds of the two tournaments to ten organizations in the province of Quebec that focus on improving local children's lives. This year's grant recipients include the Fondation Canadienne Rêves d'enfants (The Children's Wish Foundation), Club des Petits Déjeuners du Québec, La Fondation Georgette-Lavallée, La Fondation Maurice Tanguay, La Jonction Pour Elle, Leucan, Opération Enfants Soleil, Prévention de la Violence Faite Aux Enfants, Fondation de l'Hôpital Sainte-Justine and The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation. For more information, visit: www.ultramar.ca.
December 8, 2003
Maurice Strong, a long-time champion of the environment, was recently presented with a prestigious U.S. award. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences announced that Strong, 74, will receive this year's Public Welfare Medal. The medal has been awarded annually since 1914 to people who best use science to advance public welfare. Strong, a self-made millionaire and world diplomat who was born in Oak Lake, Manitoba, is a primary force behind the Kyoto Protocol and has served as undersecretary general of the United Nations since 1985. In 1972, Strong was chief organizer and secretary general of the UN Conference on the Environment in Stockholm and organized the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
December 1, 2003
Blockbuster Canada announced a donation of $500,000 to the Children's Miracle Network (CMN). The money will be used to purchase specialized equipment, as well as fund research into all childhood illnesses and diseases. "Blockbuster is extremely proud of this donation and would like to thank our customers for helping us make a difference in the communities in which we live and serve," said David Stewart, president of Blockbuster Canada. The company held several fundraisers throughout 2003 in support of CMN and this latest donation is the largest Blockbuster has made since becoming a CMN sponsor in 2001. For more information about the Children's Miracle Network, visit: www.cmncan.ca.
December 1, 2003
The 2003 Peter F. Drucker Award for Canadian Nonprofit Innovation was recently presented to a London, Ontario company that integrates a business mandate with a social mission. Pivotal Services received a cash prize of $20,000 for developing a new business concept that measures success not only by the viability of a company, but also by its ability to assist employees in stabilizing their lives to achieve sustainable employment. STUFF Canada received this year's Honourable Mention for their innovation in providing the greater Toronto area with access to sources of surplus goods and services that are of benefit to those in need. For more information, visit: www.innovation-award.ca/winner_2003.html.
December 1, 2003
A new study finds that the gap between rich and poor grew considerably in the last decade. In Toronto, Canada's largest city, the poorest households saw their average income drop by 29.5% between 1992 and 1998, while Toronto's wealthiest households saw their average income rise by an average of 4.9%. The poorest 10% of Toronto families had an average income of $9,600 in 2000 and the top 10% took home an average $261,000, according to the report. In smaller cities, such as Saskatoon, the lowest income bracket fell by 7.25% between 1992 and 1998, while the top end of the income scale saw a net gain of more than 7%. In Calgary, total family income among the poorest dropped by almost 7% between 1992 and 1998, while the top end of the scale saw a gain of just under 13%. -- Federation of Canadian Municipalities
December 1, 2003
The Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program recognizes graduating high school students and Quebec junior college students who have achieved academic excellence and have distinguished themselves in environmental community service, and extracurricular and volunteer activities. The scholarships are offered to students entering their first year of post-secondary studies in any chosen discipline. Fifteen awards of $5,000 each will be distributed across Canada to be applied directly towards tuition, books, room and board (where applicable), or other educational expenses in the first year of post-secondary full-time studies in Canada. Applications must be postmarked no later than February 27, 2004. For more information or an application form, visit: www.earthday.ca/scholarship or e-mail scholarship@earthday.ca.
December 1, 2003
According to the most recent statistics, more than one million children live below the poverty line in Canada. A new report from Campaign 2000 finds that more than half of those children have parents who are in the paid labour force. "The good news is that economic growth and investments in child benefits are beginning to pay off - the rate of child poverty fell to 15.6% in 2001 from 16.4% in 2000," says Laurel Rothman, national coordinator of Campaign 2000. "But the bad news is that the underlying causes of child poverty persisted during prosperous times: a job is no longer a guaranteed escape from poverty and Canada's income security system fails to protect families from the vagaries of the economic cycle."
Campaign 2000 is calling for an enhanced Child Tax Benefit; a federal and provincial commission to improve the availability of good jobs with living wages; a cross-Canada system of Early Childhood Education and Care services; and a strategy to significantly increase affordable housing. For more information or to download the full report, visit: www.campaign2000.ca/media/index.html.
December 1, 2003
Canadian Heritage has produced a new, user-friendly resource that can help organizations become more bilingual. Making Your Organization Bilingual offers tools and strategies aimed at volunteer, private, and public organizations that want to foster a new bilingual corporate culture, as well as at those who hope to gradually improve the services that they already offer in the two languages. For more information, visit: www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/guide or call (819) 994-2224 to order a copy of the guide.
December 1, 2003
The International Grantmaking Update, published by the Foundation Center, reveals that international giving by foundations increased 131% between 1998 and 2001. Health programs received the largest share of dollars, mainly because of huge grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. From 1998 to 2001, international dollars to health more than quadrupled to $715 million. Overall, funding to international-based groups saw an increase of $771 million, an 80% jump, while support for US-based organizations more than doubled to $1.7 billion. -- Foundation Center
December 1, 2003
For the second year in a row, Irving Oil is offering support to families in Atlantic Canada who have children in the hospital. Through its Fuel the Care program, $75,000 was donated to help families traveling to the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, NS, and the Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation Centre in St. John's, NL. "Having a sick or chronically ill child is very devastating for a family," said Pauline Anthony, a social worker at Janeway. "This program has helped to eliminate some of the stress and financial worry of having a child who requires long-term hospitalization or frequent follow up." Families benefiting from the Fuel the Care program receive Irving gift certificates, redeemable for gasoline, snack and grocery items at all Irving Mainway and Irving Big Stop locations. For more information, visit: www.irvingoilco.com/media_releases/ftc_atlantic.htm.
December 1, 2003
Last week, the British government announced that it will publish a draft bill to reform Britain's 400-year-old charity law. Reform will centre on a new legal definition of charity, based on a requirement to work for the 'public benefit'. "I believe that a diverse and vibrant charitable sector is essential for the health of our democracy," said the home secretary, David Blunkett. "The draft charities bill would reform the framework in which charities operate enabling them to thrive, grow and realize their full potential." The measures will for the first time open up charitable status to human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, and to amateur sports clubs. The bill will also require larger charities to provide more public information about their effectiveness, performance, and finances.
December 1, 2003
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, approximately 25 million people die annually from hunger. The number of chronically hungry people around the world rose to 842 million in 2000, an increase of 18 million. In developing countries there are currently about 800 million undernourished people and this number is climbing at a rate of almost five million a year. Nineteen countries, including China, Vietnam, and Thailand, succeeded in reducing the number of undernourished throughout the 1990s. Afghanistan, Congo, Burundi, North Korea, Somalia, Tanzania, Guatemala, Liberia, and Sierra Leone were among the 26 countries where hunger increased. -- United Nations
December 1, 2003
Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is inviting proposals for its COL-PROTEIN (Poverty Reduction Outcomes Through Education Innovations and Networks) program. COL welcomes proposals from qualified applicants in developing Commonwealth countries who want to adopt open, distance, and technology-mediated learning to help alleviate rural poverty. These initiatives should build capacity in the areas of food security, environmental protection, or rural development. The deadline for applications is December 15. For more information, visit: www.col.org/protein.
December 1, 2003
Ronald McDonald Children's Charities recently announced its official name change to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada (RMHC), reflecting the charity's renewed focus on the twelve Canadian Ronald McDonald Houses. The charity also announced that its grant total for the year was more than $2 million. "Ronald McDonald Houses play such an important role in communities across the country," explained Rem Langan, RMHC CEO and president. "Although we will maintain our steadfast commitment to supporting local charities across the country, the Houses are the cornerstone of our organization. This name change reflects our renewed commitment to providing them with the most support we possibly can." For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities, visit: www.rmcc.ca.
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