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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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To view other articles in the archive, use our Chronological Index.
NewsBytes: April, 2005
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Couple presents University of Alberta with $37-million art collection
April 25, 2005
Edmonton philanthropists Sandy and Cecile Mactaggart donated a $37-million Chinese art collection to the University of Alberta last week. It is the largest donation by any individual in the university's history. According to U of A president Rod Fraser, the collection will serve as a catalyst for the building of a world-renowned centre for the study of Chinese culture and history. "We will build something that serves as a beacon to our world," he said, adding that the value of the collection will be matched by the provincial government for the centre's creation. For more information about the University of Alberta, visit: www.ualberta.ca.
April 25, 2005
The Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) recently held its Have a Heart for Sick Kids Radiothon, raising a record $3.2 million to benefit the hospital. "With the help of Gary Slaight and Standard Radio, the people of Toronto were able to show not only their generous support, but their dedication to Sick Kids," said Michael O'Mahoney, president of Sick Kids Foundation. "Although this is a record amount, it is still just a small portion of the money we need to raise each year to ensure that Sick Kids is able to continue to operate as a world leader in child health." The money raised through the radiothon will go to the highest priority needs at Sick Kids hospital and research institute. For more information, visit: www.sickkids.ca.
Fast Fact: Volunteers not looking for recognition
April 25, 2005
A recent poll reveals that only 7% of Canadian volunteers feel being publicly honored for volunteering is very important. The majority (62%) say that volunteering time to support a cause that matters to them is very important, while 50% said it was important for them to volunteer with an organization that helped a family member or someone they knew. Three-quarters (77%) of volunteers say they will spend about the same amount of time volunteering this year as they did last year. Among those who volunteer, fundraising (36%) and organizing events or activities (35%) are the most common roles. -- Investors Group
April 25, 2005
Hamilton Health Sciences recently announced a gift of $2.5 million from Hamilton-based steel manufacturer Dofasco. The funds will go to the Cornerstone of Care fundraising campaign, which will support redevelopment projects at the hospital. So far, the campaign has raised $70 million of its $100 million goal. "Our redeveloped hospitals will touch the lives of thousands of people annually," said Murray Martin, president and CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences. "This renewal will also help us to advance health care through education and research and contribute significantly to the training of our future health care professionals." Dofasco's contribution is part of more than $8 million in capital gifts it plans to distribute to cornerstone organizations in 2005. For more information, visit: www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca.
April 25, 2005
A Texan couple came forward last week with a $5 million donation to assist with the construction of the Health Care Learning Centre (HCLC) at Grant MacEwan College. The gift from Bill and Mary Jo Robbins is the largest single private donation in the college's history. "We are pleased to be able to participate in meeting the need for access to health care professions in the province of Alberta," said Bill Robbins, who has business operations in the province. "Grant MacEwan College is a leader in health care education in fields such as nursing and hopefully this will enable the college to expand its work." The Robbins' donation brings the total raised by the college for the HCLC to $11.8 million. For more information, visit: www.macewan.ca.
April 25, 2005
As of December 2004 there were 80,914 registered charities in Canada, 32,602 (40%) of which fell into the category of religion. The remainder included: welfare organizations (15,932), organizations working to benefit the community (13,685), education-related organizations (13,121), and those working in health (5,574). The bulk of registered charities (72,414) are classified as charitable organizations. Public foundations account for 4,479 of registered charities, and the rest (4,021) are private foundations. Among foundations, 40% work in the area of welfare, 17% in education, 16% for community benefit, 14% in health, and 10% in religion. -- Canada Revenue Agency
April 25, 2005
Status of Women Canada is accepting nominations for the 26th annual Governor General's Awards in Commemoration of the Persons Case. The awards were created in 1979 to honour the 50th anniversary of the "Persons Case" and the "Famous Five" Alberta women whose determination led to a landmark victory in the struggle of Canadian women for equality. The awards honour outstanding contributions that have promoted the equality of girls and women in Canada, demonstrated by leadership and excellence in any field, in either a paid or unpaid capacity. Five awards in addition to one Youth Award will be presented to candidates chosen from across Canada. To be eligible for nomination, candidates must be Canadian citizens and over 25 years of age or 15-25 years of age for the Youth Award. The deadline for nominations is June 30th. For more information, visit: www.swc-cfc.gc.ca.
April 25, 2005
Dr. Michael Dan, president of Toronto-based Regulus Investments Inc., announced a $1 million donation to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Slated to open on July 1, 2008, the museum will be a centre of learning and history where Canadians and visitors from around the world can engage in dialogue about human rights and take actions to combat the forces of hate and oppression. "I am honoured to join a project that will significantly enhance Canada's national identity," said Dr. Dan. "We need to understand our past before we can move forward into a better future and this museum will challenge and enlighten us all." For more information about the museum, visit: www.canadianmuseumforhumanrights.com.
April 25, 2005
Donors gave a record-breaking $210 million to community foundations across Canada in 2004, pushing the total assets of Canadian community foundations over the $2 billion mark. In 1992 there were 28 community foundations in Canada with assets of $500 million. They distributed $29 million in grants that year. Last year, there were 146 community foundations managing $2 billion in assets and distributing $95 million to thousands of charities nationwide. -- Community Foundations of Canada
April 25, 2005
A 10-year partnership worth $7.5 million will make TELUS a presenting sponsor of the Montreal Science Centre and a principal sponsor of the Old Port of Montreal. "The investment we are announcing supports the curiosity of the leaders of tomorrow, the youth who will become engineers, artists or entrepreneurs," said Hugues St-Pierre, president and CEO of TELUS Quebec. "The mission of the Montreal Science Centre is to help visitors of all ages learn about science and technology. This is a perfect example of our commitment to make the future friendly for children and we're very excited that this partnership can help us deliver on that promise. As well, TELUS is proud to be part of some Old Port of Montreal activities to the benefit of the community." For more information, visit: www.centredessciencesdemontreal.com.
April 25, 2005
The You Can Make a Difference scholarship program is seeking entries from high school students who want to use technology to benefit a charity. Students have until April 30th to submit proposals for software projects that will assist a charity of their choice. All applicants will receive a free copy of Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Academic Edition, and ten students (five females, five males) will be chosen to make their project idea a reality. Each of the ten selected finalists will receive a US$5,000 grant and mentorship from Microsoft to help them turn their project ideas into a working software solution for the charity. The deadline for proposals is April 30th. For more information, visit: www.thespoke.net/ycmd/.
April 18, 2005
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is revising the Registered Charity Information Return, form T3010A, for fiscal periods that begin after March 22, 2004, and will mail this new form to registered charities in May 2005. The new form is the result of proposed legislative amendments to the Income Tax Act affecting the annual minimum expenditure requirements for registered charities (i.e., the disbursement quota). Registered charities that are filing a tax return for a fiscal period that begins after March 22, 2004 are required to use the new T3010A (05) form. However, some charities will be affected by this change earlier than the date on which the form will be ready for use. In these circumstances, the CRA will allow affected charities additional time to prepare and file the new return. For more information, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
April 18, 2005
As Canadians celebrate the 25th anniversary of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope, the federal government is also showing its commitment to the fight against cancer. Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh announced a donation of $10 million to the Terry Fox Foundation, which was established by Fox to raise money to find a cure for cancer. "Health research is key to long-term solutions in the fight against cancer, both in Canada and internationally," Dosanjh said. "The government of Canada is committed to supporting research on this important health issue and providing care, treatment and support." For more information about the Terry Fox Foundation, visit: www.terryfoxrun.org.
April 18, 2005
The fifth annual Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Compensation and Benefits Study reveals that the median Canadian salary for fundraisers in 2004 was C$60,000, the same as reported in the 2003 survey. The salary for the top 25% of Canadian fundraisers was C$80,000 or more. Those in the bottom 25% earned C$48,000 or less. Among US fundraisers, the median salary was US$72,050, down 10.7% from the 2003 survey. The top 25% of US fundraisers reported a salary of US$98,360 or more. The bottom 25% reported salaries of US$55,375 or less. The highest average salaries for the top five organizational types in Canada were:The survey also found that the gender gap is narrowing in both the US and Canada, but men continue to earn more that women in both countries. In Canada, men earned C$77,117 on average, and women earned C$61,283. In the United States, men earned an average of US$85,879, while women earned US$73,295. -- Association of Fundraising Professionals
- Consulting agency: C$81,842
- Education: C$71,695
- Health services: C$68,519
- Arts/cultural: C$57,847
- Social services: C$50,655
April 18, 2005
Strategic Leverage Partners Inc. and the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development are seeking input that will form the base of a national study of board governance practices in the Canadian nonprofit and voluntary sector. The results of the survey will be shared with organizations across the country in order to assist nonprofit boards in becoming more effective in their governance roles. The objectives of the study include: developing a current snapshot of the context in which voluntary organizations in Canada are working, with a focus on the implications for board governance; determining the current state of nonprofit board governance in Canada; identifying best practices in board governance; and determining the best way to measure the accountability of nonprofit organizations and the boards that govern them. If you serve on a nonprofit board of directors or work in an organization with a board of directors, you are invited to complete the 30-minute survey, which will be available online until May 11. English version: www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=83927925275. French version: www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=64565929861.
April 18, 2005
The Alberta-based Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) received a $1 million commitment from Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and the Small Explorers and Producers Association of Canada (SEPAC). The gift will be dedicated to the STARS Emergency Link Centre (ELC) Site Registration Program to help improve communications to remote locations. "This specialized registration service, available throughout Alberta and surrounding provinces, is an important safety tool. In the event of an accident, emergency services can be dispatched and sent directly to a registered site," said STARS CEO, Dr. Greg Powell. The ELC's primary objective is to provide a 24-hour communication centre to connect emergency and medical services to isolated locations. It provides "one-call" access to a variety of services that help to reduce response times and save lives. For more information about STARS, visit: www.stars.ca.
April 18, 2005
As the practice of online fundraising reaches the ten-year mark, authors Michael Stein and John Kenyon present an update on the growing role of the Internet for nonprofits. A Decade of Online Fundraising looks at who succeeds online, and how large and small nonprofits can take advantage of Internet fundraising. The report also offers a review of the online fundraising techniques that are currently working and what the future holds. For more information or to download a copy of the report, visit: www.nonprofitquarterly.org.
April 18, 2005
A new survey finds that almost 60% of those who read direct mail solicitations from charities respond with donations or expressions of interest. This is up from 39% in 2002. Of those who respond to mailings, 32% do so via mail, 20% use the Internet, 14% visit the organization's nearest location, and 12% call the toll-free number provided in the mailing. The survey also reveals that the charity appeals that draw the greatest share of respondents include: invitations to fundraising events (50%), requests from a church (47%), direct mail (46%), and solicitations from friends or relatives (4%). The least effective solicitation techniques include: infomercials (3%), e-mail (7%), telemarketing (10%), and telethons (14%). -- Marshall Marketing and Communications
April 18, 2005
The Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada awarded more than $1.2 million to Canadian researchers to investigate the causes, cure, treatment, and prevention of prostate cancer. Grantees will focus on three distinct approaches to prostate cancer in their research: understanding the risk factors for disease progression, improving standard therapies for better cure rates, and developing better treatment for hormone-resistant cancer. "The foundation is thrilled that we can support the brightest prostate cancer researchers across this country," said president and CEO John Blanchard. "Prostate cancer is the number one cancer threat to Canadian men, and research into improving the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the disease is grossly under-funded. It requires more attention from the scientific community and the public at large, and this funding will help raise its profile and make further inroads into our understanding of prostate cancer." For more information, visit: www.prostatecancer.ca.
April 18, 2005
There is still time to submit your application for the Donner Canadian Foundation's annual Awards for Excellence in the Delivery Of Social Services. Each year $70,000 in cash awards are available to Canadian nonprofits demonstrating excellence in the delivery of nine categories of social services: alternative education, child care, counselling, crisis intervention, traditional education, prevention and treatment of substance abuse, provision of basic necessities, services for people with disabilities, and services for seniors. As well, the program's newest award, the Peter F. Drucker Award for Non-Profit Management, will be presented to an organization with a record of consistently high performance. All Donner Award applicants will automatically receive a confidential evaluation that compares their performance relative to their peers in the sector. The deadline for submissions is April 29th. For more information, visit: www.fraserinstitute.ca/donner.
April 11, 2005
The Ontario Science Centre and TELUS announced a $10.1 million, 15-year partnership that supports the Science Centre's Agents of Change campaign. The campaign will transform more than 30% of the centre's public spaces and create new outdoor experiences. The TELUS investment will also be used to support on-site school programs that currently educate more than 220,000 Ontario students annually. "We are thrilled to have TELUS as a Science Centre lead partner and we see a strong fit between our organizations," said Lesley Lewis, CEO of the Ontario Science Centre. "TELUS' outstanding contribution marks a significant milestone for the Science Centre, taking the Agents of Change campaign well over the original $40 million goal to a total of $45.6 million." For more information, visit: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca.
April 11, 2005
Last week, the Muttart Foundation named three leaders in western Canada's voluntary sector as Muttart Fellows for 2005. Fellowships have been awarded to:-Denise Morrell, senior manager of human resources, Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre, Calgary
Fellows take a sabbatical year, during which they will work on self-designed projects that are intended to be of benefit to the broader voluntary sector. They receive their full salaries and benefits, as well as an expense allowance, through a grant from the Muttart Foundation. "We want to model within the charitable sector a human resources strategy that recognizes the value of sabbaticals in giving people an opportunity to re-energize themselves and enhance their leadership capacity, and we want to help charities obtain knowledge that will assist them in serving Canadians," said Dr. Joy Calkin, president of the foundation. For more information about the Muttart Fellowships Program, visit: www.muttart.org/fellowsprogram.htm.
-David Sax, executive director, Catholic Family Services, Regina
-Patricia (Trish) Turnbull, executive director, Canadian Mental Health Association - Central Region, Red Deer
April 11, 2005
The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) is investing $1 million to help Canadian nonprofit and community organizations contribute more effectively to the economic and social development of their communities, including social and health services, community housing, tourism, and local and regional development. A team of 58 Canadian and international researchers will examine the contributions made by the social economy sector to the general economy and to regional development. "This partnership between university-based researchers and community- based, not-for-profit providers of goods and services will have benefits well beyond the results achieved by this particular project," said Marc Renaud, president of SSHRC. "Some ten thousand Canadian organizations will have at their disposal the information and tools necessary to fully contribute to the prosperity of their communities and their citizens' quality of life." For more information, visit: www.sshrc.ca.
April 11, 2005
More than 66,000 grantmaking foundations in the United States gave a total of $32.4 billion in 2004, an estimated increase of 6.9% over the previous year. Foundation assets also grew by an estimated 4% to 6%. More than half of survey respondents indicated that their giving would increase in 2005, though 25% expect to reduce their giving. The majority of survey respondents (57%) feel that calls for greater accountability and transparency are justified, with community foundations and mid-size and larger foundations most likely to agree with the public's demand for greater accountability. By comparison, 17% of respondents feel such calls are not justified, with independent foundation and smaller foundation respondents (those giving less than $1 million) more often providing this answer. Just over 26% of respondents expressed no opinion about the issue of accountability. -- Foundation Center
April 11, 2005
The Change Foundation is currently accepting Letters of Intent for its 2005 Change Initiatives Grant Program. Through this program, seed funding of up to $100,000 per grant is provided to charitable organizations in Ontario to design, implement, and evaluate change initiatives that have the potential to improve delivery of health care in Ontario and to improve the health of Ontarians. This year's grant theme is "Health System Transformation through Integration". Letters of Intent are invited in two strategy areas: enhancing organizational integration within Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), and better integration through disease management. Applicants are invited to submit a short project description focusing on the innovation, and potential impact. The deadline for receipt of Letters of Intent is May 25th. For more information, visit: www.changefoundation.com.
April 11, 2005
The Stanley Theatre received a $1.5 million donation last week from Vancouver-based Industrial Alliance Pacific Life Insurance Company. It is the largest donation ever received by The Stanley Theatre and the Arts Club Theatre Company. In recognition of the gift, the theatre will become The Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. The announcement marks the beginning of a 20-year partnership between Industrial Alliance Pacific, the Arts Club Theatre Company, and The Stanley Theatre Society. "This is a major development for our theatre company in ensuring our future," said long-time artistic managing director Bill Millerd. "A big thank you to Industrial Alliance Pacific for its belief in the power of the arts." For more information, visit: www.artsclub.com/pressroom.
April 11, 2005
The Home Depot Canada and Evergreen are calling on community groups across the country to submit applications for the new Home Depot/Evergreen Rebuilding Nature Grant Program. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to up to 30 applicants for projects such as native greenery planting, habitat maintenance, caring for community gardens containing native plants, enhancement and development of trails and boardwalks, and public education. Groups will receive a combination of funding, tools and materials, as well as volunteer and expert resources that will cover up to 50% of total project costs. Grants are available to groups working on urban environmental stewardship projects in Canadian cities and towns. Eligible groups must be community-based, and projects must be open to all participants. The deadline for applications is May 16th. For more information, visit: www.evergreen.ca.
April 11, 2005
Top students at the University of Waterloo will benefit from a $1.3 million donation from BMO Financial Group. The gift includes $824,500 to launch the BMO Financial Group Scholarship Program, which will fund university-wide entrance scholarships, as well as $300,000 for UW's School of Accountancy and $175,000 for the School of Architecture. The scholarship program will award $5,000 to top students who demonstrate a financial need and are entering university for the first time. When fully funded, the BMO Undergraduate Entrance Scholarship Fund will be one of the university's largest endowments, providing six to twelve scholarships annually. For more information, visit: newsrelease.uwaterloo.ca.
April 11, 2005
The International Volunteer Webathon, a Global Youth Service Day project, aims to increase the awareness of youth volunteerism. Youth around the world are asked to pledge volunteer hours online that they will carry out in their own communities during the following twelve months. Last year, webathon participants ranging from 11 to 44 years of age pledged 43,641 volunteer hours in 26 different countries, including Algeria, Benin, Canada, Ghana, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Scotland, and Zimbabwe. The goal of this year's webathon is to reach and motivate an even larger group of youth worldwide and surpass last year's total. Pledging begins April 15, 2005 and will end on May 15, 2005. For more information, visit: www.youthone.com/webathon.
April 11, 2005
Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) recently received a grant of $250,000 from the US-based Ford Foundation. The funds will support CFC's efforts in the areas of diversity and social justice. "As the community foundation movement spreads rapidly around the globe it is incumbent upon us, as community leaders and convenors, to ask if we can do more to address the root causes of local problems," said Monica Patten, president and CEO of CFC. "We also have to make sure that our movement reflects the increasingly diverse communities that we serve." The CFC's Social Justice Initiative explores how community foundations can play a greater role in tackling the root causes of social and economic issues, while the Diversity, Opportunity and Community Foundations Initiative is a program of training, tools, and resources to help community foundations reach out to all segments of their local population and become truly reflective of their communities. For more information, visit: www.community-fdn.ca.
April 11, 2005
The 211 community referral service announced a new pilot project in Ontario. The Ontario Aboriginal Calendar and Directory of Aboriginal Service Organizations is a project of 211Ontario.ca, funded by the Federal Youth Justice Renewal Funds. The web-based calendar and service directory are designed to help people connect with Aboriginal services, events, and organizations in Ontario. "For some time now the Aboriginal community in Ontario has had a need for a comprehensive and current directory of related services available to them throughout the province," said Stephen Paquette, a member of the Toronto Aboriginal Action Network. "I look forward to this pilot project, and I strongly believe that our participation and the outcomes will greatly benefit future generations." The calendar will be used to: promote events, such as workshops, celebrations, guest speakers; submit news items, such as program announcements, new programs, or new research; and share resources of interest to the Aboriginal community. For more information, visit: www.211ontario.ca/aboriginal/index.htm.
April 4, 2005
In response to numerous questions about donor advantages, the Canada Revenue Agency's (CRA) Charities Directorate is creating a draft policy. This will help charities address questions that arise when a donor receives advantages such as promotion or advertising as a result of making a donation. The CRA is now seeking input from charities about the types and value of advantages received by donors. In particular, they are interested in hearing comments on the value of benefits that may be considered to be nil in some cases (e.g. simple recognition or thanks). Currently, situations are considered on a case-by-case basis, but the CRA would like charities to have a better understanding of when an advantage will reduce the eligible amount of a gift. For more information or to share your views, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
April 4, 2005
Montrealers helped raise more than $1.7 million during the second annual Caring For Kids Radiothon, hosted by Standard Radio Montreal. All proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre. The money will be used to address the hospital's most urgent needs, including the purchase of medical and surgical equipment and funding for innovative research projects. The radiothon raised $500,000 more than last year and finished with the largest-ever third day total for a radiothon in Canada, making it the No. 2 radiothon in North America. For more information, visit: www.childrenfoundation.com.
April 4, 2005
A new set of tools aimed at grantmakers who fund technology and the voluntary organizations seeking this funding was recently unveiled. As one of the projects of the Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI), the Changing Technology Funding Practices Project consulted with grantmakers and grantseekers about the strategic use of technology to achieve the mission work of the voluntary sector. From those conversations, some common needs were identified and tools were developed to address those needs, such as: how to make compelling requests for technology funding, how to assess needs, how to plan upgrades, and how to determine cost-effectiveness. For more information or to access these tools, visit: www.vsi-isbc.ca.
April 4, 2005
A new survey reveals that committed giving grew by 14.7% in the UK last year, while voluntary income is growing an average of only 3.4% per year. Committed giving has been on the rise for several years, with an average growth of 17% per annum over the last five years. The increase is attributed to face-to-face recruitment, which accounted for 10% of new donors, and door drops, which provided 20%, as well as direct mail, telemarketing, and door-to-door canvassing. There was also strong growth in corporate giving, which increased by 8% last year. Legacy income growth, however, has been below 2% in three of the past five years. -- Fundratios
April 4, 2005
BC philanthropist and forestry executive Irving K. "Ike" Barber and his wife Jean C. Barber recently presented the Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon Division with a gift of $1 million. "This is truly a wonderful gift," said Barbara Kaminsky, CEO of the BC and Yukon Division. "It is the largest solicited gift from an individual in the history of the Canadian Cancer Society anywhere in Canada." In recognition of the donation, the Canadian Cancer Society has renamed the Vancouver Lodge, the Jean C. Barber Lodge to honour Mrs. Barber. "This gift from Ike and me will have lasting impact and will assure the lodge will be there for everyone who comes to Vancouver for cancer treatment today, and far into the future," said Mrs. Barber. For more information, visit: www.bc.cancer.ca.
April 4, 2005
Last week, the federal government began handing over funds to international aid groups working on tsunami relief efforts. Canadian NGOs collected more than $200 million in donations eligible for matching grants from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Of the 81 groups that applied to the matching-funds program, 27 were deemed eligible. The Red Cross qualifies for $130 million of the funding, while World Vision submitted a request for $23.5 million. Canadian aid groups will work primarily in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand, India, and the Maldives, countries where the Canadian government decided to focus its attention.
April 4, 2005
The five finalists for the 2004/2005 Donner Prize, the award for best book on Canadian public policy, were announced last week by the Donner Canadian Foundation. The five finalists are: Blockbusters and Trade Wars: Popular Culture in a Globalized World by Peter S. Grant & Chris Wood; Smoke & Mirrors: Globalized Terrorism and the Illusion of Multilateral Security by Frank P. Harvey; Two Percent Target: Canadian Monetary Policy Since 1991 by David E.W. Laidler & William B.P. Robson; Feminist Activism in the Supreme Court: Legal Mobilization and the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund by Christopher P. Manfredi; and The Hateful and the Obscene: Studies in the Limits of Free Expression by L.W. Sumner. The $35,000 Donner Prize will be awarded on April 28th and the other shortlisted titles will each receive $5,000. For more information, visit: www.donnerbookprize.com.
April 4, 2005
A US-based study finds that 22% of all permission-based e-mail was blocked by Internet service providers (ISPs) in 2004, up 3.3% from the year before. Return Path, which provides e-mail marketing and delivery services, monitored 50,000 marketing and transactional campaigns between January and December 2004. It found that blocking for each campaign varied from as low as 1% to a high of 57%. Blocking rates also depended on the ISP, with some blocking only 5% of permission-based e-mails, while others blocked as much as 36%. -- Return Path
April 4, 2005
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada (RMHC) announced that it has awarded more than $1 million to the Canadian Ronald McDonald House Programs and other children's charities across Canada. This is the first of three grant allocations that RMHC will make in 2005. The next will be in May. The RMHC grant program helps fulfill the charity's ongoing commitment to support programs that improve the quality of life for children and families of children with serious and/or life-threatening illnesses or disabilities. The next deadline for applications is August 5, 2005 for October grants. For more information on applying for a grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada, visit: www.rmhc.ca.
April 4, 2005
A landmark study released last week reveals that approximately 60% of Earth's ecosystem services are being degraded or used unsustainably. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) Synthesis Report, conducted by 1,300 experts from 95 countries, warns that the harmful consequences of this degradation could grow much worse in the next 50 years. "Any progress achieved in addressing the goals of poverty and hunger eradication, improved health, and environmental protection is unlikely to be sustained if most of the ecosystem services on which humanity relies continue to be degraded," the study stated. Experts warn that the ongoing degradation of ecosystem services, such as fresh water, capture fisheries, air and water regulation, and the regulation of regional climate, natural hazards and pests, is increasing the likelihood of potentially abrupt changes that will seriously affect human well-being. This includes the emergence of new diseases, sudden changes in water quality, creation of 'dead zones' along the coasts, the collapse of fisheries, and shifts in regional climate. For more information or to download the report, visit: www.maweb.org.
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