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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: September, 2006
Articles are arranged in reverse chronological order.
Seymour Schulich donates $20 million to Israeli tech institute
September 25, 2006
Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Seymour Schulich donated a landmark gift of $20 million (USD) to the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology to train scientists and scholars in the field of chemistry. In recognition of the gift, the Technion has renamed its faculty of chemistry the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry. "We are honoured that Seymour Schulich selected the Technion to make his mark in Israel," said Professor Yitzhak Apeloig, an internationally renowned chemist and president of the Technion. "The Schulich gift will propel the Schulich Faculty of Chemistry to the forefront of chemistry teaching and research in the world." For more information, visit: www.cdntech.org.
September 25, 2006
The University of Calgary recently received $2 million from Dr. Henry Fok Ying Tung, one of Hong Kong’s foremost philanthropists. The funding will go toward a new international residence at the university for students and visiting scholars. “We hope that the new International House will add an important international dimension to the University of Calgary, providing accommodation for visiting scholars and students, and giving them all an opportunity to acquire a global perspective while on campus,” said Dr. Fok. The Dr. Fok Ying Tung International House is scheduled to open in September 2008, and will provide accommodation for both international and Canadian students. For more information, visit: www.ucalgary.ca.
Fast Fact: Rural Canadians less healthy than urban counterparts
September 25, 2006
A new study released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information finds that rural Canadians are less healthy and have higher mortality rates than people living in urban areas. According to the study, the closer Canadians live to urban centres, the less likely they are to suffer from poor health and to die from circulatory and respiratory diseases, diabetes, injuries or suicide. The study also found that 57% of those living in rural areas were overweight, compared with 47% in the city. And 32% of rural residents were smokers, compared to 25% in urban centres. -- Canadian Institute for Health Information
September 25, 2006
Billionaire British businessman Richard Branson announced last week that he is committing $3 billion over the next 10 years to combat global warming. The CEO of the Virgin Group said he will hand over all profits from his airline and train business to research and develop renewable-energy initiatives. "I've got children; hopefully I'll have grandchildren. Everything I've read about the world shows we need to reinvest in new sources of fuel. I'm in a position to do something."Another well known businessman and philanthropist, George Soros, also made a big announcement last week. Soros has pledged $50 million to the New York City-based Millennium Promise to help eliminate poverty in dozens of African villages. "Most of the poverty in the world is due to bad governance," he said. "And whether the project can overcome that is a big question. If it succeeds in five of ten countries and can be scaled up, that would be a tremendous achievement."
September 25, 2006
The Toronto Rehabilitation Institute has announced that its $20,000 scholarship in rehabilitation-related research for graduate students with disabilities is now available at additional universities. Besides the University of Toronto, students at McMaster, Ryerson, Waterloo, Wilfred Laurier, and York are now eligible to apply. The scholarship committee actively works with the scholars to support their academic and research success. The scholarship also provides an educational disability expense supplement. The application deadline is May 1, 2007. For more information, visit: www.torontorehab.com/research/disabilityscholarship.htm.
September 25, 2006
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently announced four grants totaling $68.2 million to help accelerate research on neglected tropical diseases, including hookworm, leishmaniasis, and trypanosomiasis, which kill or disable millions of people in the world’s poorest countries every year. “Many of the world’s most debilitating illnesses are virtually unheard of in the rich world. But they’re a fact of life for millions of people in poor countries,” said Tachi Yamada, president of the Global Health Program at the Gates Foundation. “We hope our investment in solutions for these problems will spur other donors, governments, and researchers to take action, so that we can see the day when ‘neglected’ no longer applies to these diseases.” One of the grants will also support a new medical journal devoted to neglected diseases. For more information, visit: www.gatesfoundation.org.
September 25, 2006
If named president of their companies, 28% of senior managers said creating an employee-friendly work environment would top their to-do lists. Seventeen percent would improve communication and 15% would improve company operations/performance. However, almost a third of survey respondents (31%) said they would not change a thing. -- Robert Half Management Resources
September 25, 2006
As part of its National Initiative Program, Eva's Initiatives has launched the second season of the Award for Innovation. The purpose of the award is to recognize the work being done by organizations across Canada in assisting homeless youth. Awards of $5,000 each will go to three organizations that:The deadline for applications is November 1st. For more information, visit: www.evasinitiatives.com/innovation.htm.
- Demonstrate innovation in delivering services to homeless youth;
- Successfully use partnerships to develop, implement or operate services;
- Deliver services that help youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to achieve greater self-sufficiency and reduce their chances of experiencing homelessness in the future;
- Offer services that integrate two or more of the following: housing, education, vocational training, employment, health and addictions supports, life skills, or other interventions aimed at assisting homeless and at-risk youth to become self-sufficient.
September 18, 2006
The Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD) has published a report that looks at particular financial challenges facing government funders and the nonprofit sector. Pan-Canadian Funding Practice in Communities focuses on government funding of the voluntary sector. The report was commissioned by the Task Force on Community Investments, and includes results of interviews with provincial and federal government representatives, as well as funders in the private sector. It describes the nonprofit funding economy in Canada and the specific challenges the government faces as a nonprofit funder in achieving positive outcomes for communities. Building on evidence from the broader funding community, the report suggests new directions for federal funding policy and program design, in the context of the Canadian funding economy, that promise more effective and responsive community investment. It has been submitted to the Independent Blue Ribbon Panel advising the federal Treasury Board on guidelines for grants and contributions. To download the full report or executive summary, visit: www.ccsd.ca.
September 18, 2006
Hartley Richardson, president and CEO of James Richardson & Sons, Ltd., announced a combined gift totaling $3.5 million from the Richardson firm, family and foundation to establish the Richardson College for the Environment at the University of Winnipeg. It is the largest private gift in the university's history. “The new Richardson College for the Environment will be on the cutting edge of environmental studies and sciences, will be international in scope, and will have an interactive community educational focus,” said Richardson. The college will be a completely green ecosystem, both in its design and in its academic mandate, and will represent a leading-edge demonstration of sustainability principles and practices. For more information, visit: www.uwinnipeg.ca.
September 18, 2006
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) submitted testimony to the Standing Committee on Finance last week, calling on the federal government to eliminate the capital gains tax on gifts of land and real estate. Earlier this year, the government approved the elimination of the capital gains tax on gifts of securities to charity. “They appreciate that the same principles involved in gifts of securities also apply to other types of gifts, such as land and real estate," said Susan Mullin, chair of the AFP's Canadian Government Relations Committee. "Our education efforts, both at the national and grassroots levels, are paying off.” AFP’s latest comments, which were put forward as part of annual pre-budget consultations, also recommended the creation of a government-sponsored day to recognize philanthropy and increase public awareness of the importance of charitable giving and volunteerism. For more information, visit: www.afpnet.org.
September 18, 2006
According to a survey commissioned by the Organizational Performance Initiative at New York University, donors' confidence in charities is rebounding after it nosedived following the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001. In September 2002, 60% of Americans said that they had a great deal or a fair amount of confidence in nonprofit organizations, down from 90% in a survey conducted before the terrorist attacks. The latest survey, conducted in July 2006, finds that public confidence in charities now stands at 69%, up from 64% the year before. However, the news is not all good. Seventy-one percent of survey participants said that charities waste a great deal or a fair amount of money, up from 66% in 2005 and 60% in October 2003. As well, 44% believe nonprofit leaders are paid too much. -- New York University
September 18, 2006
A US-based consulting company, Mindshare Interactive Campaigns, recently released the results of a study examining the success of nonprofit e-mail messaging. The study of nearly 1,000 e-mail messages sent by 28 nonprofit organizations and political groups over a two-month period found that 24% of the messages did not make it to the e-mail boxes of the people who requested them. Mindshare created e-mail accounts with five popular providers - AOL, Yahoo, Hotmail, Earthlink, and Gmail - and used those addresses to subscribe to the e-mail lists of the 28 organizations in the survey. Surprisingly, researchers concluded that organizations that sent e-mail messages at regular intervals had higher delivery rates than organizations that sent messages sporadically. "If what spam filters are supposed to be doing is keeping out people you don't have a relationship with, regularity is a sign of such a relationship," said Mindshare CEO Dan Solomon. To request a copy of the report, visit: www.mindshare.net.
September 18, 2006
A star-studded charity fundraiser held in Richmond, BC last week raised almost $3 million for children in need of major organ transplants and their families, including a $250,000 contribution from the provincial government. The David Foster and Friends 2006 Charity Gala was headlined by Michael Bublé, with performances by Babyface, Clay Aiken, George Lopez and Matt Goss and a surprise performance by Olivia Newton-John. "Knowing that this night will give many children a second chance at life is what this special evening is all about," said David Foster. "I want to thank Premier Campbell for this recognition and generous contribution as our foundation marks its 20th year helping children and families." For more information, visit: www.davidfosterandfriends.com.
September 18, 2006
The Rural Alberta Development Fund recently selected ten new board members who will guide the distribution of $100 million to rural communities across the province. The official program launch is scheduled for October when the board will call for written proposals from rural communities and organizations. For more information about the Rural Development Project Fund, visit: www.rural.gov.ab.ca.
September 18, 2006
According to a report from Edmonton radio station 630CHED, a 56-year-old local woman has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $40,000 from a mental health charity. The court was told that Patricia Jean Potter, former treasurer of the Depression and Manic Depression Association of Alberta, intimidated the group's secretary, who suffers from bipolar disorder, into co-signing the cheques. As a result of Potter's theft, the nonprofit charitable organization was forced to disband.
September 18, 2006
RBC Foundation will provide more than $2 million in funding for 72 of Canada's leading after-school programs for the 2006-2007 school year. The recipients represent a diverse range of community-based organizations from across Canada, and were chosen by panels of local citizens. They include Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs, community centres, elementary schools and libraries, to name a few. Each after-school program will receive between $15,000 and $40,000 from RBC to provide a wide-range of activities including computer instruction, sports, literacy tutoring, music and art lessons, nutrition guidance, and homework help. For more information, visit: www.rbc.com.
September 18, 2006
This year's Safeway We Care charity campaign was the most successful in the program's history, raising $2.3 million for more than 200 charities across western Canada. Through the We Care program, each Canada Safeway store takes up the challenge to help a specific cause in their community and then works to raise funds for their charity of choice throughout the year. Stores are now collecting applications for charities interested in participating in the 2007 campaign. Organizations are invited to submit an application at their local Safeway store.
September 11, 2006
Margaret and Charles Juravinski announced a donation of $15 million to Hamilton Health Sciences. It is the largest single gift ever made to a healthcare organization in south central Ontario, and will support redevelopment of Henderson General Hospital, with a specific focus on enhancing the care of cancer patients. The Juravinskis have set aside $5 million of the $15 million as a challenge to the community. "We know that not everyone can make a big donation, but every little bit helps," said Charles Juravinski. "So, whether it's $1, $1,000 or $100,000, we'll match all the donations Hamilton Health Sciences receives between now and December 31, 2006 up to $5 million." For more information, visit: www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca.
September 11, 2006
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Charities Directorate is advising all registered charities with fiscal periods that ended in July and August of 2006, that there will be a delay in the mail out of information packages because of technical problems. The CRA expects mail outs to be completed by the end of September. However, if you organization is one of those affected and you do not receive your Registered Charities Information Return package by the middle of October 2006, please call 1-800-267-2384. For more information, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
September 11, 2006
An agreement was signed last week under the Canada Revenue Agency's (CRA) Charities Partnership and Outreach program that will support compliance-related education and training projects for charities in Atlantic Canada. The agreement, signed with the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS), will see charities create educational programs to support other charities in their efforts to meet their regulatory obligations. The LISNS will educate, inform and raise awareness of registered charities in the Atlantic region with respect to their legal obligations under the Income Tax Act and its regulations. "The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia is proud to have been selected to undertake this important project," said Dan MacRury, chair of the LISNS board. "The benefits will be significant for charities in the Atlantic provinces, and across the country." For more information about the Charities Partnership and Outreach Program, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
September 11, 2006
A survey conducted by Strategic Leverage Partners, in partnership with the Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development, identifies key issues facing today's nonprofit boards. Among the findings, 60% of respondents report that their organizations do not have a formal risk management policy and 65% do not have a formal crisis management plan. And although the majority of respondents (68%) said that their boards assess the skill set required to guide and monitor the organization's strategic plan and properly govern the organization, less than half (48%) conduct formal board evaluations. Finding and keeping board members is another challenge, with only 58% reporting that they have an effective recruitment process. Fifty percent of respondents said they have at least one vacancy on their board and 31% reported having difficulty filling board seats. -- Strategic Leverage Partners
September 11, 2006
Carleton University's recently created Centre for Jewish Studies and Research received a $500,000 donation from Ottawa philanthropist Max Zelikovitz. The gift was presented in memory of his wife Tessie, who passed away in 1985. "Mr. Zelikovitz's generous donation will allow the renamed Max and Tessie Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies to play a very significant role in coordinating research and teaching activities relating to Jewish religion and culture," said John Osborne, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Carleton University. Aviva Freedman, director of the Centre, hopes the Zelikovitz endowment will allow the centre to take on a greater profile at Carleton, in Ottawa, on the national scene, and on the international scene. For more information about the Centre for Jewish Studies and Research, visit: www.carleton.ca/jewishstudies/index.html.
September 11, 2006
Last week in Ottawa, the UN unveiled its 2006 State of World Population. The report, entitled A Passage to Hope: Women and International Migration, examines the scope and breadth of female migration, the impact of the funds they send home to support families and communities, and their disproportionate vulnerability to trafficking, exploitation and abuse. "This report calls on governments and individuals to recognize and value the contributions of migrant women, and promote and respect their human rights," said Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA executive director. "There is an urgent need for stronger cooperation between countries to make migration more safe and fair. And there is a dire need for greater action to address the lack of opportunities and human rights violations that lead many women to migrate in the first place." For more information, visit: www.unfpa.org.
September 11, 2006
A local women's shelter in Kincardine, Ontario received a $400,000 donation from Bruce Power last week. The funds will go toward building four second-stage housing developments in Bruce County. Casey Weichert, the executive director of the Women's House Serving Bruce and Grey said the donation - $100,000 a year for four years - will help give women another option when leaving abuse relationships. "Poverty leading to homelessness is the number one reason why women stay or return to abusive relationships," Weichert said. The second-stage housing units will provide one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units for women and their children for up to a year. For more information about the Women's House Serving Bruce and Grey, visit: www.whbc.on.ca.
September 11, 2006
The Law Foundation of Ontario has selected the first recipients of its Community Leadership in Justice Fellowship. Kimberly Murray, executive director of Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto will undertake research on Aboriginal deaths in custody in Canada and will also organize a lecture series, in affiliation with Ryerson University's School of Criminal Justice, for community activists, legal reformers and community agencies involved in Aboriginal issues. Kim Pate, executive director of the Canadian Association of Elizabeth Fry Societies will teach the program: Increasing Women's Access to Justice at the University of Ottawa. The purpose of the LFO fellowship program is to bring leaders from public interest organizations that interact with the legal system together with Ontario universities, colleges and law schools, and ultimately strengthen community-based partnerships. For more information, visit: www.lawfoundation-on.org
September 11, 2006
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has granted half a million dollars to World Vision Canada to support the organization's relief and recovery efforts in southern Lebanon. "This CIDA grant will allow us to rehabilitate damaged water sources in approximately 12 villages in southern Lebanon, and implement a potable water program that will benefit over 25,000 persons," said Dave Toycen, president of World Vision Canada. "The project will also increase our ability to meet the most immediate basic human needs as well as maintain the health, privacy and dignity of conflict-affected people." In the first 30 days of the conflict, World Vision assisted more than 40,000 people with food, non-food items, water, and medicine. It was the first non-governmental organization (NGO) to respond to the crisis. For more information or to contribute to World Vision's relief efforts in Lebanon, visit: www.worldvision.ca.
September 5, 2006
CharityVillage.com is pleased to announce the appointment of Danielle Anderson to our newly created position of Sales and Marketing Coordinator. Danielle most recently worked at the Shaw Festival as an associate in customer relations management. At CharityVillage, she'll be supporting the sales team and lending a hand with client service. Say hello to Danielle today at: www.charityvillage.com/cv/about/danielle.html.
September 5, 2006
The CRA Charities Directorate has implemented a new process with regard to organizations applying for re-registration as a Canadian charity. Based on recommendations from the Joint Regulatory Table, the decision was made to impose a $500 late filing penalty to charities applying for re-registration after revocation for failure to file their annual information return (form T3010). As of September 1, 2006, organizations re-applying for registration as Canadian charities may be subject to this penalty, depending upon their taxation year and when they received their Notice of Intention to revoke. For more information, visit: www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
September 5, 2006
Last week, the Green Party of Canada elected Elizabeth May as its new leader. May is a long-time environmental activist, an author, and the former executive director of the Sierra Club of Canada. As the leader of the Green Party, May promises to foster a broad-based, result-driven public consultation processes for the benefit of her party, federal politics and Canadians. "This is the moment when we come of age, when the media is interested in our choice of leader; this is a moment that is going to carry us through to the next federal election where we will win seats," May said. For more information, visit: www.greenparty.ca.
September 5, 2006
According to the findings of a global recruitment survey, challenging and interesting work is the most important characteristic that job seekers look for in prospective employers, selected by 60% of all survey respondents worldwide. The same is true in Canada, where challenging and interesting work was cited by 64% of respondents. The potential for recognition and reward for their accomplishments was a close second, selected by 55% of job seekers. Rounding out the top five characteristics of greatest interest to Canadian job seekers were: flexible working arrangements (50%); indications that the employer is well established and is likely to have long-term prosperity (46%); and indications that a company has a particular focus on its people (44%). -- Accenture
September 5, 2006
Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN) recently released a report that explores the role of public involvement in democratic governance. Prepared for the Health Council of Canada, the Primer on Public Involvement reviews the different methods and necessary conditions for successful public involvement. The report identifies several key messages, such as: there are different levels of public involvement; public participation should be seen as a strategy for democratic renewal; different perspectives exist about what constitutes successful public involvement; evaluation should be built into the public involvement program; and the challenges to public involvement should not be underestimated. For more information or to download the report, visit: www.cprn.org
September 5, 2006
Volunteer Canada announced a three-year commitment from Investors Group, totaling $300,000, in support of National Volunteer Week. The renewed commitment is an increase of $75,000 over three years. "Investors Group shows remarkable leadership in their support of volunteerism in Canada," said Marlene Deboisbriand, president of Volunteer Canada. "More Canadian corporate leaders now understand the significance of volunteer contributions and the direct connection between volunteer energy, thriving communities and healthy business environments. We look forward to continuing to work with Investors Group to strengthen volunteerism across Canada." For more information, visit: www.investorsgroup.com.
September 5, 2006
Online giving continues to grow exponentially every year, and a new report from the US-based Network for Good finds that it is quickly becoming the preferred way for donors to give during disasters. According to Impulse on the Internet: How Crisis Compels Donors to Give Online, the Internet is ideally matched to charitable giving at times of disaster, when technology can turn the impulse to help into a donation within seconds. The study also found that news coverage is a major driver of giving online, and that online donors tend to be more generous than offline donors. It suggests that charities should set up online donation processing before a crisis occurs, and consider offering recurring giving as an option in the donation checkout and emphasize it to donors. To download an executive summary of the report in PDF format, visit www.networkforgood.org
September 5, 2006
The search is on for seven women to be Toronto's 2007 Women of Distinction. The awards honour six women and one young woman (between 17 and 24) who have improved the lives of other women and girls. For the first time this year, the Young Woman of Distinction recipient will receive a $3,000 grant, provided by the Julia M. Ruby fund at YWCA Toronto for educational pursuits or opportunities that will enhance the recipient's capacity for future leadership. YWCA Toronto encourages nominations from all ethnic communities, faith groups, professional associations, and sectors to reflect the diversity of the city. The nomination deadline is November 1st. For more information, visit: www.womenofdistinction.ca.
September 5, 2006
In a recent survey, 32% of Canadian respondents and 43% of U.S. respondents said telecommuting is best suited for staff-level employees, compared with 28% and 18% respectively who felt telecommuting is most beneficial for managers. In addition, more than half of Canadian respondents (58%) and more than two-thirds (67%) of U.S. respondents said senior executives at their firms rarely or never telecommute. -- OfficeTeam
September 5, 2006
The Ontario government will pay out $25 million to correct what a provincial watchdog called a "morally repugnant" practice of refusing to give retroactive support payments to disabled people. An estimated 19,000 people are owed money because of a backlog of payments with the Ontario Disability Support Plan. Ontario's revision in policy comes after a review of the Ministry of Community and Social Services' payment system by provincial ombudsman André Marin. In May, Marin accused the ministry of leaving thousands of disabled people without enough money to pay their bills because of the "asinine application" of rules. People who were denied backlogged payments or underpaid should receive the money owed them by this November. For more information about the Ontario Disability Support Plan, visit: www.mcss.gov.on.ca.
September 5, 2006
The Wild Rose Foundation is accepting nominations for the Stars of Alberta Volunteer Awards (formerly the Stars of the Millennium Awards). The awards honour extraordinary Albertans whose volunteer contributions and achievements have contributed to the well being of their community and fellow community members. Six awards are presented annually, two in each of three categories of youth, adult and senior. The deadline for nominations is September 19th. For more information, visit: www.cd.gov.ab.ca.
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