The Daily Tell

President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed into law the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which establishes September 11 as an annually recognized national day of service and remembrance.

David Paine and Jay S. Winuk, who co-founded MyGoodDeed.org, had led a seven-year campaign to formally establish September 11 as an annually recognized day of service and remembrance of those lost in the terrorist attacks on New York, Washington and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Winuk’s younger brother Glenn J. Winuk, an attorney, volunteer firefighter and EMT, died in the line of duty in the collapse of the World Trade Center.

"Our hope is to organize the single largest day of service in U.S. history on the 10th anniversary of 9/11," said Paine, referring to September 11, 2011.

"As a 9/11 family member, I cannot think of a more inspiring, appropriate and constructive tribute to my late brother and all those who perished, were injured or rose in service – to rekindle at least for one day each year the remarkable spirit of compassion and service that unified our country," Winuk said.

To support this observance, the new legislation authorizes the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees federal national service programs, to make grants and provide other assistance to community nonprofits and other groups that want to organize September 11 service and remembrance activities.

MyGoodDeed.org is a 501c(3) charitable organization based in New York that organizes activities to encourage individuals and organizations to set aside time on the anniversary of September 11 to perform simple acts of good deeds and service that help others in need.

Since the initiative began as a grassroots movement, more than 1 million people have visited the MyGoodDeed.org website, with many posting their plans to perform good deeds and service projects on September 11.

Raytheon Company this month celebrated Math Awareness Month by awarding 150 middle school students each with a $1,000 scholarship they can use toward a math, science or technology camp or program this summer, the company announced.

The defense company awards $1 million in scholarships and grants each year as part of its MathMovesU program, which is designed to engage middle school students in math and science through a variety of contests, live events, scholarships, tutoring programs and more.

"Raytheon is delighted to recognize these students with scholarships for making math a priority," said Raytheon chairman and CEO William H. Swanson. "It is our hope that these scholarships, coupled with the support of family and teachers, will encourage these students to continue their passion for math for many more years to come."

In addition to the individual scholarships, each student’s school received a matching grant from Raytheon. The 150 scholarship recipients were chosen from a pool of 1,662 middle school students who created multimedia presentations that illustrated the importance of math in their daily lives.

Raytheon’s MathMovesU program launched in 2005 and has benefited more than 700,000 students, teachers and parents, the company said.

Among its math and science-inspiring initiatives, Raytheon is engaging students in math and science through a partnership with a space at the home of the New England Patriots to inspire learning through games and activities that showcase the math behind students’ favorite pastimes.

The Massachusetts-based technology company would likely benefit from having more science-savvy graduates: it specializes in state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems.

With an announcement last week at historic site Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston, the National Trust for Historic Preservation along with American Express launched the latest installment of the community-based program, Partners in Preservation.

With previous preservation projects funded in San Francisco, Chicago and New Orleans, residents living in and around Boston, or those with a connection to the city but living far away, now have the chance to restore their favorite historic landmark.

With $1 million in grants available from American Express, individuals are encouraged to go online and vote for their favorite historic site, post personal stories about the landmark and share photos of the city.

Out of 25 landmarks, the one with the most votes will be guaranteed restoration funding from the American Express grantmaking program, while a number of other restoration projects will be selected by a panel. Voting runs through May 17, 2009.

Many are also touting the broader effect the grant money and preservation projects will have on the Boston community, aside from simply keeping a piece of history intact.

"Historic preservation not only protects our heritage, it also stimulates the economy by creating jobs in travel and tourism throughout the Commonwealth," said Massachusetts governor Deval L. Patrick, who is also serving as co-chair of the Partners in Preservation advisory committee.

During the announcement, members involved in the philanthropic project said that rehabilitation programs – like this one – generate as much employment, if not more, than new construction while at the same time reigniting some goods and materials industries called upon for project supplies.

Among the historic sites nominated for preservation grants are Lowell’s Boat Shop in Amesbury, Museum of African American History in Beacon Hill, and Paul Revere House in the North End of Boston.

The drop-off in charitable donations could be offset through leveraging of skilled volunteer and pro bono work, something corporations and nonprofits both overlook, according to a new report.
The 2009 Deloitte Volunteer IMPACT Survey found that, despite the challenging economic backdrop, nearly one-quarter (24 percent) of nonprofit respondents have no plans to use skilled volunteers or pro bono support in any capacity in 2009.

Deloitte released its national survey findings to mark National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, the consulting and auditing company said.

"The current economic crisis and the new administration’s national call for service underscores the need for corporations and nonprofits alike to broaden their definition of corporate giving," said Barry Salzberg, chief executive officer of Deloitte LLP.

Yet corporations’ efforts to contribute skilled volunteers and nonprofits’ efforts to find them are not meeting in the middle.

Deloitte suggested in its report that the slow adoption of skilled volunteer services could be due in part to a lack of knowledge among nonprofits when it comes to securing pro bono projects.

Nearly all nonprofits surveyed (97 percent) do not know who in a company to approach with pro bono requests and 95 percent do not know which companies to appeal to with these requests.

On the other side of the equation, many companies are not fully aware of the significant demand for their services. Unfortunately, 50 percent of corporations nationwide do not offer skilled volunteer support, despite a professed belief in its value, the report found.

While 24 percent of nonprofits surveyed have no one in charge of volunteer management or have someone in charge with less than three years of experience, 26 percent of corporations have no one to oversee an employee volunteer program.

The down times will continue for the remainder of this year, with close to two-thirds of foundations expecting to reduce the number or amounts they give in grants, according to a new survey.

The survey from the Foundation Center found that charitable groups will need new sources of support and recently established entities will be especially challenged in securing foundation funding, the organization said.

At least one out of five respondents expects to engage in more foundation staff-led activities, provide more technical assistance, offer more bridge/emergency financing, or engage in more advocacy this year.

"Foundations can do so much more than simply make grants," said Bradford K. Smith, president of the Foundation Center. "The important thing is for them to remain true to their values and causes and to stand by their nonprofit partners."

The Foundation Center, which operates research, education and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level, is recommending that organizations draw upon various sources, including their endowments, to continue funding important missions through grants.

On a positive note, nearly one-third of survey respondents said they had made operational changes as a result of the previous recession that they believe better prepared them to face the current downturn, such as changes in investment strategies or reducing operating expenses.

"Foundations are not rolling over in the face of adversity," said Steven Lawrence, the Foundation Center’s senior director of research and author of the advisory. "The new survey shows foundations being creative, strategic, and willing to dig deep to ensure that their agendas move forward while this crisis persists."

The Foundation Giving Forecast Survey included responses from more than 1,200 foundations, including large and mid-size U.S. independent, corporate and community foundations.

The center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. grantmakers and their grants, the group said.

Recognizing that the products they make are responsible for 20 percent of man-made CO2 emissions, automakers say they are doing their part to help reduce man’s effect on the environment.

A new endangerment finding posted by the Environmental Protection Agency saying that overall greenhouse gases are endangering public health and welfare and that emissions from new motor vehicles are also contributing to air pollution has given the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers cause to respond.

"Automakers are ahead of the curve and have already been taking action because we understand that being a successful industry means being part of the low-carbon economy," said Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers president Dave McCurdy.

According to McCurdy, automakers currently offer more than 130 vehicles that get over 30 miles per gallon. More than that, 35 models are currently being offered as hybrids or clean diesel.

"This is progress, but we are not stopping with today’s accomplishments. We’re working on new innovations for the future, including vehicles that don’t run on petroleum at all," he added.

McCurdy’s comments as the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers president come on behalf of 11 car and light truck manufacturers including BMW, Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Toyota and others.

While the Obama administration has called for 1 million plug-in hybrid cars to hit the roads by 2015, they have also ordered a new government fleet of fuel efficient American-made vehicles using funds from the economic stimulus package.

But McCurdy’s comments allude to the fact that while the trade association is looking forward to working with the president on ways to improve the gas emissions program, new fuel efficient or electric cars require that high quality fuels – including biofuels, clean diesel or the electricity grid – be available.

With so many news reports focusing on the stumbling of the largest financial institutions and the trickle-down effect it is having on families across the country, it may be easy to overlook the estimated 30 million adults providing care for family and friends in need of assistance.

The Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation recently announced intentions to fund programs that find innovative ways to help care for these important older adults living with chronic illness or disabilities by removing some of the burden from their informal caregivers.

The foundation’s Family and Informal Caregiver Support Program will fund 14 different projects with $8.2 million over the next three years in states including California, New York, Florida and Texas.

"For many older adults living with debilitating illness and disabilities, the need for support stems from several factors, including greater financial need, lack of access to health care, unexpected health costs, and isolation from family members," said Shale D. Stiller, president of the Weinberg Foundation.

"Our goal is to provide support for the programs that will work directly to support and develop networks of family and informal caregivers," Stiller added.

Some of the overall grant money will be awarded to AgeOptions of Oak Park, Illinois which runs a program that works directly with churches that serve poor older adults in Chicago’s suburbs.

A grant of $750,000 from the overall pool will be awarded to the Asian and Pacific Islander Dementia Care Network to provide respite care and legal counseling about caregiving.

The Weinberg Foundation grantmaking is also supporting specialists to work with informal caregivers on training sessions, caregiver retreats, and respite care through the Isabella Geriatric Center’s Caregiver Ombudsman Outreach Project in New York City.

Thousands of volunteers and supporting corporate sponsors will join with nonprofit housing group Rebuilding Together on April 25 for National Rebuilding Day.

Rebuilding Together’s affiliate network, of more than 200 local organizations will bring thousands of volunteers together to work on home renovation projects for providing low-income families with critical repairs, modifications and energy efficient upgrades at no-cost to the homeowners, the group said.

Rebuilding Together said the volunteer effort will refurbish 4,000 homes on the 25th, making a huge difference in the organization’s annual 10,000 homes project goal. Service recipients include America’s low-income elderly, disabled, families with children and military veterans, the group said.

"Rebuilding Together provides solutions to the nation’s housing crisis by stabilizing neighborhoods where real-estate values have been hardest hit," said Gary A. Officer, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together.

"National Rebuilding Day is our signature annual event when the impact of our mission is immediately evident as thousands of homes are restored to safe, efficient, and livable conditions so that homeowners may continue to live independently and retain what is often their sole source of personal wealth," he added.

The nonprofit is the nation’s largest working to preserve affordable home ownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing home repair and renovation services at no cost to those in need. Through the support of corporate sponsors, local businesses and the hands-on work of over 200,000 volunteers, Rebuilding Together renovates and repairs nearly 10,000 homes and nonprofit facilities annually with a market value of nearly $100 million, the group said.

National sponsors of Rebuilding Together include Sears and their Heroes at Home Program, Cricket Communications, Booz Allen Hamilton, Lowe’s, Sherwin-Williams, Honeywell, Pepsi Bottling Group, API, ConocoPhillips, Meredith Corporation and HGTV with Change the World, Start at Home Campaign.

Encouraging a nation of young minds to embrace science education is no easy feat, even for some of the most prestigious colleges and universities.

But a grant program from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) is offering millions of dollars in funding as an incentive for researchers to develop exciting new ways to get students engaged in science, innovation, problem solving and research.

"We want to test new ways of teaching science that no one has tried before," said Peter J. Burns, HHMI’s vice president for grants and special programs. "We want to foster creativity and risk-taking."

To do so, HHMI has invited 197 research universities to again compete for grants that will help build new creative science programs.

David J. Asai, director of HHMI’s pre college and undergraduate grants program said, "We want to encourage grantees to research an important challenge in science education even if there is a significant risk of failure."

Encouraging proposals to be outside-the-box, Asai added, "The key will be to identify experiments whose results will contribute to our understanding of the problem, whether it works out the way they expected or not."

Grants awarded by HHMI typically range from $1.2 million to $2.2 million over four years with opportunity to win supplemental funds.

HHMI, which states that it is the nation’s largest private supporter of undergraduate science education, has awarded grants in the past that have helped high school students get involved in scientific research and have provided specialized science training for teachers.

Science-themed lectures for the community have also been funded by HHMI grants.

Much of the news coverage of the lingering credit crisis focuses on the devastating losses at major corporations and the millions of layoffs that have crippled the lives of their employees.

But at the backbone of the U.S. economy is small business, which employs a significant portion of the private workers in the country. Sometimes missing from the headline reports is the struggle they are facing to source business loans that might help keep them in business and keep communities growing.

However, one family foundation has recognized the important role that small businesses play in communities across the country and is offering grant money to some organizations to ultimately help them keep local residents employed.

The Pohlad Family Foundation has recently announced a pledge of $20 million to be distributed to small businesses, to help improve the housing situation of hard hit families, and to ensure critical services are available to those in need.

The nonprofit organization is committed to improving "the lives of economically disadvantaged children and youth and participate in projects that positively impact the quality of life in Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area," according to its website.

On the small business front, the foundation will make grants available to eligible small businesses which can be used to retain valued employees during the economic storm.

Money allocated from the overall $20 million may also help fund short-term, low-interest business loans to small businesses in need of access to capital to keep a business up and running and also growing to meet future plans.

"Job loss, housing loss and lack of credit are the problems impeding the economic recovery," said Jim Pohlad, Pohlad Family Foundation director. "Our support targets all three."