The Daily Tell

The Mayo Clinic announced recently that it raised $1.35 billion in its first comprehensive fundraising campaign.

The amount raised during the five-year initiative eclipsed the $1.25 billion it had hoped to achieve.

Mayo said it embarked on this campaign in 2005 to raise philanthropic support to accelerate innovations in clinical practice, education and research that have the potential to revolutionize medicine in the 21st century on all three Mayo campuses. The three campuses are located in Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Arizona.

"Surpassing this goal is important since Mayo Clinic’s business and mission – ‘to provide the best care to every patient every day’ – is rooted in providing high-quality care, education and research," said John Noseworthy, president and CEO of Mayo Clinic. "The campaign’s success is a reflection of the trust patients and the public have in Mayo Clinic."

James Lyddy, chair of the Mayo Clinic Department of Development said that the money raised during the successful [missing word] came from more than 286,000 benefactors and better positions the clinic for short- and long-term success.

In fact, short-term transformations are already being realized such as the Mayo Clinic Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, which is translating laboratory findings into vanguard methods to treat cancer.

Some additional facilities and programs made possible by the campaign include: Gabriel House of Care, a 30-bedroom hospitality house that will be built on Mayo Clinic’s campus in Florida for transplant and radiation therapy patient; Village at Mayo Clinic, on-campus housing and amenities on the Mayo Clinic Hospital campus in Phoenix for patients receiving ongoing cancer treatment or are awaiting transplant surgery; and the Mayo Clinic T. Denny Sanford Pediatric Center, an all-in-one subspecialty pediatric clinic that cares for more than 46,000 children and their families yearly.

The Mayo Clinic announced recently that it raised $1.35 billion in its first comprehensive fundraising campaign.

The amount raised during the five-year initiative eclipsed the $1.25 billion it had hoped to achieve.

Mayo said it embarked on this campaign in 2005 to raise philanthropic support to accelerate innovations in clinical practice, education and research that have the potential to revolutionize medicine in the 21st century on all three Mayo campuses. The three campuses are located in Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; and Scottsdale/Phoenix, Arizona.

"Surpassing this goal is important since Mayo Clinic’s business and mission – ‘to provide the best care to every patient every day’ – is rooted in providing high-quality care, education and research," said John Noseworthy, president and CEO of Mayo Clinic. "The campaign’s success is a reflection of the trust patients and the public have in Mayo Clinic."

James Lyddy, chair of the Mayo Clinic Department of Development said that the money raised during the successful [missing word] came from more than 286,000 benefactors and better positions the clinic for short- and long-term success.

In fact, short-term transformations are already being realized such as the Mayo Clinic Schulze Center for Novel Therapeutics, which is translating laboratory findings into vanguard methods to treat cancer.

Some additional facilities and programs made possible by the campaign include: Gabriel House of Care, a 30-bedroom hospitality house that will be built on Mayo Clinic’s campus in Florida for transplant and radiation therapy patient; Village at Mayo Clinic, on-campus housing and amenities on the Mayo Clinic Hospital campus in Phoenix for patients receiving ongoing cancer treatment or are awaiting transplant surgery; and the Mayo Clinic T. Denny Sanford Pediatric Center, an all-in-one subspecialty pediatric clinic that cares for more than 46,000 children and their families yearly.

The earthquake in Haiti has injured hundreds of thousands of people, and Americans have reportedly donated more than $380 million to date toward disaster relief for the victims of the quake. As efforts to help the men, women, and children of the country continue, animal lovers of the world are left to wonder about the fates of Haiti’s pets.

According to veterinarians in Haiti, walls around yards have been destroyed and countless pets are now displaced. They estimate that 150,000 dogs in the Port-au-Prince region alone are left to wander the streets.

There is still limited information about the consequences of the earthquake for companion animals in Haiti. Nonetheless, the American Humane Society has deployed to Haiti to assist in an international effort to help the country’s animals.

The American Humane Society enters a partnership with countless volunteers who have established an Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti, and they will be joined by the World Society for the Protection of Animals in their efforts to establish a feeding program for community dogs.

Haitian officials admit that they have neglected animal welfare up to this point. "We had not considered including animals in the [relief] plans we’re working up now, but after meeting with ARCH, we can see that would be good," said Haitian Minister of Environment Jean Marie Claude Germain.

Both Haitian officials and ARCH understand that the protection of animals and humans are not mutually exclusive in the aftermath of the earthquake. One of the first initiatives will be a vaccination program that will prevent the spread of disease between animals and human populations.

The American Humane Society has donated an initial $25,000 to help fund the ARCH coalition, and they anticipate donating more in the near future.

"It is our hope that the experience we all gained after Katrina, and the partnerships we have been building since then, will be demonstrated in the number of animals’ lives we save and the Haitian families we help in the coming weeks and months," said Debrah Schnackenberg, vice president of American Humane’s Animal Protection Division.

A simple shot – administered in a moment – can offer a lifetime of immunity to deadly diseases. The miracle of vaccines is something that most Americans take for granted. Most American children are offered protection against hepatitis, diphtheria, and other ailments by the time they turn two. Children in other countries are not so lucky.

World Vision International reports nearly 10 million children and mothers die each year from avoidable causes such as pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria because of a lack of global access to vaccines.

Bill and Melinda Gates hope to help change that statistic in 2010. Calling for a "new decade of vaccines," the Gates Foundation announced that it will spend $10 billion over the next 10 years for the development and delivery of vaccines to impoverished people worldwide.

"We’ve made vaccines our number one priority at the Gates foundation because we’ve seen firsthand their incredible impact on children’s lives," said Mrs. Gates.

Vaccines have long been one of the focuses of the Gates Foundation’s global initiatives. In the past decade, the Gates gave more than $4.5 billion to vaccination work. The Gates’ past vaccine grants have successfully assisted in the vaccination of more than 250 million children worldwide, preventing an estimated 5 million deaths.

Still, their current investment is the largest pledge ever made toward vaccination efforts, not to mention the largest pledge.

The money will be used to support a variety of projects including research on how to effectively get life-saving vaccines to people in remote parts of the world.

Mr. Gates said scientific innovations are needed to achieve the desired drop in child mortality rates.
"Vaccines already save and improve millions of lives in developing countries," he said. "Innovation will make it possible to save more children than ever before."

A simple shot – administered in a moment – can offer a lifetime of immunity to deadly diseases. The miracle of vaccines is something that most Americans take for granted. Most American children are offered protection against hepatitis, diphtheria, and other ailments by the time they turn two. Children in other countries are not so lucky.

World Vision International reports nearly 10 million children and mothers die each year from avoidable causes such as pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria because of a lack of global access to vaccines.

Bill and Melinda Gates hope to help change that statistic in 2010. Calling for a "new decade of vaccines," the Gates Foundation announced that it will spend $10 billion over the next 10 years for the development and delivery of vaccines to impoverished people worldwide.

"We’ve made vaccines our number one priority at the Gates foundation because we’ve seen firsthand their incredible impact on children’s lives," said Mrs. Gates.

Vaccines have long been one of the focuses of the Gates Foundation’s global initiatives. In the past decade, the Gates gave more than $4.5 billion to vaccination work. The Gates’ past vaccine grants have successfully assisted in the vaccination of more than 250 million children worldwide, preventing an estimated 5 million deaths.

Still, their current investment is the largest pledge ever made toward vaccination efforts, not to mention the largest pledge.

The money will be used to support a variety of projects including research on how to effectively get life-saving vaccines to people in remote parts of the world.

Mr. Gates said scientific innovations are needed to achieve the desired drop in child mortality rates.
"Vaccines already save and improve millions of lives in developing countries," he said. "Innovation will make it possible to save more children than ever before."

While water may not be what it typically delivers in cans, a delivery from Anheuser-Busch to the storm-ravaged residents of South Dakota is exactly what they would have ordered.

To help thousands of residents that have been without water and electricity – some for as long as a week – following freezing rain and snow storms, Anheuser-Busch is donating 1,764 cases – or more than 42,000 cans of drinking water – to the people of South Dakota, the company said.

A truck carrying the water will follow a 1,500-mile, three-day route from the company’s brewery in Fairfield, California to the local Anheuser-Busch wholesaler, Northwest Beverage, in Mobridge, South Dakota.

Northwest Beverage will then distribute the water to shelters in areas hardest hit by the storms such as, Eagle Butte, Faith, Cherry Creek and Lantry, according to the company.

"It’s important for communities to pull together and lend a helping hand, and Anheuser-Busch is proud to provide drinking water to these people in need," said Peter Kraemer, vice-president of supply for Anheuser-Busch. "Anheuser-Busch is in a unique position to provide water to those in need. Few corporations have the infrastructure to package beverages and distribute them quickly."

Lending a helping hand is nothing new to the company it said. In fact, company founder, Adolphus Busch, reportedly made a donation to victims of the San Francisco earthquake.

The company said that in addition to providing monetary support, it packages fresh drinking water and donates it to emergency relief organizations for distribution to those in need.

Since 1988, Anheuser-Busch said it has donated more than 68.5 million cans of drinking water following natural and other disasters, including 210,042 cases totaling more than 5 million cans, of packaged drinking water to victims of natural disasters in 2008 and 2009 alone.

While water may not be what it typically delivers in cans, a delivery from Anheuser-Busch to the storm-ravaged residents of South Dakota is exactly what they would have ordered.

To help thousands of residents that have been without water and electricity – some for as long as a week – following freezing rain and snow storms, Anheuser-Busch is donating 1,764 cases – or more than 42,000 cans of drinking water – to the people of South Dakota, the company said.

A truck carrying the water will follow a 1,500-mile, three-day route from the company’s brewery in Fairfield, California to the local Anheuser-Busch wholesaler, Northwest Beverage, in Mobridge, South Dakota.

Northwest Beverage will then distribute the water to shelters in areas hardest hit by the storms such as, Eagle Butte, Faith, Cherry Creek and Lantry, according to the company.

"It’s important for communities to pull together and lend a helping hand, and Anheuser-Busch is proud to provide drinking water to these people in need," said Peter Kraemer, vice-president of supply for Anheuser-Busch. "Anheuser-Busch is in a unique position to provide water to those in need. Few corporations have the infrastructure to package beverages and distribute them quickly."

Lending a helping hand is nothing new to the company it said. In fact, company founder, Adolphus Busch, reportedly made a donation to victims of the San Francisco earthquake.

The company said that in addition to providing monetary support, it packages fresh drinking water and donates it to emergency relief organizations for distribution to those in need.

Since 1988, Anheuser-Busch said it has donated more than 68.5 million cans of drinking water following natural and other disasters, including 210,042 cases totaling more than 5 million cans, of packaged drinking water to victims of natural disasters in 2008 and 2009 alone.

Ohio University graduate Violet L. Patton has donated more than $13 million to the university to establish a new community arts and education center, university president Roderick J. McDavis, announced during a press conference.

"What an incredible gift Miss Patton has given to Ohio University and to the future of arts education here," President McDavis said. "Her gift will touch students, faculty and, in fact, each of us who benefit from the learning and creativity that arts education fosters."

The center will be named the Violet L. Patton Center for Arts Education, pending approval by the Ohio University Board of Trustees.

The 92-year-old 1938 graduate comes from a family of educators and reportedly transferred to Ohio University during her sophomore year to study education – and is considered an artist and educator by most, according to reports.

"Violet Patton has placed her remarkable legacy in Ohio University’s hands," McDavis said. "She has entrusted us to carry forward her commitment to education and to the arts through our stewardship of her remarkable gift. We are humbled by her generosity."

The Violet L. Patton Center for Arts Education will create a community and university partnership, according to the university. Ohio University students will participate in service learning, professional internships and teaching fellow positions.

Additionally, a current K-12 Arts Program will grow to include more local schools and allow for more involvement with College of Education outreach, it said.

According to a report in the Columbus Dispatch, school officials said that the money will not be available to them until Patton’s death, at which time they would move past the planning phase of the building.

Prior to the 2004 NFL season, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard began experiencing stomach pains, lost a considerable amount of weight and missed part of pre-season training. He was diagnosed soon after with Crohn’s Disease.

For the past two years, Garrard has scored for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America through the In the Zone for Crohn’s program, which earned $180,000 this year from the on-the-field exploits of Garrard and support from Centocor Ortho Biotech.

As part of the program, $10,000 was donated to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America for every touchdown Garrard scored during the 2009 football season. This season, Garrard accounted for 18 passing and rushing touchdowns, raising the $180,000 for the CCFA.

"Since being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease several years ago, it has been my goal to raise awareness of this debilitating disease and to help inspire other people who are living with Crohn’s disease," said Garrard. "I want people to know that if I can overcome this condition and still live a happy and healthy life, they can too."

The money raised by Garrard’s involvement in the In the Zone for Crohn’s program over the past two years hasallowed the CCFA to advance critical Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis research in order to make a profound difference in the present and future health of patients with these diseases, the foundation said.

"David has impacted a countless number of people through his inspiring story of overcoming Crohn’s disease and his continued efforts to shed light on this often misunderstood and under-reported condition," said Richard Geswell, president of the CCFA.

Garrard, one of the 1.4 million Americans with Crohn’s Disease and the related ulcerative colitis (UC), recently completed his third season as the Jaguars’ full-time starting quarterback.

Ohio University graduate Violet L. Patton has donated more than $13 million to the university to establish a new community arts and education center, university president Roderick J. McDavis, announced during a press conference.

"What an incredible gift Miss Patton has given to Ohio University and to the future of arts education here," President McDavis said. "Her gift will touch students, faculty and, in fact, each of us who benefit from the learning and creativity that arts education fosters."

The center will be named the Violet L. Patton Center for Arts Education, pending approval by the Ohio University Board of Trustees.

The 92-year-old 1938 graduate comes from a family of educators and reportedly transferred to Ohio University during her sophomore year to study education – and is considered an artist and educator by most, according to reports.

"Violet Patton has placed her remarkable legacy in Ohio University’s hands," McDavis said. "She has entrusted us to carry forward her commitment to education and to the arts through our stewardship of her remarkable gift. We are humbled by her generosity."

The Violet L. Patton Center for Arts Education will create a community and university partnership, according to the university. Ohio University students will participate in service learning, professional internships and teaching fellow positions.

Additionally, a current K-12 Arts Program will grow to include more local schools and allow for more involvement with College of Education outreach, it said.

According to a report in the Columbus Dispatch, school officials said that the money will not be available to them until Patton’s death, at which time they would move past the planning phase of the building.