There are new programs, people and places around campus this spring.

SAN DIEGO (January 19, 2016) — San Diego State University will welcome back Aztecs with new programs, people and places around campus when school begins on Jan. 20. Here’s a look at some things to look forward to:

New Faculty

Four new faculty members will begin this semester — two professors will join the Department of Psychology and two will join the Department of Biology. They include:

Psychology

• Jillian Wiggins studies brain activation patterns and her research is interested in understanding factors (e.g., genetics, social, family) that affect brain function in children and adolescents without disorders, in addition to youth with autism, depression, anxiety and irritability symptoms.
• Dustin Thoman is a social psychologist specializing in social and cultural influences on motivation whose research investigates how one’s social identity and social interactions influence interest and belonging and self-regulation.

Biology

• Nicholas Shikuma studies how microbes mediated marine animal development and how this affects the health of diverse animals.
• Xiaofeng Xu’s research focuses on land-atmosphere interaction.

Arts Alive: Interdisciplinary Teaching Exchange program

Three new courses through the Arts Alive Interdisciplinary Teaching Exchange program will be available this semester. These “stacked courses” involve two or three faculty members from different disciplines who design courses with input from each other. The courses are taught “stacked” — that is they are offered at the same time on the same day, each assigned their own space in which to meet but allowing for the faculty to have the students from each of the courses meet together and collaborate. The stacked courses offered this spring are:

1. ENGL 220: Introduction to Literature, taught by Professor of English & Comparative Literature William Nericcio

MUSIC 351: Music and Culture: Psychedelic Rock of the 1960s, taught by Associate Professor of Music Eric Smigel

2. BIO 600: Seminar, taught by Professor of Biology Anca Segall

ART 441: Graphic Design III, taught by Assistant Professor School of Art and Design Arzu Ozkal

3. COMM 462: Ethnography and Communication, taught by Associate Professor of Communication Kurt Lindemann

THEA 525: Dramaturgy, taught by Assistant Professor of School of Theatre, Television, and Film Shelley Orr

Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad

A gift from the Moxie Foundation created the Zahn Innovation Platform Launchpad, formally the Zahn Innovation Center, with a focus on collaboration across disciplines, the exploration of new ideas and the launch of new ventures. The ZIP Launchpad facilitates problem-solving and inspire students, faculty and staff to pursue the commercialization of their social and commercial based ideas. This month, a call for proposals will go out for the inaugural Zahn Professor of Creativity and Innovation, a rotating two-year appointment for an SDSU faculty member to pursue work that accelerates entrepreneurship across campus. The position is set to be appointed by May.

Campus Construction and Parking Updates

Roof work on South Campus Plaza will be complete by mid-January, allowing interior work to continue unabated through El Niño weather. The $143-million project will include housing for more than 600 students, along with shopping and dining designed to serve both the campus and its surrounding neighborhoods. The plaza is on track to open fall 2016. SDSU’s Engineering & Interdisciplinary Sciences Complex is preparing to pour concrete foundations. The $90-million complex, which is a key piece in SDSU’s drive to become a top-50 public research university, is on schedule to be completed in January 2018.

This semester, some areas and parking lots are closed due to campus construction. The W Lot near Storm and Nasatir Halls will still be used as a construction lay down area. The A Lot on the corner of College Avenue and Canyon Crest Drive is being used as a construction site. College Avenue at Lindo Paseo is fenced off and will be closed for the South Campus Plaza project. Parking Services has more tips for parking and traffic during the first few days of classes.

New Women’s Resource Center Opens

SDSU’s new Women’s Resource Center will open to students on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Located at 5121 Campanile Drive on the corner of Lindo Paseo and Campanile, the center provides a vibrant, brave and inclusive space that educates, empowers and advocates for women’s rights and issues. Students, faculty and staff are welcome 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays. There will be an open house at 12 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 22. Contact the center’s Coordinator Jessica Nare for more information. The center’s grand opening will be at 3 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 29.

Pride Grand Reopening and New Coordinator

The Pride Center will reopen at its Campanile Drive location on the first day of spring classes with a fresh look and a new coordinator — Christopher Lujan, who has a bachelor’s in human services from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a master’s in educational counseling from the University of La Verne. Lujan previously worked at the Los Angeles LGBT Center as the education coordinator for homeless LGBTQ youth. The Pride Center, which creates, sustains and strengthens an open, inclusive, safe and affirming gathering space and campus environment for persons of all sexual and gender identities and their allies, will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays. An official grand reopening celebration is planned for Feb. 29. For more information about the event and others at the center, follow The Pride Center at SDSU Facebook page.

New Passport Office on Campus

A new Passport Acceptance Facility will open at the International Student Center this February, located near the corner of 55th Street and Aztec Circle drive. The office will streamline the process for obtaining a U.S. Passport for students, faculty, staff and members of the community. The convenient location should prove useful considering SDSU recently ranked No. 15 among all universities in the country for the number of students studying abroad. The facility will take passport photos and process applications on a walk-in basis from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Aztec Shield App Launch

The SDSU Police Department is releasing “Aztec Shield,” a new mobile safety app that enables students, faculty, staff and visitors to reach the university police department from their smart phones. The app can be used in both non-emergency and emergency situations and is available at no charge to Android and iPhone users. Aztec Shield users can request help from the police department, locate campus safety shuttles, report suspicious activity and participate in a peer-to-peer safety service.

SDSU Bookstore Deals and Discounts

SDSU Bookstore will continue offering its Price Match Pledge to students — the store will match textbook prices from KB Books, Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. An aztecnology sale at the SDSU Bookstore for students, faculty and staff will take place through Feb. 2. Deals include a $50 Bookstore gift card with purchase of a laptop, case and protection plan.

About San Diego State University

San Diego State University is a major public research institution offering bachelor’s degrees in 91 areas, master’s degrees in 78 areas and doctorates in 22 areas. The university provides transformative experiences, both inside and outside of the classroom, for its 35,000 students. Students participate in research, international experiences, sustainability and entrepreneurship initiatives, and a broad range of student life and leadership opportunities. The university’s rich campus life features opportunities for students to participate in, and engage with, the creative and performing arts, a Division I athletics program and the vibrant cultural life of the San Diego region. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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The UNA board and staff extend Kate a warm welcome and look forward to working with her and supporting her vision for UNA and Utah’s nonprofit sector.

After a lengthy and thorough regional search, the Utah Nonprofits Association board of director’s headed by Kasandra VerBrugghen, chair, chose Kate to assume leadership of the organization which represents over 600 nonprofit organizations in the state of Utah. Kate began working with UNA this week!

Kate, a Utah native, has over a decade of community development, organizing and education experience. Prior to joining UNA, she lead Earn It. Keep It. Save It., Utah’s statewide coalition to provide Earned Income Tax Credit outreach, free income tax preparation, and asset development opportunities for CAP Utah. She has established community schools for South Salt Lake City, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the sister island nation of St. Kitts-Nevis, and promoted higher education and worked to increase community and resident leadership at University Neighborhood Partners.

Kate is also an active member in her community. She serves on the Police Civilian Review Board for Salt Lake City Police Department, is President of the Board for the English Skills Learning Center, and is a tutor through Catholic Community Services where she works one on one with a young woman enrolled in their Youth Refugee Foster Care Program.

Read Kate’s full bio here.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) solemnly marks the 10 year anniversary tomorrow of the illegal removal and detention of Eritrean Orthodox Patriarch Abune Antonios as head of the Eritrean Orthodox Church.

“USCIRF calls on the Eritrean government to immediately release Patriarch Antonios and allow him to return to his rightful position as head of the Eritrean Orthodox Church,” said USCIRF Chairman Dr. Robert P. George.

Eritrean authorities informed Patriarch Antonios on January 20, 2006 that he would no longer lead the country’s largest religious denomination. The government took this action after Patriarch Antonios called for the release of political prisoners and refused to excommunicate 3,000 parishioners who opposed the government. On May 27, 2007, the Eritrean government replaced Patriarch Antonios with Bishop Dioscoros of Mendefera, forcefully removed the Patriarch from his home, and placed him under house arrest at an undisclosed location. Patriarch Antonios continues to be held incommunicado and reportedly is being denied medical care despite suffering from severe diabetes.

“This anniversary should remind us all that the Eritrean people are denied the fundamental, universal human right of religious freedom. The Eritrean government sends those whom they imprison for their religious beliefs to the harshest prisons and subjects them to the cruelest punishments. We must continue to shine the light on these prisoners of conscience until they are free,” said Chairman George.

President Isaias Afwerki has ruled Eritrea since 1993. His regime is among the most repressive in the world, with thousands of Eritreans imprisoned for their real or imagined opposition to the government and torture and forced labor are extensive. Between 1,300 and 2,000 people are imprisoned because of their religious beliefs, with the government torturing and beating religious prisoners, confining many in 20-foot metal shipping containers or underground barracks where some have been subjected to extreme temperature fluctuations. Since 2002, the Eritrean government has registered only four religious communities – the (Coptic) Orthodox Church of Eritrea, Sunni Islam, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Evangelical Church of Eritrea – and maintains tight control over their internal operations and activities. No other religious group has been approved. Without such approval, no group legally can hold public religious activities.

Since 2004, USCIRF has recommended, and the State Department has designated, Eritrea as a “country of particular concern” (CPC), for its “systematic, ongoing and egregious” violations of religious freedom. For more information, please see USCIRF’s chapter on Eritrea in the 2015 Annual Report.

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The Philadelphia Museum of Art announced today the appointment of Jeffrey N. Blair to the position of General Counsel and Assistant Secretary, effective February 22, 2016. Currently serving as Assistant Secretary and Senior Associate Counsel at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where he has been a member of the legal team since 2003, he will succeed Lawrence Berger, who has announced his retirement. In his new role, Mr. Blair will advise the Museum’s Director, President, and Board of Trustees on legal issues of major importance to the Museum’s policies, programs, and operations.

Gail Harrity, the Museum’s President and COO, to whom Mr. Blair will report, stated: “We are delighted to welcome Jeffrey to Philadelphia. He comes with legal experience in the private sector and exceptional knowledge of issues relating to art museums, including capital projects, regulatory, governance, and fundraising matters. I am also delighted that Larry Berger, who has admirably served as General Counsel for ten years, has agreed to remain as Secretary of the Board in the months to come to ensure a smooth transition.”

Mr. Blair stated: “The opportunity to join the exceptionally talented staff of the Philadelphia Museum of Art as General Counsel is indeed an honor. I have had the privilege of advising the Metropolitan for the past twelve years and am delighted to undertake this role at another historic, venerable, and vital cultural institution. The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s collections, programming, and civic engagement are superb. I am elated by the invitation to join the Director, the President, and the Board of Trustees in the continued implementation of the Museum’s exciting initiatives and look forward to joining the team.”

Among Mr. Blair’s many accomplishments at the Metropolitan, he led its team in negotiations with the Whitney Museum of American Art to finalize an agreement in which the Metropolitan will program the Whitney’s landmark building designed by Marcel Breuer. He drafted and negotiated agreements with artists for site-specific commissions, including complex installations on its roof garden such as Doug and Mike Starn’s Big Bambú and Tomas Saraceno’s Cloud City. He also managed legal issues relating to the capital construction program, including the renovation and opening of permanent galleries for the costume collections, the reconstruction of the American galleries, and the redesign and reconstruction of the public plaza in front of the museum’s main building.

Prior to his museum career, Mr. Blair worked for the International Finance Corporation in Washington D.C., where he focused on infrastructure development projects in emerging markets in countries such as Kenya, Morocco, India, Uruguay, Brazil, and Vietnam. He also served as an associate in the Corporate and Project Finance Departments in the firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP in New York. Mr. Blair received his J.D. from the New York University School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and International Politics from Emory University.

The appointment concludes a nationwide search.

Social Media

Facebook: philamuseum; Twitter: @philamuseum; Tumblr: philamuseum; YouTube: PhilaArtMuseum; Instagram: @philamuseum

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is Philadelphia’s art museum. We are a landmark building. A world-renowned collection. A place that welcomes everyone. We bring the arts to life, inspiring visitors—through scholarly study and creative play—to discover the spirit of imagination that lies in everyone. We connect people with the arts in rich and varied ways, making the experience of the Museum surprising, lively, and always memorable. We are committed to inviting visitors to see the world—and themselves—anew through the beauty and expressive power of the arts.

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Cambridge, MA – Harvard University announced today that Robert and Renée Belfer, along with their son Laurence, are investing an additional $15 million to advance the work of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School in addressing the world’s most critical security issues.

Reflecting their philanthropic mission to build a more secure, peaceful world, the Belfer family’s gift puts the Belfer Center on the front lines of what CIA Director John Brennan calls the greatest threat to U.S. national security in the decade ahead: cyber threats. In particular, it launches a major new Cyber Security Project, which seeks to help create the conceptual arsenal for strategists to confront this growing challenge.

“The Belfer family’s remarkable generosity ensures that the resources of the entire University can be brought to bear on this vital threat to global security,” said Harvard University President Drew Faust. “For more than 40 years, the Belfer Center has served as an important hub for scholarship and teaching that has global impact. We are honored by the Belfers’ continued support for Harvard and share their determination to secure a more peaceful, prosperous world.”

The Kennedy School’s new dean, Douglas Elmendorf, said the gift will empower students for decades to come. “This is a pivotal period in the school’s history,” Elmendorf remarked. “As we set concrete foundations for the transformation of our physical campus today, we pay tribute to visionaries like Bob who enable us to continue to produce ideas that will help to make the world safer and more prosperous in the years ahead.”

Elmendorf said the gift makes possible new initiatives that will draw on the talents of people across Harvard and beyond. “On behalf of everyone who will benefit from the generosity of the Belfer family, in both the near term and the distant future, I want to express our deep gratitude,” he said.

“Leveraging science, technology, and policy to confront hard problems and better people’s lives has been the aim of my family’s philanthropy for decades,” said alumnus Robert Belfer, J.D. ’58, chairman of Belfer Management LLC, a private investment firm. “At Harvard Kennedy School and the Belfer Center, this aspiration becomes achievement. Year after year, under Graham Allison’s leadership, the Center mobilizes the very best minds to make the world a safer place for our children and grandchildren. Today, as we face a major new security risk from cyber attacks, I am counting on Harvard to again rise to the challenge.”

“Bob and his family know all too well the importance of facing global threats early and often,” said Graham Allison, Douglas Dillon Professor of Government and director of the Belfer Center. “Two decades ago, his support helped the Center meet the challenge of nuclear security in the post-Cold War world. Today, his gift signals confidence in our ability to serve elected officials, policy makers, and the public they are entrusted to protect with cutting-edge research on one of our era’s defining challenges.”

The Belfer Center’s new Cyber Security Project, to be led by former Pentagon official Michael Sulmeyer, will bring together some of the best minds at Harvard and beyond, including Joseph Nye, Venky Narayanamurti, Jack Goldsmith, Michael Chertoff, Jim Miller, David Sanger, James “Sandy” Winnefeld, and James “Hoss” Cartwright. The project is a key element in the Center’s wider Cyber Initiative under the auspices of Daniel Schrag, director of the Science, Technology, and Public Policy program. The Belfer family’s gift establishes a New Initiatives Fund to ensure that the program’s unique teaching, research, and policy impact at the interface of science, technology, and global security stays abreast of the times. It also helps Harvard deepen its commitment to training the next generation of global leaders at HKS.

The Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs – named for Robert and Renée Belfer in 1997 – is the hub of Harvard Kennedy School’s research and training in international security and diplomacy, environmental and resource issues, and science and technology policy. In 2014, the Belfer Center was ranked the world’s #1 University Affiliated Think Tank by the University of Pennsylvania’s Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program. The Center has a dual mission: (1) to provide leadership in advancing policy-relevant knowledge about the most important challenges of international security and other critical issues where science, technology, environmental policy, and international affairs intersect; and (2) to prepare future generations of leaders for these arenas.

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• Kering launches its collaboration with the ‘Women at Sundance’ Fellowship Program at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, to provide year-long support to six female filmmakers. Kering will develop a special training workshop for this year’s Women at Sundance Fellows. 
• In addition, Kering and Sundance Institute will co-host a ‘Women in Motion’ panel discussion in NYC in April 2016.

Kering is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Sundance Institute’s ‘Women at Sundance’ Fellowship Program. The objective of the program is to help talented filmmakers overcome any obstacles they may face in building a career in film. This year, the program matches six women filmmakers from Sundance Institute’s acclaimed programs with industry leaders and decision makers for a year-long, individualized fellowship program, including one-on-one mentorship, coaching and access to learning and networking opportunities. Over the past three years, the Fellowship has supported 29 filmmakers, including Ava DuVernay (director, Selma), Sydney Freeland (writer/director, Drunktown’s Finest), Aurora Guerrero (writer/director, Mosquita y Mari), Marielle Heller (writer/director, The Diary of a Teenage Girl) and Tracy Droz Tragos (director/producer, Rich Hill).

As a global business leader committed to women’s empowerment, Kering will team up with Sundance Institute to further develop its ‘Women in Motion’ program and host the Fellows for a customized training session with inspiring women to develop their leadership skills.

Additionally, Kering and Sundance Institute will present a ‘Women in Motion’ Talk to continue to promote openness and diversity in the film industry. The workshop and the panel discussion will take place in April 2016 in New York City.

Women’s empowerment is at the heart of Kering’s vision and social commitment. Last year, in partnership with the Festival de Cannes, Kering launched the ‘Women in Motion’ program to celebrate female talent in cinema and their contribution to the film industry. Notable actors, writers, directors and producers, both men and women, attended the 2015 ‘Women in Motion’ Talks to exchange views on the gender gap in Hollywood and the film industry at large. Jane Fonda and Megan Ellison received ‘Women in Motion’ awards, which recognized their significant contributions to the industry.

François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of the Kering Group, said: “Women make up 50.8% of the U.S. population and yet only 4.2% of the 100 top-grossing films are made by female directors. However, each year for the last 13 years, 25% of American directors at the Sundance Film Festival have been female. I am thus very excited and proud about Kering supporting ‘Women at Sundance’ Fellows. Empowering women to succeed and encouraging a more diverse film industry is essential when we consider the impact that films have on our ways of thinking and behaving. Sundance Institute is doing this in a very pragmatic and exemplary way.”

Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said: “We have always believed that diverse artists and perspectives are critical to the health and vibrancy of independent storytelling. We are grateful for Kering’s support in helping us raise awareness of the importance of gender equality in entertainment and empowering women filmmakers.”

About Kering

A world leader in apparel and accessories, Kering develops an ensemble of powerful Luxury and Sport & Lifestyle brands: Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Brioni, Christopher Kane, McQ, Stella McCartney, Tomas Maier, Boucheron, Dodo, Girard-Perregaux, JeanRichard, Pomellato, Qeelin, Ulysse Nardin, Puma, Volcom, Cobra and Electric. By ‘empowering imagination’ in the fullest sense, Kering encourages its brands to reach their potential, in the most sustainable manner.

Present in more than 120 countries, the Group generated revenues of €10 billion in 2014 and had more than 37,000 employees at year end. The Kering (previously PPR) share is listed on Euronext Paris (FR 0000121485, KER.PA, KER.FP).

About Sundance Institute

Founded in 1981 by Robert Redford, Sundance Institute is a nonprofit organization that provides and preserves the space for artists in film, theatre, and new media to create and thrive. The Institute’s signature Labs, granting, and mentorship programs, dedicated to developing new work, take place throughout the year in the U.S. and internationally. The Sundance Film Festival and other public programs connect audiences to artists in igniting new ideas, discovering original voices, and building a community dedicated to independent storytelling. Sundance Institute has supported such projects as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Sin Nombre, The Invisible War, The Square, Dirty Wars, Spring Awakening, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and Fun Home.

Websites:

www.kering.com

www.sundance.org

Social Media

Twitter: @KeringGroup; @sundancefest

LinkedIn: Kering, Sundance Institute

Instagram: @kering_official; @sundanceinstitute

YouTube: KeringGroup, SFF

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20 Bay Area Nonprofits Providing Arts, Music, and Sports Programs To Low-Income Kids to be Awarded Grants – Fan Voting Will Decide Top Grant Recipients

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 – San Francisco – Today, 50 Fund, the legacy fund of the San Francisco Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee, announced an expansion of its Playmaker program through a $250,000 grant from the StubHub Foundation (a corporate advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation). An additional 20 Bay Area-based nonprofits supporting music, sports and arts programs for low-income kids will now be able to benefit, supplementing an original 50 organizations that received $10,000 grants.

Each of these new Playmaker grantees will receive $10,000, with the opportunity to receive more through StubHub’s “Fan’s Choice” voting section on StubHub.com/ultimate-pregame. Fans can vote for their favorite causes with the top five vote-getters receiving an additional $10,000 for a total of $20,000 in funding. Voting has started and will continue through February 5th.

“StubHub is all about providing fans with choice,” said Scott Cutler, President of StubHub. “Since the Big Game is in our backyard this year, we are happy to provide fans with the unique opportunity to decide how the foundation grant will be allocated to help support these amazing Bay Area nonprofits that are working every day to make positive change for youth in our communities. With the StubHub Foundation’s focus of expanding access and opportunity for at-risk youth through arts, music, and sports programs, it is a natural fit to partner with 50 Fund’s Playmaker program.”

With the goal of being the most giving Super Bowl ever, 50 Fund has already given more than $5 million in grants through its Game Changer and Playmaker grant programs as well as its two signature initiatives: The Re(a)d Zone (early literacy) and PLAY 60, Play On (fitness and play). More than 325,000 low-income children, youth, and young adults in the Bay Area have already benefitted from the services provided by the more than 100 nonprofits that have received 50 Fund grants to date.

“The 50 Fund Playmaker program has put a spotlight on organizations around the Bay Area and the real difference they are making in their individual communities, so we’re thrilled to continue this program beyond February,” says Kamba Tshionyi, 50 Fund’s Board Chair, “The StubHub Foundation’s grant and ‘Fan’s Choice’ program will help these new Playmaker grantees gain important visibility and attract new supporters.”

The following 20 nonprofits are the additional organizations selected by 50 Fund and StubHub Foundation for their focus on helping to close the opportunity gap for low-income children, youth, and young adults in the Bay Area with projects integrating music, sports, or the arts (click the name of the non-profit to learn more about funding):

America SCORES Bay Area (San Francisco): To support the “Poetry Slam!” event at Everett Middle School held annually for our poet-athletes.
Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) (San Jose): To provide scholarships to low-income students.
Bayview Opera House (San Francisco): To fund Dare 2 Dream Arts Youth Enrichment program.
California Indian Museum and Cultural Center (Santa Rosa): To support the development of a Native youth arts micro-enterprise project.
Fam 1st Family Foundation (San Francisco): To implement a new sports specific workshop series.
Family Support Services of the Bay Area (Oakland): To build a robust computer lab that will make video editing and graphic design skills accessible to the youth in the Kinship Youth Program.
Giants Community Fund (San Francisco): To help support the Junior Giants in supplying youth baseball programs with equipment.
Girls on the Run of the Bay Area (San Francisco): To launch a new initiative to develop women as leaders in our community.
Larkin Street Youth Services (San Francisco): To fund the installation of a professional recording studio in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (San Francisco): To support the creation of a Youth Printmaking class and a scholarship for low-income youth.
Northern Light School (Oakland): To support the Northern Lights sports program with new equipment.
Old Skool Café (San Francisco): To provide low-income students with literacy programs and arts education.
OneFam (Oakland): To support low-income and at-risk youth in the organization a weekend of activities to commemorate African-American history.
Sacred Heart Nativity Schools (San Jose): To support the start-up efforts to form an athletic program.
San Jose Day Nursery (San Jose): To purchase sports and physical education equipment.
School of Arts and Culture at MHP (San Jose): To fund the Instrument Loan Program (ILP) for low-income students.
Sonoma Valley Education Foundation (Sonoma): To purchase new instruments for the Valley Vibes Orchestra Program (ViVO).
The First Tee of San Francisco (San Francisco): To subsidize all transportation costs for additional schools to participate in the Gold In Schools program.
The Fit Kids Foundation (Redwood City): To fund two new after-school physical activity programs at Costano Elementary School.
Tower Foundation of San Jose State University (San Jose): To fund the SJSU’s School of Music and Dance/CMI: the String Project.

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Trenton, NJ, January 20, 2016 – The New Jersey State Library (NJSL) has received a $40,000 grant from the PSEG Foundation to support an online resource, Librarian’s Disaster Planning and Community Resiliency Toolkit, which enables libraries to effectively contribute to managing local disasters and help speed recovery of their communities. The grant will provide for the printing of 500 manuals, the creation of an archived training webinar and 10 training workshops which will be held at libraries across the state. Participating library staff will learn how to implement a service continuity plan in order to get their libraries reopened as quickly as possible and offer services that will restore normalcy to the community after a disaster.

The toolkit was designed to help library staff define the challenges they will face during a major disruption and the implications that those risks pose to their facility. Presented as a series of “how to” resources, the toolkit allows any public library to proactively respond to community disasters and assists them in establishing a working relationship with their local emergency response community. The toolkit includes: checklists, worksheets, budgeting tools, tabletop exercises, task descriptions, and self-assessment tools – all designed specifically for use by public library staff.

The PSEG Foundation awarded the grant based on library responses during recent natural disasters in the state. Given their association with accurate information and their image as a safe haven, the public turns to libraries for help during a crisis. “Over the past few years, we have seen New Jersey libraries come to the forefront in the aftermath of a disaster, providing valuable aid, shelter and resources to their communities,” said Mary Chute, New Jersey State Librarian. “This training will enable more of our library staff to respond quicker and with more confidence.”

“It is important that we all try and be prepared for when a crisis might strike, which is why it’s so critical for families to have access to information,” said Ellen Lambert, president of the PSEG Foundation. “Our grant to the State Library will help create a forum for the library to be a resource for families and communities to actively be involved in crisis planning.”

The State Library will be partnering with the NJ Library Association on the program. According to Michele Stricker, NJSL’s deputy state librarian for Lifelong Learning, plans are for the training workshops to begin in the spring of 2016.

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Congratulations Animal Rescuers Without Borders, Inc. (ARWOB) (San Diego, CA) for winning the givn #SparkTheGood Grand Prize, presented by Posiba. To highlight this exciting story about how the $10,000 prize money will help them with their 2016 goals and save more homeless dogs and cats through pet adoption, we interviewed ARWOB Executive Director Alondra Gomez.

The givn winners were selected based on the most social media engagements (Likes, Shares and Retweets) using the givn app and website that lets users easily share and track donations (monetary and volunteer hours). To encourage fans to help them win this contest, ARWOB sent a message out via Facebook and email asking their supporters to do social sharing thru the givn app.

1. How does ARWOB support the community?

Animal Rescuers Without Borders, Inc. (ARWOB) is dedicated to reducing the overpopulation of homeless pets and improving the lives of animals through rescue, fostering programs, adoption, and spaying and neutering. The ARWOB group operates primarily in Mexico, and has an office in San Diego, California.

2. What makes ARWOB unique?

As a border town, San Diego has a lot of animals come across from Mexico. Tijuana and Ensenada don’t really have animal control or animal rescue organizations so ARWOB tries to fill that need. Alondra explained that many times Americans come back across the border with a street dog, and they can’t keep them. Local shelters won’t take animals from Mexico, but to ARWOB, a cat is a cat and a dog is a dog. “We will always give the animal a second chance,” said Gomez. ARWOB also makes an effort to help independent animal rescuers in Mexico in whatever way they can.

3. What does ARWOB plan to do with the givn #SparkTheGood Contest winnings?

Alondra Gomez expressed great gratitude, “This money will go a long way to helping with everything we do. If we don’t have money in the bank, we have to turn an animal away. And we never want to do that.” ARWOB is currently planning to use their givn #SparkTheGood Contest winnings primarily for 3 things: 1) promote a spay and neuter clinic to keep the animal population down, 2) recruit more foster families and 3) provide emergency care for animals to avoid euthanization whenever possible.

4. How did ARWOB use the givn app and social media sharing to win the contest?

ARWOB reached out to their supporters via Facebook and email. “At first, people were hesitant, but once they got the hang of it, it was easy. It was really nice that people could advertise their support in this way. Being able to show a picture of where the money goes is such a powerful thing, one of the most powerful you can do.” Alondra also emphasized that this campaign absolutely increased their end-of-year donations.

5. Looking forward, what are your 2016 plans?

Because there are simply too many animals, ARWOB will continue to focus on pet adoptions in 2016. Alondra expanded, “Most clinics charge between $200 – $500 dollars to spay or neuter a pet, so most low-income families won’t do it. If we can do it for free or for very little, we can get it done for them. They just have to call us.”

At the end of the interview, Alondra Gomez added that anytime they have an urgent situation where an animal faces euthanization, they will use givn to help push out the message through social media. “I am not a social media expert,” Alondra laughed, “but givn worked. It was great to see our community come together for this.”

The givn #SparkTheGood Contest award money will be presented to ARWOB at Posiba with the top 3 winners in San Diego, California, during a special check presentation ceremony on Thursday, January 28, 2016. Congratulations to ARWOB, and thank you givn and Posiba for making a big difference in the community with this contest and givn app.

For more information about ARWOB, visit http://www.arwob.org/. You can also download the givn app to track your giving (monetary and volunteer hours), and/or sign up on the givn website: https://givn.social/.

givn app
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/givn/id991672848?mt=8

givn #SparkTheGood Contest (blog)
http://try.givn.social/blog-final-10-days/

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WASHINGTON – The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Government’s Development Finance Institution, today announced a $4 million financing commitment to Envirofit International, a social enterprise that innovates smart energy products to improve lives on a global scale. OPIC financing will support the commercial expansion of Envirofit’s business operations to provide their cutting edge, high quality, low cost, clean cookstove technology across the world.

“We are excited about the partnership with OPIC and their commitment to support Envirofit with the necessary capital to grow our business in Africa, Asia, and Latin America,” said Ron Bills, CEO of Envirofit.

“Envirofit presents exceptional potential for high-impact development progress for low-income people around the world,” said Elizabeth Littlefield, OPIC’s President and CEO. “With this new growth capital from OPIC, we’re looking forward to helping them realize their goals to create healthier, cleaner homes across developing regions.”

Nearly half the world’s population still uses open fires or rudimentary stoves for home cooking. Emitting the equivalent smoke of 400 cigarettes per hour, these stoves are a source of harmful household air pollution and have been cited as one of the world’s greatest health risks. In addition, open fire cooking contributes to 25% of global black carbon emission and can consume up to 25% of household expenses for people living in energy poverty.

In 2003, Envirofit focused on changing the way energy products were developed for people living in energy poverty. Using a market-based approach, Envirofit developed a global product line of smart, clean cookstoves that cook faster while reducing fuel use, smoke, and toxic emissions. In 2007 Envirofit formed a long-term partnership with Shell Foundation – an independent charity who provided them with grant funding and extensive business support. This helped the company grow from a one-product business to a global organization serving over 5 million people, with over a dozen user-designed products.

To help confront this global challenge, Envirofit and OPIC are also both members of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, an ambitious public-private partnership hosted by the UN Foundation that aims to foster the adoption of clean cookstoves and fuels in 100 million households around the world.

Source: https://www.opic.gov/press-releases/2016/opic-and-envirofit-partner-expand-clean-cookstoves%E2%80%99-global-use-0

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New program promotes global learning initiatives for entrepreneurs

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. – EdCast, the fast-growing social knowledge network on which users learn from the masters, today announced that it has partnered with Hewlett Packard’s Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs (HP LIFE), a global community of over 580,000 users that are able to learn and build upon existing essential IT and business skills at no cost. HP LIFE 2.0, powered by EdCast’s knowledge sharing platform, will harness the influence of social learning to offer 25 interactive micro-courses across a wide spectrum of topics.

Aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs and offered in seven different languages, HP LIFE 2.0’s self-paced courses will span essential business areas such as strategic planning, leadership, sales, marketing, inventory management, funding and finance.

As part of the new platform, the informal learning offered through the 25 micro-courses will complement existing learning experiences by providing users with a personalized feed of bite-sized content that they can consume every day. Users will be provided with a continuous stream of high value curated content, based on their Knowledge Graph, which is derived from their interests and learning behaviors, so that users can collaborate with their peers to create an engaging experience.

“Social learning is an increasingly powerful pedagogical tool that promotes optimum engagement and daily learning by encouraging users to connect and collaborate with peers and influencers,” says Karl Mehta, EdCast CEO and Founder. “EdCast has proven experience in this space, and is delighted to partner with HP to deliver further meaningful, accessible learning solutions to a broad cross-section of global users.”

HP LIFE, which in its current iteration is utilized by users in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, will now allow users to discover new topics and access additional quality content from a wide variety of thought leaders through the EdCast platform. Additionally, HP LIFE 2.0 provides access to private communities and discussion forums for collaborating partners.

For more information, log on to www.EdCast.com

About EdCast

EdCast is a social knowledge network built in an effort to enhance our ability to collaborate and learn. EdCast Knowledge NetworksTM power social, mobile and cloud-based learning for world-class institutions, enterprises, governments and nonprofits and enables millions of lifelong learners to collaborate. The EdCast executive team has a track record of building large-scale transformational technology; all are passionate about the global impact of mobile and online education. EdCast is a Stanford StartX company backed by tier one VC firms. The Company is based in Mountain View CA, with offices worldwide.

About HP Inc.

HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our portfolio of printers, PCs, mobile devices, solutions, and services, we engineer experiences that amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at http://www.hp.com.

© 2015 HP Inc. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP Inc. products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP Inc. shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained

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Privately-funded national non-profit’s innovative approach to Afterschool celebrated: development through the power of performance

NEW YORK, NY – January 21, 2015: The All Stars Project, Inc., a privately funded national nonprofit organization founded in 1981 whose mission is to transform the lives of youth and poor communities using the developmental power of performance, in partnership with caring adults, has been awarded the Simmons Luminary Award from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas. All Stars Project President and CEO Gabrielle L. Kurlander will accept the award at a special dinner and presentation on Thursday, January 21, 2016. The Luminary Award honors individuals or organizations which have shown an extraordinary commitment to improving people’s lives through education. The Luminary Award is inspired by the power of learning to illuminate and improve society.

“My colleagues and I are deeply honored by the choice of the All Stars Project as the recipient of the SMU Simmons Luminary Award,” said All Stars CEO Gabrielle Kurlander. “Like the Simmons School, we challenge tradition – in our case, the tradition we challenge is the remedial approach to afterschool. Instead, we believe that development, through the power of performance, is the key to unlocking the potential of inner-city youth, especially those overlooked by many current programs.”

SMU believes that knowledge is vital to the social and economic well-being and empowerment of individuals and communities everywhere. The award is presented by the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development at SMU. The school aims to transform the way teaching and leadership enhances the education of young minds and lifelong learners. Through enlightened research and scholarship, the school thoughtfully challenges traditional ideas about education systems and practices.

“Oftentimes as educators we spend so much of our time trying to figure out how to get children to be successful in school, we forget about the other aspects of their lives – the development of confidence and resilience, and interests outside of school,” said David Chard, dean of the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development at Southern Methodist University. “The All Stars Project has the potential to change all of that. We are inspired by the All Stars Project’s innovative performance-based approach to Afterschool Development, and all that they do to help young people create new possibilities for themselves and their communities.”

About All Stars Project, Inc.

The All Stars Project is a privately funded national nonprofit organization founded in 1981 whose mission is to transform the lives of youth and poor communities using the developmental power of performance, in partnership with caring adults. By 2020, the All Stars Project will be recognized as America’s leader in afterschool development, a new way of engaging poverty.

From engaging young people with corporate America through its Development School for Youth (DSY), to the All Stars Talent Show Network (ASTSN), to building better police-community relations through Operation Conversation: Cops & Kids, the All Stars Project has seen the power of performance to change lives. ASP is supported by some of America’s leading companies including DIRECTV, EY, MetLife, PWC and Viacom. Led by President and CEO Gabrielle Kurlander, the ASP involves over 10,000 young people every year in its afterschool programs in six cities across the country. Learn more at http://www.allstars.org, on Facebook and on Twitter @AllStarsProject.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 21, 2016) – Soles4Souls is partnering with After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles (ASAS-LA) to distribute over 300 pairs of adidas and Kardashian Kollection shoes donated on behalf of Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West to Los Angeles area at-risk students with the greatest of needs and the fewest of resources. The “Fab-Out Monday” event takes place on Monday, January 25, 2016 between 3:30 and 6 p.m. on the campus of Alliance-Gertz Ressler High School, located at 2023 S. Union Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007. The event also includes a chance for students to have their hair and makeup done by professional hair and makeup artists. Photographers will capture all the fun in a culminating photo shoot.

In early December 2015, Kim Kardashian West learned about 17-year-old Amelia Flores from Wichita, Kan., who was aiming to collect 2,000 pairs of shoes to support the non-profit Soles4Souls’ mission. Kim was moved by Flores’ story and took to Twitter to seek her out and commit to giving 1,000 pairs of shoes to help reach her goal.

Since then, Soles4Souls has received the donation of 1,000 pairs of shoes provided by adidas and Kardashian Kollection on behalf of the West Family and is working with Amelia Flores to distribute to those in need in Los Angeles, Calif., Wichita, Kan. and New Orleans, La.

“We are grateful to Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West for their generous donation,” says Soles4Souls CEO Buddy Teaster. “By identifying Amelia’s work with Soles4Souls and leveraging her influence through social media, Kim has generated an incredible amount of awareness which has benefitted our efforts to help fight poverty and those in need.”

“After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles is grateful and excited for this experience brought to our students and the collaborative efforts from our community partner Sole4Souls, the West Family, adidas, Kardashian Kollection and Amelia Flores,” said Ana Campos, President and CEO of ASAS-LA. “Our students’ after-school education is made up 100 percent through donations like this, and we’re deeply touched and thankful for positive events like these happening in LA for our future leaders.”

About Soles4Souls:

Soles4Souls is a non-profit global social enterprise committed to fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing. The organization advances its anti-poverty mission by collecting new and used shoes and clothes from individuals, schools, faith- based institutions, civic organizations and corporate partners, then distributing those shoes and clothes both via direct donations to people in need and by provisioning qualified micro-enterprise programs designed to create jobs in poor and disadvantaged communities. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Soles4Souls is committed to the highest standards of operating and governance. Visit soles4souls.org for more information.

About After-School All-Star Los Angeles:

After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles (ASAS-LA), is the leading school-based after-school program provider, for at-risk children, with the greatest of needs and fewest of resources in K-12 whose programs educate, enlighten and inspire thousands of students each day through innovative, cutting-edge enrichment programming centered around our four pillars: academics; health, fitness and nutrition; the visual and performing arts; and youth leadership and community service learning. The organization positively impacts the lives of more than 14,000 students at 39 schools located in areas of need throughout LA County. For more information, please visit www.la-allstars.org

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ANN ARBOR — The Detroit Police Athletic League and its partners have raised millions to convert old Tiger Stadium into its headquarters and playing field space for local youths the nonprofit group serves.

But how will it sustain funding in the years to come while including historical, community and youth development priorities? That’s a question it will put to student teams at the University of Michigan who will take part in the Social Impact Challenge, which starts today and wraps up Feb. 9 with final team pitches to a panel of judges that includes experts and leaders from Detroit.

The Center for Social Impact at U-M’s Ross School of Business hosts the challenge each year with an organization in Detroit to tackle a pressing strategic issue. Last year, it worked with a team of partners to design redevelopment proposals for the Fisher Body Plant 21 in Detroit’s north end.

Rishi Moudgil, the center’s managing director, launched this program as college students are increasingly interested in applying their education to benefit society.

“Millennials seek opportunities that align to their values,” he said. “Working across sectors and disciplines on real issues allows them to deliver social impact.”

The Social Impact Challenge is an opportunity for students to collaborate on graduate and undergraduate teams across a dozen U-M schools and colleges to tackle complex social issues in a competitive environment with real-world implications.

Joe Tate of Detroit signed up for his second challenge competition because it’s a good opportunity to work on an issue in the city while pursuing his MBA at the Ross School and a master’s degree at the School of Natural Resources and Environment.

“Ultimately, I am hoping to learn more about the city of Detroit and how Detroit PAL fits into the fabric of the city,” he said.

And Karen Yocky, a Chicago native pursuing a master’s degree in public policy at U-M’s Ford School, said she’s eager to test her skills on the challenge. Her mother grew up in Detroit and she remembers going to baseball games at Tiger Stadium when she was a kid. She’s excited to learn more about nonprofit strategy and urban policy issues, and practice applying a broad range of perspectives to an important and real opportunity in Detroit.

“This case fits perfectly with my goals because it requires participants to think about how financial growth and sustainability can be achieved alongside positively impacting the lives of youth in Detroit,” she said.

During the competition, the teams parse through live data, investigate the context and social issues, engage with the community and develop strategic recommendations for action. The winning team receives a $2,500 cash prize, the opportunity for their ideas to be implemented, and subsequent paid summer internships.

Detroit Police Athletic League, a nonprofit organization that benefits more than 12,000 children each year, is working with the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy and a host of other partners including the city of Detroit and the Skillman Foundation on deepening its impact. They have enlisted the help of U-M student teams for the Kids at the Corner Campaign to:

• Expand its programs and organization into more Detroit communities
• Redevelop the historic site of old Tiger Stadium into a safe and healthy playing field and permanent headquarters for Detroit PAL
• Positively influence and develop a new generation of leaders for Detroit
• Raise the organization’s national profile and reputation, growing the donor base and connecting the thousands of Detroit PAL alumni to the iconic Tiger Stadium
• Provide sustainable revenue beyond philanthropy and donations

The anticipated groundbreaking for the new facility is this spring, but there is still much planning that needs to be done to ensure long-term success.

“Detroit Police Athletic League is proud to be a partner in this year’s Social Impact Challenge,” said Detroit PAL CEO Tim Richey. “It is important to us to create a positive presence in the Corktown community, offering extended sports and mentorship programming to the youth of the city, while also preserving the history of old Tiger Stadium. We are excited to hear ideas from the bright minds across University of Michigan’s campus.”

As part of the research process, U-M students will travel to the the stadium site on Saturday for a tour.

The tour begins at 9 a.m. followed by presentations from the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy and the Corktown Economic Development Corp. at McShane’s, 1460 Michigan Ave., Detroit.

At noon, they will watch a Detroit PAL volleyball game at Michigan Technical Academy Middle School, 23750 Elmira, Redford Township. Media are invited to attend. Students and representatives from Detroit PAL and the Center for Social Impact will be available for interviews.

Since its inception in 2014, the Center for Social Impact has educated hundreds of students across U-M and worked with a wide array of partners to define and advance the practice of social impact, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. The center has a significant interest and stake in the city of Detroit.

Social Impact Challenge

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Stella Artois underscores its commitment to global water issue with debut of documentary series and launch of limited edition chalices

“Buy a Lady a Drink” campaign returns for a second year as a part of the brand’s new “Be Legacy” creative territory

PR Newswire, NEW YORK, NY – January 21, 2016 – Water has played an important role in the Stella Artois brewing heritage for more than 600 years, and is an essential ingredient in the Stella Artois that is brewed today. Yet 663 million people lack access to clean water – a global crisis that disproportionately affects women, who spend millions of hours a day collecting it. Stella Artois has again partnered with Water.org to drive awareness of the global water crisis, and calls on consumers to help leave a legacy as the generation that ends this crisis, once and for all.

The “Buy a Lady a Drink” campaign was first launched in 2015 to utilize Stella Artois’ global footprint to help positively impact this important issue. Last year the campaign focused on women’s long journeys for clean water. This year, the campaign showcases the positive impact that access to clean water can have, while inspiring consumers to leave a positive mark on the world.

“I’ve seen how the lives of women and their families can change when they get access to clean water,” said Water.org Co-Founder Matt Damon. “Access to water is access to education, access to work, access to the kind of future we want for all humankind. Thanks to our partnership with Stella Artois, this year’s ‘Buy a Lady a Drink’ campaign helps us tell this story – and gives consumers the chance to help us change it.”

“Water.org is committed to making clean water accessible so everyone in the world has the opportunity to prosper,” said Water.org Co-Founder and CEO Gary White. “We’re proud to partner with Stella Artois again this year to help us change more futures around the globe.”

This global, multi-channel partnership launches today with several opportunities to engage in the effort.

New Limited-Edition Chalices Designed by Local Artists in Kenya, Peru and Haiti

Today, Stella Artois will release a new set of limited-edition Chalices designed by three artists from Kenya, Peru and Haiti: Daniel Cortez Torres from Peru, Wini Awuondo from Kenya and Michele Manuel from Haiti. Each design represents the specific water problem faced by women in their country.

Consumers can purchase one of the exclusive Chalices for $13 at Amazon.com. For every Chalice sold in the U.S., Stella Artois will donate $6.25 to Water.org, up to 90,000 chalices, to help provide five years of clean water for one person in the developing world.

“Water is woven into the very fabric of Stella Artois – it has allowed us to leave behind a proud brewing legacy, and we want others to have that same opportunity to leave a mark on the world,” said Ricardo Marques, vice president, Stella Artois. “Thanks to our continued partnership with Water.org, we have been able to change the lives of more than 290,000 people in the developing world through access to clean drinking water. Small actions, like the purchase of a Chalice, can have a big impact.”

New Short Films

The campaign will also feature three new short films. The first film showcases a zoetrope animation, a moving image device that features individual Stella Artois Chalices painted with different scenes of the positive impact that access to clean water can bring – such as growing crops, earning an income and going to school. The second film, featuring Matt Damon with the zoetrope, asks consumers to consider their own personal legacies and challenges them to become part of the generation that ends the global water crisis. Finally, the third film is a YouTube 360 video, which brings to life the experience of one woman and her family in Honduras via virtual reality on consumers’ mobile devices.

Debut of New Documentary Series

To further underscore the power of water and inspire social action, Stella Artois has commissioned 2015 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize Winner Crystal Moselle to create a three-part documentary series showcasing the impact of the global water crisis on women and their communities in Haiti, Kenya, and Peru.

Moselle and her Academy- and Emmy Award- winning producer Fazeelat Aslam recently traveled to Haiti, where they met Marie, a midwife living in a community with no access to clean water. In her daily struggle to provide for her large family and service her community, Marie’s resilience became immediately apparent. Her story inspired the filmmaking team’s first chapter of an eye-opening look at the water crisis around the world.

“Clean water is something that’s easily taken for granted. Many of us don’t realize how much it impacts a community’s livelihood and sense of hope for the future,” said Moselle. “On our visit to Haiti, we met so many amazing women dealing with the crisis on several levels. These stories of strength, hope and perseverance really resonated with us, and we hope they will inspire viewers enough to take action.”

The films will be produced in partnership with Stella Artois, and with advisory support from Water.org. The series will debut to coincide with World Water Day.

Stella Artois Leaves a Mark at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival

Stella Artois will showcase its commitment to making a difference at this year’s Festival in Park City.

• Water.org Co-Founders Matt Damon and Gary White will host a panel session along with Todd Allen, Global Vice President, Stella Artois. The discussion will be centered on the current global water crisis, and what needs to be done to end the long water collection journeys many women in developing countries have to make each day.
• Stella Documentary Series filmmaking team Crystal Moselle and Fazeelat Aslam will lead a discussion about powerful storytelling through film.  The duo will debut a manifesto video from their experience in Haiti and discuss their new documentary series.
• The Stella Artois Filmmaker Lounge will highlight up-and-coming directors and films that empower women, and much more, to further inspire others to leave their mark on the world.

To learn more about the global water crisis, how to leave a mark on the world and purchase a limited-edition Stella Artois Chalice, consumers can visit BuyALadyADrink.com or follow @StellaArtois #LeaveYourMark on social media.

About Stella Artois

Stella Artois® is part of a Belgian brewing tradition dating back to 1366. It is the No. 1 Belgian beer in the world and is present in over 95 countries. Stella Artois® is a bottom filtered, blonde pilsner. It is thirst quenching with a malty middle and crisp finish delivering a full flavor and a hint of bitterness. Stella Artois® is best enjoyed served between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius and should be served in the unique Stella Artois®Chalice according to the 9-Step Pouring Ritual to guarantee a perfect experience of this gold standard lager. Visit www.stellaartois.com for more information.

About Water.org

For more than 20 years, Water.org has been at the forefront of developing and delivering solutions to the global water crisis. Founded by Gary White and Matt Damon, Water.org pioneers innovative, community-driven and market-based initiatives to ensure all people have access to safe water and sanitation — giving women hope, children health and communities a future. To date, Water.org has positively transformed the lives of more than 3 million people around the world, ensuring a better life for generations ahead. Learn more at http://water.org and www.facebook.com/water.

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When it comes to dealing with problems such as anxiety, depression, etc, a pet can do wonders and bring a smile to ones face. Caring for a pet can be comforting and this friendship can be more intimate, more open and more understanding than any human friendship one can have.

Many people become attached to their pets and treat them as their equals, offering them unconditional love and not thinking of them as an animal, but as a friend, or part of their family. This can prove to be beneficial for both parties and can make both of them closer, and happier.

Every year, more than 4 million are victims of domestic violence, also known as spousal abuse. One might not see the connection between pet ownership and abuse, but Adriana Meucci, an Animal Rights Advocate is campaigning to raise awareness about the correlation between domestic violence and pet ownership.

The connection is such: The logical action against domestic violence is to legally separate oneself from a violent spouse, but most don’t do so because they fear about the ownership and treatment of their pets. To make the issue even mote complicated, is that in case of any legal suits or divorces, the ownership of the pet remains uncertain and victims fear that their sole companion will fall into the hands of violent spouse, and fear abuse, mistreatment or even death of the animal. This created wary and fear of taking any action and continue to suffer the abuse silently. This is not an aimless worry. Most domestic violence abusers use animals as a way to keep control of their spouses and family by maiming, torturing, and even killing the family pets to maintain control and make victims comply with their wishes. Many victims witness animal violence, and when thoughts of fleeing, (which usually is to a shelter or a friends’ home; either may not be able to accommodate the animal(s). And so, they stay, as pets provide unconditional support and boost morale for victims.

In a recent Study, over 75% of women going through domestic violence confessed that they weren’t taking any action for sake of their pets. Meucci, who recently was awarded the title of “Outstanding Volunteer” by the Closter Animal Welfare Society, was horrified by the legal state of this issue.

She is campaigning for improved laws, which will allow unconditional ownership of one’s pets in case of domestic violence. In addition, she also is clamoring for on-site shelters for pets of victims. The second part is necessary, because as of now, domestic shelters don’t have adequate space or suitable timings for the Pets of these Victims, which is why Meucci is demanding a ramp up in accessibility standards of domestic Shelters.

“The Pets and Women Safety Act (H.R. 1258) would give expansive federal protection to pets of domestic violence victims. Moreover, this law would provide a much needed federal grant program to help provide safe haven and pet friendly domestic violence shelters. As one social worker from a domestic violence agency told me: ‘This law must simply be passed.’ Presently, the bill is before the Congress.” This act would give money to shelters and other organizations to increase the number of pet-friendly safe havens nationwide, removing pets a barrier for women and children seeking to leave domestic violence situations.

“The PAWS ACT needs to be passed because there exists a tremendous need for pet friendly housing and pet accommodations at domestic violence shelters,” Meucci explains. “Women and animals under the rule of their abusers are in imminent danger of being harmed, maimed, and sadly killed. This bill is vital for the safety and well-being of all concerned. No one has the right to abuse anyone physically, psychologically, emotionally, or financially. We need to provide people and animals a way out of this horror of family violence.”

Meucci added that that in many states pets can now be included in restraining orders, the PAWS ACT would take this a step further by making sure women can escape to safe havens with space for their pets as well as themselves and their children.

To achieve this goal, she has started Petition Signatures on The Petition Hub and Causes, and has also been campaigning on all major Social Channels, to ensure that her voice is being heard. She wants others to take up the mantle and enable more widespread awareness of this issue, so that the legal framework can undergo some changes to support these victims.

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NEW ORLEANS – Phase One of the America’s WETLAND Foundation (AWF) Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) Shoreline Stabilization and Restoration Project is complete; one mile of Vegetated EcoShield™ has been installed and planted to create habitat and to provide protection from storm surge for the community of Larose and for critical energy infrastructure.

Phase One of the project stabilizes the Gulf-facing side of the GIWW where embankments are continuously lost to tidal surge, threatening freshwater marshes with saltwater intrusion and taking with it private lands bordering the canal.

The final strips of marsh grass begin to take root along the GIWW shoreline.

The project is a clear path for private investment that makes good business sense, protecting environmental, community and economic assets at an affordable cost. In past years, the private landowner has had to rebuild the embankment numerous times due to continuous erosion caused by tidal surge and other forces.

Both traditional and innovative technology were used in the form of low cost bucket dredges and the vegetated, recycled plastic matrix material called Vegetated EcoShield™, produced from recycled, post-consumer plastic, which protects shorelines and stabilizes banks while promoting vegetative growth. By providing a protective medium for vegetation to establish, grow and spread, it enhances the natural processes of the system by creating vegetative shorelines and important coastal habitats.

“The first phase of the project is in the ground before a freeze and now nature can do its job,” Val Marmillion, AWF managing director, said, noting that planting in the fall allows the stalks of Roseau Cane to take root. “The plants are sprouting and the matrix is holding to the berm and protecting it.” In April, AWF will replace any plants lost to the winter and will add some additional Roseau if sparse, adding grasses to the top embankments. “If observations prove good in April, we are on our way to completing Phase One of the project with a record time performance and for a fraction of the price usually associated with wetland recovery,” Marmillion said.

The entire project involves a four-mile section of the GIWW shoreline, with Phase Two to begin in 2016 on the north-facing side. When complete, the restoration effort will help protect energy assets, secure seafood and recreational waterways and, at the same time, provide habitat for wildlife and waterfowl, while increasing protection from storm surge for nearby communities.

The project is supported with private funding through the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), CITGO, Shell, ConocoPhillips, Chevron and Community Coffee, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the State of Louisiana, the Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association and private landowners.

For more information about the GIWW Shoreline Stabilization and Restoration Project, visit the Reports and Resources page on the America’s WETLAND Foundation website, and view the project overview and project narrative.

To see the latest news covering the project, click here.

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Kering has been recognized as one of the world’s most sustainable corporations, according to the Corporate Knights’ Global 100 index published at the World Economic Forum in Davos today. Kering is the only luxury corporation to be included in the 2016 Global 100, and placed second within the index’s Textile, Apparel & Luxury Goods sector.

This marks the Group’s first inclusion in the Global 100 and is based on the evaluation of its sustainability performance in 2015, a year during which Kering Group notably published its first Environmental Profit & Loss results and open-sourced the tool’s methodology. Kering’s performance rating is based on the evaluation of twelve quantitative Key Performance Indicators, inclusive of carbon productivity, innovation capacity, leadership diversity, corporate tax strategy and the dependence of executives’ remuneration on the corporation’s sustainability targets.

The Corporate Knights’ Global 100 is recognised as the joint best index in the world, according to the Branding Institute, for its relevance, insight, trustworthiness and convincing methodology. The index is devised from a starting universe of 4,353 listed companies who represented a market capitalization greater than $2 billion (USD) on 1 October 2015.

“Kering is very honored to be named one of the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world here in Davos today. With 2016 to mark the redefinition of Kering’s current Sustainability Targets, and the beginning of our strategy’s next chapter, we are entering a crucial period of evaluation and analysis. Such cross-industry benchmarks are thus of heightened importance, motivating us to drive our Group toward even greater economic and environmental efficiency,” said Marie-Claire Daveu, Chief Sustainability Officer and Head of international institutional affairs of Kering.

In September 2015, Kering was also recognised as an industry leader in the 2015 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) World and Europe, heading up the Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods sector for the second consecutive year.

The post Kering Recognised As One Of The Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations In The World By Corporate Knights appeared first on My Social Good News.

Big cheers to 1 More Win for being in the top three winners in the givn #SparkTheGood Contest, presented by Posiba. To share how this $5,000 prize money will support their 2016 goals to support underserved high school teams in San Diego, we interviewed their Executive Director, Founder and radio personality Jess Lozano (Star 94.1 and 102.7 KIIS FM in San Diego, CA).

The givn winners were selected based on the most social media engagements using the givn app and website that lets users easily share and track donations (monetary and volunteer hours).

1. How does 1 More Win support the community?

1 More Win is dedicated to helping underserved high school athletic programs with necessary equipment and resources. “We kept seeing these great schools and great athletes that play in the same leagues as well-funded programs. They just couldn’t compete, and sometimes couldn’t even make it to games because they had no money for buses,” Jesse Lozano explained.

2. What makes 1 More Win unique?

To help these teams in need, 1 More Win accepts nominations from local schools through their website. When a school is chosen to receive a donation, 1 More Win will support direct needs including equipment, nets, surfacing, uniforms, tournament entry fees, and other ways to help a team be more productive. Their motto and mission is: “Let’s help a few needy teams get ONE MORE WIN this year!”

3. What does 1 More Win plan to do with the givn #SparkTheGood Contest winnings?

1 More Win is planning to use their givn prize money to energize their first golf tournament on March 5, 2016, with the goal of raising $25,000. Lozano added, “We want to choose a local high school and deck them out start to finish – shoes, uniforms, pants, footballs. The funds will help get this event started.”

4. How did 1 More Win use the givn app and social media sharing to win the contest?

“Obviously social media was the proper way to do it. We have a nice little database of people we have helped over the year and we just encouraged them to help us this time,” Jesse explained. What was really critical for the organization was the timing. 1 More Win aligns their fundraising efforts around the three high school sports seasons – fall, winter and spring. “Coming right out of summer, the fall season is always tough so this contest was perfect.” He emphasized that the exposure was an added benefit. “We got a handful of unsolicited donations as well.”

5. Looking forward, what are your 2016 plans?

Along with their March golf tournament in 2016, Jesse explained, “We want to make a real big splash for the community.” Their long-term goal is to build a high school gym for the low-income schools so that “they can say wow and go have some fun.” To make this happen, Lozano emphasized they first want to grow their database of contacts and promote more fundraising opportunities to reach their long and short-term objectives.

The award money will be presented to 1 More Win with the top 3 winners at Posiba in San Diego, California, during a special check presentation ceremony on Thursday, January 28, 2016. Congratulations to 1 More Win and Jesse Lozano, and thank you givn and Posiba for making a big difference in the community with this contest and givn app.

For more information about 1 More Win, visit http://www.1morewin.org/. You can also download the givn app to track your giving (monetary and volunteer hours), and/or sign up on the givn website: https://givn.social/.

References

http://www.1morewin.org

https://www.facebook.com/1morewin/

givn app

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/givn/id991672848?mt=8

givn #SparkTheGood Contest (blog)

http://try.givn.social/blog-final-10-days/

The post 1 More Win Radio Star Jesse Lozano Explains How givn Prize Will Help High School Teams appeared first on My Social Good News.

Congratulations Lighthouse Cares Rescue Foundation for winning second place in the givn #SparkTheGood Contest, presented by Posiba. To spotlight how this $7,500 prize money will support their 2016 goals to support high schools in San Diego, we interviewed their Board President Steve Sanchez.

The givn winners were selected based on the most social media engagements (Likes, Shares and ReTweets) using the givn app and website that lets users easily share and track donations (monetary and volunteer hours).

1. How does the Lighthouse Cards Foundation support the community?

The Lighthouse Cares Foundation strives to create meaningful and heartfelt ways to give back to the community. Some of their initiatives include lunches for the homeless, as well as serving meals to support the Ronald McDonald House.

2. What makes the Lighthouse Cares Foundation unique?

The Lighthouse Cares Foundation is part of the 600-person Lighthouse Christian Fellowship congregation. They are always looking for new ways to help the needy. Sanchez emphasized, “Our volunteers really care about the people we serve.” Some of their projects include helping low income families with home repairs, taking meals to sick and incapacitated members, and doing community work at the Boys & Girls Club, as well as at battered women shelters. The foundation even won an award in 2011 for the most blood donated and were featured in a San Diego Blood Bank commercial.

3. What does the Lighthouse Cares Foundation plan to do with the givn #SparkTheGood Contest winnings?

Steve Sanchez explained on how Lighthouse Cares Foundation plans to use their givn prize money, “We have decided that pushing academic advancement helps the kids the most, and that also helps the families. We think this program will help make things even better for high school students that are struggling.” The money will provide things like backpacks, laptops computers, warm clothes and other necessities to high school students.

4. How did Lighthouse Cares Foundation use the givn app and social media sharing to win the contest?

To get fan support for the givn #SparkTheGood Contest, Lighthouse Cares Foundation made an announcement to their fellowship and included the link in their weekly church bulletins. The foundation leadership also felt that their younger generation would participate more, so they worked closely with the youth pastor to get them involved. “We had to work to explain what it was all about, but after a couple of emails, people really got it and were happy to participate,” Sanchez explained.

5. Looking forward, what are your 2016 plans?

On January 29, 2016, the City of San Diego is doing a census of the homeless population in San Diego. “We think that will give us a greater idea on how to help, but we want to continue to focus on the youth population.”

Lighthouse Cares Foundation would appreciate donations to support this youth outreach program. Steve added, “Our motto is Real.Life.Faith. We ask the community to join us in this work to encourage the academic advancement of our children. Nothing could be more important for our future.” They host weekly homeless meals for the homeless every Thursday, and the community is encouraged to get involved.

The givn #SparkTheGood Contest award money will be presented to The Lighthouse Cares Foundation at Posiba with the top 3 winners in San Diego, California, during a special check presentation ceremony on Thursday, January 28, 2016. Congratulations to all the winners, and thank you givn and Posiba for making a big difference in the community with this contest and givn app.

For more information about The Lighthouse Cares Foundation, visit http://lighthousecares.org/. You can also download the givn app to track your giving (monetary and volunteer hours), and/or sign up on the givn website: https://givn.social/.

givn app

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/givn/id991672848?mt=8

givn #SparkTheGood Contest (blog)

http://try.givn.social/blog-final-10-days/

The post Lighthouse Cares Foundation to Help High Schools With givn #SparkTheGood Prize appeared first on My Social Good News.