Posts tagged with "nonprofit"

Michael Clinton × Hearst

Michael Clinton and Hearst announced the formation of a new venture, ROAR forward, a business-to-business intelligence insights and content platform and consumer membership community focused on the new market of “Re-Imagineers.” This new demographic segment of individuals aged 50 and over is redefining the second half of life in their careers, passions and lifestyles. Clinton founded the entity with Hearst as partner and investor; the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

ROAR forward will provide business insights and intelligence to brands and companies through the ROAR Report with proprietary data and research, as well as with bulletins, seminars, workshops, original content and events to shed light on the dynamically changing market demographic of individuals aged 50-plus.

ROAR forward will also host a Re-Imagineer community through a membership platform that will provide content, learning modules, events and more.

“Today’s 50-plus-year-olds represent 35% of the population,” Clinton said. “As longevity increases, this group is completely redefining their futures, rejecting old patterns of work and lifestyle. That includes working longer, becoming entrepreneurs, developing new fitness and wellness regimens and more. Government, business, media and entertainment need to understand how this group is changing all of the cultural patterns.”

“Re-Imagineers are driving the ‘New Longevity’ economy,” Clinton continued. “This market controls almost 70% of all of the wealth in the U.S. and accounts for 50% of consumer spending power. They have ambition and new attitudes and behaviors unrivaled by any previous demographic group. ROAR forward’s goal is to help businesses and our membership community connect in better ways with this new reality.”

“Michael is one of the most creative thinkers and marketers I’ve ever known,” said Ken Bronfin, senior managing director of Hearst Ventures. “He has identified a unique market and developed a strategy with huge growth potential. Our investment strategy is focused on businesses that are adjacent to Hearst’s diversified portfolio, and ROAR forward connects the dots between brands, a vast group of consumers and important business intelligence.”

ROAR forward is an outgrowth of Clinton’s best-selling book, ROAR into the second half of life, now in its third printing. He is a speaker and writer on the subject of the New Longevity for Esquire, Men’s Health and Oprah Daily. In late 2022, DailyOM, in partnership with Everyday Health, will launch a seven-lesson ROAR course curriculum.

ABOUT MICHAEL CLINTON

Michael Clinton was named senior media advisor to the CEO of Hearst in May 2019 after 21 years at the company. He had been president of marketing and publishing director of Hearst Magazines since June 2010 and was a member of the board of directors of Hearst Corporation.

Clinton joined Hearst in October 1997 and was elevated to executive vice president, chief marketing officer and publishing director of Hearst Magazines in 2001. Prior to that, Clinton was executive vice president of Condé Nast Publications, where he oversaw sales and marketing for the company’s 15 national titles, including Vogue, Vanity Fair and Architectural Digest. Before that, he was Condé Nast’s senior vice president of group sales and marketing and spent 10 years at GQ magazine, including six years as publisher. He began his career in media at Fairchild Publications.

Clinton is the founder and president of the nonprofit organization Circle of Generosity. He has served as chairman of the board of the Volunteers of America, as well as on the boards of the Starlight Children’s Foundation and Lifetime Television Network. He also serves as a trustee for the International Center of Photography. In addition, he is the former chairman of the Association of Magazine Media (MPA). Clinton is an avid traveler and photographer and the author of 11 books.

A magna cum laude graduate from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science, Clinton also earned a master’s degree from Pace University’s Lubin Graduate School of Business and a master’s degree in nonprofit management from Columbia University. He holds an honorary doctorate from Pace University.

ABOUT HEARST

Hearst is a leading global, diversified information, services and media company with operations in 40 countries. Its major interests include global financial services leader Fitch Group; Hearst Health, a group of medical information and services businesses; Hearst Transportation, which includes CAMP Systems International, a major provider of software-as-a-service solutions for managing maintenance of jets and helicopters; ownership in cable television networks such as A&E, HISTORY, Lifetime and ESPN; 33 television stations; 24 daily and 52 weekly newspapers; digital services businesses; and nearly 260 magazines around the world. Follow us on Twitter @Hearst. To learn more about Hearst, visit hearst.com.

HEARST Taps Donna Kalajian Lagani as VEEP

Hearst announced that Donna Kalajian Lagani has been named vice president and Eastern director of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation of California and the Hearst Foundation, Inc. of New York, succeeding George B. Irish who passed away on September 13 after serving 14 years in that position. She begins her new role immediately.

The announcement was made by William Randolph Hearst III, chairman of the board of directors of Hearst, president of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation and a director of the Hearst Foundation, Inc., and Virginia Hearst Randt, president of the Hearst Foundation, Inc.

Kalajian Lagani joined the Hearst Foundations in 2019 as senior program officer after nearly 25 years at Hearst Magazines.

Separate from the corporation, the Hearst Foundations are national philanthropic resources for organizations working in the fields of culture, education, health and social services. In addition, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation operates two programs, the United States Senate Youth Program and the Journalism Awards Program. Since its inception, the Foundations have made over 22,200 grants to 6,300 organizations, totaling more than $1.4 billion in funds awarded. Paul “Dino” Dinovitz is executive director of both foundations and leads the Western operations.

“For years, Donna was a high-energy executive at Hearst Magazines,” said Hearst. “She brings the same passion for making things happen to her role in philanthropy. I know Donna will make a positive impact on people’s lives — creating the kind of opportunities that my grandfather envisioned when he started the Foundations in 1946. The entire team looks forward to working with her. Donna will sustain our mission to identify and fund outstanding nonprofits and ensure that people of all backgrounds have the chance to build healthy, productive and satisfying lives.”

Said Randt: “Donna has already made a profound impact at the Foundations and has worked tirelessly to identify the organizations who can make the most impact with our grants.”

“The past four years with the Foundations have been among the most fulfilling of my career,” said Kalajian Lagani. “The Foundations are committed to helping organizations make lasting, positive changes in our world and I am honored to be able to be a part of it and to carry on that mission.”

Kalajian Lagani joined Hearst Magazines in 1995 as publisher of Cosmopolitan and was named publishing director in 1999. She added oversight of Seventeen in 2014 and of Women’s Health in 2018, following Hearst’s acquisition of Rodale. During her career at Cosmopolitan, Kalajian Lagani introduced groundbreaking initiatives, most recently through mobile and artificial intelligence technology. She developed and immortalized the “fun fearless female” mantra used by Cosmopolitan editions worldwide. During her tenure, she helped launch CosmoGIRL! and Cosmo for Latinas and was a strong force in bringing Cosmopolitan to new platforms, including Snapchat and Sirius XM Radio.

The Hearst Foundation, Inc. was founded by William Randolph Hearst in 1946. In 1949, Hearst established the California Charities Foundations, later renamed the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. Both foundations are guided by the same charitable mission, which reflects the philanthropic interests of their founder.

The two foundations are managed as one entity, sharing the same funding guidelines, leadership and staff. Staff based in New York City review all proposals from organizations located east of the Mississippi River, and staff in the San Francisco office review those from organizations west of it.

ARTPOP STREET GALLERY IS BACK

ArtPop Street Gallery is back with more fashion, hosting their second annual Upcycled Fashion Show and ninth fundraiser event to support local artists and small businesses. The fashion show will feature 12 Charlotte regional artists from a variety of media backgrounds including textile, multimedia, digital, and painting.

The show will be from 6 to 8 p.m., on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Griffith Hall, Lenny Boy Brewing Company, 3000 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC, 28217. Show Emcee is Ohavia Phillips—Charlotte media personality and host of the “Oh Show”.

Fashion designers include Jennifer Gilomen, Margaret Fleeman, Anise Augustin, Edelweiss Vogel, Michelle “Bunny” Gregory, Itala Flores, Angela Kollmer, Kathy Phillips, Hasan Dirton, Isiah Miller, Melissa Crosson, and Kendall Kendrick. The clothes will be made from recycled ArtPop billboard vinyl material featuring artists Holly Keogh, Mikel Frank, Cat Babbie, Caroline Rust, Bree Stallings, Jesse Carkin, Laura Brosi, Cristina Montesinos, Greg Barnes, Deborah Triplett, Elaine Stephenson, and Barbara Mellin.

This fashion show is sponsored by Crescent Communities, Neiman Marcus, Little Architecture, LendAHand Alliance Cohort, and LendingTree Foundation. All proceeds from the event helps support sustainable and local Charlotte artists’ small businesses. ArtPop Street Gallery diverts 13,000+ square feet of vinyl from landfills every year by upcycling the billboard vinyl into fashion, framed art, tote bags and more.

Tickets: $85 — Includes fashion show, silent auction with a chance to win a trip to Antigua, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and two drink tickets for Lenny Boy beer, wine, or kombucha and can be purchased HERE.

About ArtPop Street Gallery

ArtPop turns interstate highways and other common areas into outdoor art galleries throughout the Charlotte region and across the country too. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to connect local artists with billboard advertising and other media companies who showcase their art. This promotes artists and offers the community thought-provoking and inspirational creations that everyone can enjoy – for free! We showcase and support artists of the 13 county greater Charlotte Region.

For more information, https://www.artpopstreetgallery.com.

AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT

35 YEARS SINCE ITS FIRST PANELS WERE STITCHED, THE AIDS MEMORIAL QUILT REMAINS A POWERFUL TEACHING TOOL FOR HEALTH ACTION, REMEMBRANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Thousands see largest Quilt display in a decade with 3,000 panels made during the darkest days of the pandemic and in recent years, a reminder that the fight for a cure, health and social justice is not over

National AIDS Memorial announces $2.4 million grant from Gilead Sciences to launch the Quilt Southern Initiative for new Quilt programming to tackle rising HIV rates within communities of color

It has been 35 years since the first panels of the AIDS Memorial Quilt were stitched together, sparking a national movement for action, justice and remembrance for an epidemic that has claimed over 36 million lives around the world.

More than 3,000 Quilt panels were displayed in Golden Gate Park – each 3’ x 6’ panel the size of a grave – remembering a life lost to AIDS. The Quilt’s presence – the largest display in more than a decade – demonstrated its unique power to comfort, heal and be used as a catalyst for action today in the ongoing struggle for health and social justice.

“What started as a protest thirty-five years ago to demand action turned into a movement that served as a wake-up call to the nation that thousands upon thousands of people were dying. Today, the Quilt is just as relevant and even more important, particularly in the wake of Covid-19 and recent gun violence our nation has faced,” said Cleve Jones, who joined with co-founders Mike Smith and Gert McMullin to begin the unfolding and reading names ceremony. “The fact is that the struggles we face today which result from health and social inequities are the issues we will face again if we don’t learn from the lessons of the past.”

A constant each day was the continuous reading aloud of names lost to AIDS, which could be subtly heard throughout the meadow. On display were many original panels made during the darkest days of the AIDS pandemic as well as ones made in recent years, a reminder that the AIDS crisis is not over. Thousands of visitors took part in the historic two-day event, experiencing the beauty of each panel and the stories of love stitched into their fabric.

“The Quilt remains a powerful symbol of hope, remembrance and action by pulling the thread from one generation to the next for health and social justice,” said John Cunningham, CEO of the National AIDS Memorial. “We must continue the Quilt’s 35-year legacy of bringing it to communities throughout the nation to fight for a cure, and to serve as a teach tool and catalyst for change.”

In the midst of this powerful backdrop, the National AIDS Memorial announced a $2.4 million grant from Gilead Sciences to launch the Quilt Southern Initiative to create new Quilt programming to address the disproportionate impact of HIV in the Southern U.S. A major focus will be to reach communities of color, which experience higher rates of new infections and lower rates of treatment and prevention.

“Throughout its 35-year history, the Quilt has touched hearts and minds by connecting communities through hope and remembrance,” said Daniel O’Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gilead Sciences. “This new initiative with the National AIDS Memorial will bring the Quilt to the Southern United States, reaching communities most affected by HIV/AIDS with the powerful stories that are stitched into its panels.”

Working together with the Southern AIDS Coalition and other community partners, the National AIDS Memorial will launch a Call My Name Southern Quilting program, organizing new panel-making workshops to ensure that southern communities and stories are reflected in the Quilt, to build on the Quilt’s legacy of activism, and to raise greater awareness of lives lost to HIV/AIDS, then and now. Later this fall, sections of the Quilt will be displayed in communities of impact in the South as part of a curated storytelling exhibition, programming and activities in partnership with local organizations and advocates.

“Quilt making has such powerful storytelling tradition and deep history in the South, particularly within the Black community,” said Dafina Ward, Executive Director of the Southern AIDS Coalition. “We are honored to work in partnership with the National AIDS Memorial and Gilead to launch this new program and connect the AIDS Quilt to southern communities. The Quilt symbolizes the power of community, of remembrance, and celebrating legacy. All of which is critical to ending HIV-related stigma.”

Today, more than 1.3 million people are living with HIV in the United States with over 30,000 new cases being reported each year. Marginalized populations, particularly Black, Hispanic, API and LGBTQI+ communities, are disproportionately impacted. Four decades since the first cases of AIDS were reported, more than 700,000 lives have been lost to the disease in the U.S. alone. In 1993, HIV was the leading cause of death for Black men between ages 25-44. By 2004, HIV became the leading cause of death for Black women in the same age group. Today, according to the latest figures provided by the CDC, Black Americans make up 42% of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., with half of those diagnoses occurring in southern states, and rates rising among certain segments of the population. While rates of infection have decreased overall in recent years, rates continue to rise among Black men. Racism, HIV stigma, homophobia, poverty, and barriers to health care continue to drive these disparities.

“We are thankful to Gilead for its leadership and vision and look forward to working together with many community partners in the coming months to launch this meaningful initiative,” added Cunningham. “Making new quilt panels is a way to bring to the forefront the impact of HIV/AIDS on the Black community and a way to raise greater awareness that change these statistics.”

The Quilt is considered the largest community arts project in the world, now surpassing 50,000 individually sewn panels with more than 110,000 names stitched into its 54 tons of fabric that honors lives lost to AIDS. Its first panels were created in June of 1987 when a group of strangers, led by gay rights activist Cleve Jones, gathered in a San Francisco storefront to document the lives they feared history would forget. This meeting of devoted friends, lovers and activists would serve as the foundation for The NAMES Project’s AIDS Memorial Quilt. Each panel made measured 3 ft by 6 ft, the size of a human grave. They saw the Quilt as an activist tool to push the government into taking action to end the epidemic.

Gilead Sciences is the presenting partner for the 35th Anniversary Display of the Quilt. Other major partners include Quest Diagnostics, San Francisco Recreation and Parks, UCSF, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chevron, Dignity Health, Goldman Sachs, Uber, Verizon and ViventHealth. A complete list of partners can be found HERE.

Learn more about the National AIDS Memorial, the Quilt and this historic display HERE.

*Photo by Amy Sullivan

Maniobra: A Cultural Employment Initiative

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The Mellon Foundation and the Centro de Economía Creativa (CEC) announced Maniobra – a newly launched $8 million cultural employment initiative created to facilitate stable employment opportunities for artists while strengthening the administrative bandwidth of community-based cultural organizations across Puerto Rico. In its inaugural stage, Maniobra – named in reference to “the work of one’s hands” – is providing support including salary, training, health and other benefits, and more to 37 artists and 25 artist-centric organizations across 12 municipalities.

Puerto Rican artists play critical leadership roles within their communities, yet often live in a state of financial precarity, earning a median annual income of approximately $16,000 for their work, with 46% generating less than $12,000 annually. Through Maniobra, CEC and the Mellon Foundation underscore the labor of artists as valued work, while modeling remuneration that reflects artists’ formal education, experience, and contributions to society.

“This initiative shines an important light on the economic state and personal well-being of the artistic community and centers both as priorities for philanthropy and cultural policy,” said Javier Hernández Acosta, Founder of the Center and Dean of the School of Arts, Design and Creative Industries at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón. “Equity and salary justice within the arts had previously been relegated to a secondary agenda item, but we are now thrilled to work with the Mellon Foundation to advance this important work through real action.”

Maniobra provides participating organizations with the financial support needed to hire at least one full-time artist and $20,000 yearly budget to support the organization’s programming and creative projects over the entirety of the three-year initiative. The funding will not only strengthen organizations’ artistic programming and financial stability, but will also serve as a pilot that could be expanded in the future and has the potential of driving philanthropic support to a more holistic approach.

“Lifting up and celebrating the creativity of Puerto Rican artists, writers, and performers means granting them the resources they need to pursue their callings, supporting the archipelago’s artistic and cultural organizations, and broadly fostering the work and preservation of Puerto Rican culture at a time when stable employment and funding for these efforts has been imperiled,” said Elizabeth Alexander, President of the Mellon Foundation.“We are honored to support Maniobra, and excited to see the work that comes from this remarkable initiative.”

Prior to the launch of Maniobra, CEC and the Mellon Foundation collaborated on artists-centered initiatives including the development of Nido Cultural – a platform created to support management services for artistic and cultural production in Puerto Rico, as well as on an initiative aimed at Mapping of Cultural Work in Puerto Rico. Maniobra was inspired by Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) – the $125 million Mellon Foundation-backed initiative created to help reactivate the creative economy of New York State and secure the future of its artists.

The artists selected for Maniobra, which commenced in early April, were selected by an advisory team of key stakeholders from the local artistic community. Considering the diversity of practices and approaches across the islands, collectives and organizations were selected based on their rich experience in artistic and cultural work.

“In addition to supporting these artists, we also expect to strengthen the work of the collectives and organizations by providing technical and managerial support as well as operational budgets for the execution of the initiatives,” said Sonia Méndez, Program Manager of the Centro de Economía Creativa, Inc. “It also represents a unique project that not only offers the artist a salary, but also fringe benefits and health care coverage.”

To learn more about the projects and initiatives of the Centro de Economía Creativa, you can visit its social media accounts or Centro de Economía Creativa Website.

*Photo: Gustavo Castrodad

Tyler Robinson Foundation

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Founded by the GRAMMY Award-winning music group Imagine Dragons, the Tyler Robinson Foundation (TRF) has been dedicated to assisting and providing support for families affected by pediatric cancer. The nonprofit organization was created with the goal of providing relief of expenses that entail families confronting a pediatric cancer diagnosis.

Throughout the year of 2021 alone, over 500 Emergency Fund expenditures were granted to families in need.

The foundation was initiated after learning about the moving story of Tyler, who was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, an incredibly rare form of cancer, at the age of 16-years-old. His inspirational story and bravery shown throughout the duration of his battle with cancer inspired countless of individuals around the world.

Coming together, his family and Imagine Dragons created the TRF, who advocate the message that, “the real battle is not whether you live or die, but how you respond to the challenge.”

The TRF has grown immensely and now supports over 2,000 families to date. Continuing to expand their foundation, the foundation continues to partner with more organizations like the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), where they have founded a TRF.

Beginning with a donation of $10,000 from Imagine Dragons, this specific fund provides support with meals and food insecurity for pediatric cancer families. Imagine Dragons, too, went in attendance of a virtual meet and great with patients from CHLA where they discussed music and meditation.

The foundation has also partaken in events that tie in with their ambassador program Team TRF. Such events include a raffle to win a ZERO-G Flight experience with Imagine Dragons that accumulated nearly $10,000 and the Rise Up Gala one-night-experience that raise of $2.6 million for TRF.

TRF, too, was named a 2021 Top-Rated Nonprofit by GreatNonprofits, a provider known for providing user reviews of charities and nonprofits. TRF received a 2021 Platinum Seal of Transparency with Candid.

Since their founding, TRF has been able to provide aid to over 2,500 families internationally and has raised a mass accumulation of over $12 million. For each dollar that is raised by TRF, over 85% goes back to families that are affected by a pediatric cancer diagnosis. To learn more about TRF, visit TRF.org and follow TRF on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Toys for Tots

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Toys for Tots, the U.S. Marine Corps’ premiere community action program, distributed an unprecedented 22.4 million toys, books, and games to nearly 8.8 million children in need in 2021.

While the affects of the pandemic continued to create challenges, Toys for Tots provided record breaking support to families and children in times of need. Toys for Tots is more than a Flagship Children’s Christmastime charity – our goal is to provide year-round hope to families in need.

On April 19, 2021, Toys for Tots announced the expansion of their year-round efforts to provide hope to those less fortunate with plans for ANOTHER special gift distribution to children in need. During the summer of 2021, we provided ONE MILLION educational toys, books, and games to the children of COVID-19 impacted families. While we all hoped the pandemic would be in our rearview mirrors soon, we also recognized that the emotional and educational impact it’s had on children will be long lasting. Less fortunate children likely suffered the greatest learning loss by not being able to attend in-person classroom instruction, so Toys for Tots provided toys and books that teach to help them overcome a growing educational gap and stimulate their young minds.

“Toys for Tots is more than a Christmas charity,” said Lieutenant General Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “We have the ability to extend our reach and provide support to families who are facing tremendous year-round challenges, and Toys for Tots stands ready to assist when children and families need help the most.”

Toys for Tots’ initiatives in 2021 also included providing comfort and relief to families in need during uncertain and unstable times outside of the holiday season. The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program provided toys, books, and other gifts to nearly 17,000 children on the Afghanistan refugee families who have been granted asylum in the United States. As these families adjusted to their new lives in America, Toys for Tots provided hope and comfort to their children. As our mission continues to expand, we also stood ready to respond in emergency situations. Toys for Tots provided compassionate support with the distribution of toys, books, and other gifts to the families of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee who were impacted by devastating tornados in 2021.

Despite the ongoing challenges from the pandemic, the Marines and local campaign Coordinators of the Marine Toys for Tots Program rose to the occasion and established over 830 local toy collection and distribution campaigns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Our Coordinators were, once again, very innovative about how they collected and distributed toys, and they achieved tremendous milestones in 2021. The American public, as well as a record number of organizations serving as National Corporate Sponsors, answered our call to action and made significant donations allowing the Foundation to augment local toy drives with over 10 million toys valued at over $82 million.

The tremendous support we received from the American public and our Corporate Sponsors enabled us to distribute an unprecedented 22.4 million toys, books, and games to nearly 8.8 million children in need. But your support did more than provide gifts – you also sent messages of hope and restored self-worth to those less fortunate.

2021 Accomplishments

Distributed over 22.4 million toys to nearly 8.8 million less fortunate children from 832 local campaigns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
Distributed 1 million toys, books, and games to COVID-impacted families outside of the holiday season.
Distributed 3.1 million books to children in need through the Toys for Tots Literacy Program.
Distributed toys and books to over 186,000 Native American children living on remote Reservations.
With support from Toys for Tots Sponsors, augmented local toy drives with over 10 million toys valued at over $82 million.
Met all 20 standards of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance.

About Marine Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots, a 75-year national charitable program run by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, provides happiness, and hope to less fortunate children. The toys, books and other gifts collected and distributed by the Marines offer these children recognition, confidence, and a positive memory for a lifetime. It is such experiences that help children become responsible citizens and caring members of their community. Last year, the Marine Toys for Tots Program fulfilled the holiday hopes and dreams of nearly 8.8 million less fortunate children in over 830 communities nationwide. Since 1947 over 281 million children have been assisted. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not-for-profit organization authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps and the Department of Defense to provide fundraising and other necessary support for the annual Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.

Fentanyl Petition

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Families Against Fentanyl announced it had surpassed 25,000 signers of its petition asking the United States government to declare illicit fentanyl a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD). They join a who’s who of bipartisan leaders who are calling for the WMD designation.

The milestone was achieved in the aftermath of CDC data released in 2021 projecting that more than 100,000 people died of drug-related causes in the previous calendar year, and following data unearthed by Families Against Fentanyl in December that found illicit fentanyl to be the #1 cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45—data that have been independently verified. The announcement also comes on the heels of three Connecticut middle school students being hospitalized for fentanyl overdose after being exposed at their school. One of those students, a 13-year-old, has died.

Even more alarming: fentanyl’s extreme potency gives it the dark potential to be used by terrorists in a chemical attack on American citizens. Declaring illicit fentanyl a WMD would trigger an all-of-government response to this national threat, activating new resources and manpower to tackle this unprecedented danger.

“Fentanyl deaths doubled in just two years and it’s now the number one cause of death of Americans 18-45. Bold action is needed to reverse this trend,” Families Against Fentanyl founder James Rauh stated. “With more than 25,000 people adding their names to our petition, it’s now crystal clear: Americans are fed up with the status quo. They also see the potential a WMD designation would have to stop this poison from flooding our country and killing our loved ones. Declaring illicit fentanyl a WMD is the innovative answer to this crisis—it would allow us to root out the international manufacturers and traffickers of this poison before it reaches our streets. It would cut the smuggling of illicit fentanyl into the United States, enhance penalties for the cartels trafficking in this poison, and provide new protections to the American people from this threat.

“Almost all illicit fentanyl is manufactured outside of the United States. Designating illegal fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction will empower the U.S. to shift from a policy of mass incarceration of Americans to an all-of-government approach to cut off the supply chain at its source, effectively stopping the flow of this poison into our country. Meanwhile, we can provide compassionate care to those struggling with addiction by investing in harm reduction, expanding access to affordable rehabilitation programs, mental health counseling, and holistic care options.”

The Families Against Fentanyl petition will ultimately be presented to the Biden Administration and the U.S. Congress.

About Families Against Fentanyl

Families Against Fentanyl was founded in 2019 by Akron, Ohio resident James Rauh and his wife Valorie following the untimely death of their son Tom from fentanyl poisoning.

92nd Street Y

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92nd Street Y (92Y) is a nonprofit civic and cultural facility that aims to bring people together through the performing and visual arts, education, health, fitness and Jewish life. 92Y has a wide assortment of programs, classes and events open for the community that nurture creativity. Such curricula includes online and in-person live concerts, parenting workshops, master, fitness and art classes.

The mission of 92Y is to house resources that promote the physical, mental and spiritual health of individuals throughout their lives. Founded 147 years ago, all the programming generated at the 92Y center is built on the foundation of Jewish values. While curated to serve Jewish people, 92Y follows the Jewish value of welcoming all differing ages, races, religions and ethnicities of people.

The Knights Ensemble in Residence

As a collective of musicians seeking to renovate the orchestral experience, The Knights are artistically directed by the Jacobsen brothers, with Eric Jacobsen as conductor. The Brooklyn-based orchestral cooperative The Knights showcased the first of three concerts during this fall and spring at their residency at 92Y.

The heart of the concert stages two classical works – Schubert’s bright “Unfinished” Symphony and Vaughn Williams’ superb The Lark Ascending, featuring Knights Artistic Director Colin Jacobsen as violin soloist. The programming of The Knights navigates Manhattan’s Lower East Side in the 1990s and Vienna in the 1820s, highlighting subjects of revitalization and renewal, while echoing Schubert in work of a Creole-influenced composer.

360 Magazine was invited to attend The Knights concert on Saturday December 11. We stood by, bearing the recent loss of love. Our heads were heavy, entering this season, but be that as it may, we gathered the courage. And, what the audience witnessed was nothing short of astonishing – suspensive string clips, haunting flute sounds coupled with intermittent triangular percussion rings penetrated the auditorium.

Eric (conductor) and Colin’s limitless love for one another was the vitality of this whole series. Their playlist literally tickled our souls, watered our desires while our vellum hairs danced with deception. Each section took us on a mental roller coaster – sitting in the forward car, enjoying the initial fall with our hands toward the sky. This meticulously blended set is like good wine and possesses all the sweet and refreshing notes of Napa.

Eric ran into sweat directing while we were all mesmerized at his art of bending the air. Colin dominated the audience with his vulnerability, eerie arrangement and tremendous talent. To sum up, The Knights adopt an unorthodox approach to music, exposing their joie de vivre to whomever is willing to embrace their truth.

Eric Jacobsen

Conductor of The Knights Eric Jacobson has gained the reputation of leading revolutionary projects. Jacobsen has conducted The Knights at New York venues including Carnegie Hall and Central Park, as well as internationally at the Vienna Musikverein, Cologne Philharmonie and Hamburg Elbphilharmonie. Serving as Music Director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Jacobsen was recently appointed Music Director of the Virginia Symphony. With much call as a guest conductor, he too just led the Camerata Bern, Detroit Symphony, Alabama Symphony, ProMuscia Chamber Orchestra, Deutsche Philharmonie Merck and Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad.

Colin Jacobsen

Known as a violinist and composer, Colin Jacobsen is a captivating figure serving the classical music scene. Jacobsen was named one of the top 100 composures under 40 by NPR listeners. Operating as an active Avery Fisher Career Grant-winning soloist, he has toured with Silkroad since it was established in 2000. For his landmark work in the string quartet Brooklyn Rider and orchestra The Knights, Jacobsen was chosen amongst the nation’s leading visual and performing artists to obtain an esteemed United States Artists Fellowship.

Wed, Jan 19, 2022, 7:30 pm ET

The Knights collaborate with pianist Aaron Diehl for a blend of jazz and classical music. The ensemble welcomes Diehl as they explore Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue and trailblazer Mary Lou Williams‘ Zodiac Suite. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 is also featured with varieties from Ravel’s Baroque-inspired Le Tombeau de Couperin. Closing out the show is Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, arranged by Michael P. Atkinson.

Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 8 pm ET

Edgar Meyer, critically acclaimed double bass virtuoso and composer, unites with The Knights for the New York premiere of his second concerto. The show unfolds with a showing of Jamaican-born British composer Eleanor Alberga’s Shining Gates of Morpheus featuring Knights hornist David Byrd-Marrow. The closing of the show continues the American spirit of Meyer’s work is Coplands’ Appalachian Spring.

Jewish Community Foundation

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JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF LOS ANGELES AWARDS $1 MILLION IN GRANTS TO ADVANCE EDUCATION EQUITY

Seven Local Nonprofits in Communities of Color Receive Support for Programs to Address Education Equity, Provide Resources for Success

The Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles (The Foundation) today announced it has awarded a record $1 million to seven local nonprofits that address issues related to education equity.

The funding supports community-led organizations that connect students with strong mentors, focus on the specific needs of young people of color, increase access to health services for students of color and their families, and empower students to advocate for their educational needs.

The distributions are part of the institution’s General Community Grants which focus on high-priority social issues locally. In recent years, these grants have addressed homelessness, overcoming barriers to employment, human trafficking, as well as sexual and domestic violence. This new round of awards also builds upon The Foundation’s Racial Equity Grants given last year.

The recipients of this year’s awards – a new record-high for General Community Grants and a 66 percent increase from 2019 – are Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club; Bridge Builders Foundation; EmpowHer Institute; Girls Club of Los Angeles; Heart of Los Angeles Youth Inc.; Social Justice Learning Institute; and Special Needs Network.

Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Marvin I. Schotland stated: “The pandemic has exacerbated existing inequities in our education system that disproportionately affect students of color who lack the resources to successfully learn remotely. This only widens an already-existing education gap which will result in a significant learning loss that will take years to address.”

He continued: “The Foundation selected these outstanding programs recognizing that those closest to the communities they serve are best able to understand and respond to their needs. All of these recipient organizations are based in communities of color with demonstrated track records of service, and strong, impressive leadership.”

Beyond grant funding, The Foundation works closely with grant recipients to offer additional support including professional development, technical support, and referrals to other funders in its network. “We believe that money alone will not solve the pressing issues facing our communities,” said Mr. Schotland. “That’s why we proudly invest much time and energy engaging with our grant recipients and providing resources to help them strengthen their organizations and reach their goals.”

As part of its process to identify the recipients, The Foundation consulted with leading funders and experts in the field. This included the participation of Kaci Patterson, who leads the Black Equity Collective and who helped guide the review of prospective organizations.

About the Grant Recipients

Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club helps young people ages 6-18 years old to reach their full potential through youth development programs that emphasize career and academic preparedness, healthy lifestyles, character, and good citizenship. Grant funds will expand Project Learn – the Club’s education and enrichment programming – increasing program hours and reducing staff-to-youth ratios at its two main program sites.
Bridge Builders Foundation (South Los Angeles) is a primarily volunteer-led nonprofit that provides educational and socio-emotional support to youth of color, particularly Black young men and boys, through its strong mentoring network, tutoring, scholarships, and focus on STEM education. Grant funding will support the growth of its Thriving Under the Influence mentoring program from three to five school site partners, expand staffing, and provide for mentor training, program supplies, and field trips.
EmpowHer Institute (Westchester) provides academic support, training, and mentorship to enable marginalized girls and young women to become confident, to break the cycle of poverty, and to be prepared for college and careers. Grant funding will support the expansion of EmpowHer Girls Academy and EmpowHer Leaders Academy, doubling its reach.
Girls Club of Los Angeles is an established community center that enriches the lives of underserved, at-risk boys and girls, youth and families through early education, youth development, and community outreach. Grant funds will expand the number of children served, support developing and implementing trauma-informed practices into its curriculum and, in turn, train educators at 14 early childcare centers in its Early Learning Alliance Network who serve about 3,000 children.
Heart of Los Angeles Youth Inc. is one of the premier community centers providing underserved youth in the MacArthur Park/Rampart District with high quality afterschool programs in academics, arts, athletics, and family resources. Grant funds will support program growth at a new Lafayette Park location with the capacity to nearly double the number of youth and families served each year.
Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI) is dedicated to improving the education, health, and well-being of youth and communities of color. SJLI works with schools to offer its evidence-based Urban Scholars program, which supports and empowers young men of color to succeed in school and advocate for change in their communities. Grant funds will be used to support the expansion of the Urban Scholars to new sites across Los Angeles.
Special Needs Network addresses the needs of underserved youth and families of color in South Los Angeles struggling to raise a child with developmental disabilities. Grant funds will support expanded outreach, engagement, early intervention, and parent/caretaker training as it launches its new Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital campus) and, through a partnership with the L.A. Unified School District, improve access to disability services for South L.A. children, students, and families of color.

Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles

COVID-19 Response Grant Recipient Remarks for Attribution

“EmpowHer Institute is committed to addressing the systemic barriers that often hinder BIPOC girls in marginalized communities from reaching their highest potential. The grant funding from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles will be used to triple our program-service sites and double the annual number of girls who participate in our education and economic justice programs across Los Angeles County.” – Dawn L. Brown, CEO, EmpowHer Institute

“Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) is so grateful to the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles for enabling us to offer youth academic support services, enrichment classes, and holistic support for students’ families. Through this grant, HOLA aims to expand its in-depth academic and whole-child support which are needed now more than ever to reach even more youth in our community. Despite the challenges raised by the pandemic, HOLA is committed to ensuring equitable recovery for Los Angeles youth so that our students can come back even stronger in the coming months.” – Tony Brown, CEO, Heart of Los Angeles

“The generous support of The Foundation enables the Bridge Builders Foundation to expand our Mentoring, Coaching and Leadership program and inspire, encourage and support young people to become more resilient, raise aspirations, and increase life trajectories. For many, this exposure is a ‘game changer.’” – James Breedlove, President, Bridge Builders Foundation

About The Jewish Community Foundation

Established in 1954, the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles manages charitable assets of more than $1.4 billion entrusted to it by over 1,300 families and ranks among the 10 largest Los Angeles foundations. It partners with donors to shape meaningful philanthropic strategies, magnify the impact of their giving, and build enduring charitable legacies. In 2020, The Foundation and its donors distributed $116 million to 2,700 nonprofits with programs that span the range of philanthropic giving. Over the past 12 years, it has distributed more than $1 billion to thousands of nonprofits across a diverse spectrum.