Weekly News Recap: January 12, 2018

Beauty has always been free. It came in the box with sunlight and eyeballs. It was granted to us upon birth as we first laid eyes upon our beautiful mothers and then mother earth. -- Josh S. Rose

News

  • Young artist donates custom painting in memory of hospice residents (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY What an amazing (and talented) human. "Carrie Zhou chose an unlikely subject for her long-term personal school project — to interview patients at Lions Gate Hospital's hospice [...]. "I learned that fear can be conquered," said the Grade 11 Mulgrave Secondary School student, 'and the words they've given me I will carry for the rest of my life.'" 1/10/18

  • Why Alberta's economic 'recovery' feels so different this time (CBC) CALGARY STORY "A recovery is a return to a previous state. To recover is to regain what was lost. But the hard truth, analysts say, is Alberta's oil industry — the bedrock of the economy for so long — will never be the same as it was before the crash." 1/10/18

  • Gary Slaight announced as 2018 Humanitarian Award recipient (Music Canada) CANADIAN STORY Congrats! You might remember the Slaight Family gave $50 million to five Toronto area hospitals in 2013. Mr. Slaight will receive this award at the March 2018 Junos in Vancouver. "The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) has announced broadcasting executive, music industry leader, and philanthropist Gary Slaight as the recipient of the 2018 Humanitarian Award." 1/8/18

  • Canoe museum and other small charities paddle harder for donations (Globe and Mail) CANADIAN STORY Groan-worthy headline aside, a good article on the tribulations of smaller charities working to secure corporate giving. "The Canadian Canoe Museum has found that, in the art of corporate fundraising, a personal touch has been the way to go. The museum in Peterborough, Ont., with its collection of canoes from the earliest handcrafted treasures to modern-day racers, will be relocating to a new home a short distance away, alongside the Lift Lock on the Trent Canal." 1/8/18

  • Vancouver Foundation celebrates 75 years of philanthropy (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY Congrats! What a legacy! "It's a big year for the Vancouver Foundation and plans are rolling out to celebrate the organization's 75th anniversary this spring. The community non-profit organization, the largest of its kind in Canada, has distributed more than a billion dollars to thousands of community projects across British Columbia since it was started in 1943." 1/6/18

  • UNBC names inaugural aboriginal scholar in residence (Prince George Citizen) PRINCE GEORGE STORY Congrats to all. "A University of Calgary researcher and professor, whose past research examined education initiatives aimed at preventing young indigenous girls from entering the sex trade, has been named UNBC's first aboriginal scholar in residence." 1/5/18

  • New York museum's $25 'donation' to be mandatory for out-of-staters (Fox News) The Met is one of the world's greatest museums and, up until now, has been a 'pay-what-you-wish' institution making it accessible to all. I voluntarily paid the equivalent of an annual membership when we visited last summer. I would do it again. Apparently, many don't however. 1/5/18

  • President Joel Ward optimistic RDC will receive degree-granting status soon (Red Deer Express) RED DEER STORY "Red Deer College is continuing to patiently wait to hear back from the Province of Alberta regarding the status of their hopes to begin degree granting. The Minister of Advanced Education Marlin Schmidt had previously made his recommendation to the Province regarding degree-granting at RDC and gave December as a preliminary timeline for an answer. With that timeline now lapsed, President of Red Deer College Joel Ward is now thinking mid-February." 1/5/18

  • Accountants vs. lawyers in P.E.I. food bank donation battle (CBC) PEI STORY This is the 'good kind' of battle. "What started as an apology by Loblaw Companies Ltd. for bread price-fixing has turned into a charity battle between Island accountants and lawyers. The groups that represent both professions are challenging their members to donate the $25 gift cards being offered by the grocery company to food banks on P.E.I." 1/4/18

  • Webster Bank Hands Out Bonuses, Boosts Philanthropy After Tax Overhaul (Connecticut Council for Philanthropy) "Webster Financial Corp., one of the largest Connecticut-based banks, said [...] it is joining the growing list of companies nationally handing out employee cash bonuses after federal legislation slashed corporate tax rates. Some of the savings from changes in corporate tax law will be shared in the community, boosting Webster's philanthropic endeavors by $1 million beginning this year." 1/4/18

  • Jim Shaw, former CEO of Shaw Communications, dies at 60 after brief illness (CBC) CALGARY STORY RIP Mr. Shaw. "Jim Shaw joined the company his father founded, Shaw Communications, as a cable installer and eventually became CEO, helping grow the company's revenue from $646 million $3.7 billion during his tenure. The former CEO and vice-chairman of Shaw Communications died Wednesday at age 60 after a brief illness, the Calgary-based telecommunications giant said in a statement. He's survived by his wife, Kathryn, three children and three step-children." 1/3/18

  • CBC Calgary's Food Bank Drive nets more than $1.4M (CBC) CALGARY STORY Nice work everyone! "The final tally is in for the annual CBC Calgary Food Bank Drive, and it came in at a whopping $1,446,959 in food and funds." 1/3/18

Life and career hacks

Uncommon knowledge

Philanthropic personalities

  • How Dorothy Killam’s vision led to a Nobel Prize (Chronicle Herald) CANADIAN STORY Dorothy Killam died the year I was born (1965). Upon her death, she bequeathed her entire $103 million fortune to six Canadian institutions: the Canada Council, the Montreal Neurological Institute, the University of Alberta, the University of Calgary, the University of British Columbia and Dalhousie University — via the Killam Trusts, along with a standalone gift to Halifax’s Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre (IWK). In the 50 plus years since this bequest, her gift has awarded near $1 billion to more than 5,378 major award winners including to Nobel-prize winning sub-atomic physicist Art McDonald. Dr. McDonald developed the understanding that led to the development of positron emission tomography (PET). 1/9/18

  • Investor William Maeck reflects on his philanthropy (Post Register) I love this guy! "While other workers on the bus to the National Reactor Testing Station slept or played bridge during the 1960s, chemist William Maeck studied the Standard and Poor’s stock guide. The approach was 'simple.' During the 50-odd-minute ride from Idaho Falls to the desert site, Maeck poured over columns, calculated numbers in his head and marked future investments on the page [...]. It’s earned him a fortune far greater than any Department of Energy salary could provide. For decades, that fortune has been funneled into dozens of organizations and nonprofits." 1/6/18

  • About That Anonymous Donor Giving Millions in Bitcoin to Charity (Inside Philanthropy) We are all very curious about this Bitcoin 'whale' who goes by the moniker Pine and who is making huge gifts via the Pineapple Fund. My bet: it's Tim Cook or some other Apple luminary. 1/5/18

  • Kevin Durant on his $3-million donation, legacy: ‘It’s hard for me to wrap my head around’ (My Statesman) Inside the massive gift made recently by basketball's Kevin Durant. 1/5/18

  • An Investor Giving Millions to Conservation and Green Research on Campus (Inside Philanthropy) "[Jeff] and Laurie Ubben, whose wealth comes from Jeff’s investment fund, had a big year in 2017 when it comes to environmental philanthropy, making a couple of sizable and otherwise notable grants. Last month, the Ubbens gave $25 million toward a mix of conservation and environmental research, which seems to be their biggest single commitment to date." 1/3/18

Philanthropic controversy

Trends and shifts

  • Predictions for 2018: Philanthropy (Probono Australia) Philanthropic trend predictions for 2018 from down under. 1/9/18

  • 'I gave at the office' goes high-tech (Globe and Mail) CANADIAN STORY "The trend toward online giving and tracking donations is helpful to charities that receive Canadians' donations [...]. 'It means that we can have active and visible communication with our donors year round, across digital channels,' says Tania Little, director of development and partnerships for Food Banks Canada, the umbrella organization for Canada's 550 food banks and about 3,000 related food programs [...]. 'We're like any business. We use a sales process – lead generations, introductions to prospects through businesses we're working with already, looking for new partners where we think we might have shared values.'" 1/8/18

  • Philanthropy Forecast, 2018: Trends and Issues To Watch (Inside Philanthropy) Great list of (the likeliest) trends in philanthropy in 2018. Expect Jeff and Mackenzie Bezos to make their intentions known, more anti-Trump funding, and funding for #MeToo-related causes to emerge, among many things. 1/7/18

  • The Future Of African-American Philanthropy (Giving Compass) "As the demography of America changes, the face of philanthropy is changing along with it. While African Americans have a tradition of giving, the 2016 U.S. Trust® Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy highlights new data on African-American donors that gives us a clearer picture of the future of philanthropy in the U.S." 1/3/18

  • How the New Tax Law Could Remake K-12 Philanthropy—And Speed Privatization of Schools (Inside Philanthropy) Getting creative with Trump’s new tax law might be a good thing but I do wonder if the privatization of schools is what America needs (or wants). 1/3/18

  • Philanthropy in 2018 (Community Foundation of New Haven) A nice collection of links outlining the probable trends and outcomes for philanthropy in 2018. January 2018

Reports and studies

Large gifts

  • Blood patient's $3-million donation pumps life into hematology unit at University hospital (Edmonton Journal) EDMONTON STORY A fantastic gift from a grateful patient. "A $3-million donation from a blood patient at the University of Alberta Hospital is giving new life to the hematology unit. Marshall Eliuk — an entrepreneur from the Peace River area — donated the money with the goal to fund more research and innovation, and to improve patient care within the hematology program." 1/8/18

  • Emory Gets Record-Breaking $400 Million Donation (Decatur Patch) Boom! What an investment into health! Robert Woodruff was president of Coca-Cola company in the 1930s. "Emory University will be receiving a record-breaking $400 million donation to cure diseases and improve the lives of patients, the school announced Monday. The pledge comes from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation and is the largest ever received by Emory." 1/8/18

  • Israel finalizes $1 million donation to hurricane-ravaged Houston Jewish community (Jewish News Organization) "The Israeli government has finalized a $1 million donation to the hurricane-ravaged Jewish community of Houston following last year’s flooding from Hurricane Harvey." 1/8/18

  • Long-time volunteer makes big donation to Rio Rancho Public Schools (KRQE News) "Rio Rancho Public Schools received a $1 million gift from one of its long-time mentors. Captain Bruce Gustin says he fell in love with New Mexico so he retired here. To keep himself busy, he volunteered as a reading coach for Eagle Ridge Middle School. He’s now been there 12 years getting students prepared for college. Gustin says his donation is just another way that he can help." 1/8/18

  • PGA TOUR, its tournaments surpass $180 million generated for charity in 2017 (PGA Tour) "The PGA TOUR and its tournaments generated more than $180 million for charitable causes in 2017, surpassing last year’s record amount by approximately $14 million [...]. The announcement brings the all-time total generated for charity by the PGA TOUR to $2.65 billion." 1/7/18

  • Donor gifts Cancer Center with million dollar donation, expansion at AU continues (CBS) "The money donated by Peter Knox should help the Cancer Center in their search for a new director. This comes just after Governor Deal's announcement [...] to propose nearly 50-million into a new math and science building for [Augusta University]." 1/4/18

  • Design school named for Chip Wilson opens in Richmond, B.C. (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY "A state-of-the-art design school named after the founder of active wear giant Lululemon is the latest addition to Kwantlen Polytechnic University's campus in Richmond, B.C. The Wilson School of Design, named in honour of project donor Chip Wilson and his wife Shannon, will add 140 full-time seats at the university, bringing the number of design spaces to almost 700." 1/3/18

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