Weekly News Recap: May 12, 2017

Shannon Doram - new CEO of YMCA Calgary (Handout /POSTMEDIA)

If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will. -- Greg McKeown

Opinion

News

  • 'The need is huge': Habitat for Humanity still building in midst of red-hot real estate (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY "The Greater Vancouver's Habitat for Humanity branch says the need to build homes for families who don't qualify for a traditional mortgage is greater than ever [...]. Since June, the organization has received 900 applications, and later this month, it will give 12 of those families a place to call home — all are working families with children, a few single mothers, and a single father with three kids." 5/9/17
  • Q+A: Shannon Doram named new president and CEO of YMCA (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY ViTreo is proud to have worked closely with YMCA Calgary on its recent capital campaign. We are thrilled to welcome Shannon to the helm of this great organization. Congratulations Shannon! Congratulations YMCA Calgary! 5/8/17
  • Calgary's post-secondary institutions have significant impact on economy (UToday) CALGARY STORY Just in case you didn't know. "Taxpayers benefit from a 17.6-per-cent rate of return on investments [...]." Mount Royal University, the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), St. Mary’s University, Ambrose University, Bow Valley College, Alberta College of Art + Design (ACAD), and the University of Calgary all participated in this study released by Calgary Economic Development. 5/5/17
  • Is your favourite charity efficient? Put your cash to work (Globe and Mail) CANADIAN STORY The Globe and Mail recently interviewed ViTreo partner, Andrea McManus, on what is important when evaluating a charity. "Don’t confuse efficiency with effectiveness, what you really want to know is how well the charity is doing achieving its mission." 5/5/17
  • UCalgary's inaugural Giving Day exceeds goal (UToday) CALGARY STORY Congrats on this great initiative. I felt the buzz! "In celebration of [their] 50th anniversary, the University of Calgary led a bold initiative: Create 50 new scholarships in 50 hours for [its] first-ever Giving Day. Thanks to the overwhelming support, [their] inaugural Giving Day saw more than 1,200 donors contribute more than $1 million." 5/4/17

Life and career hacks

Trends and shifts

  • Global Trends in Philanthropy: Global philanthropists choosing donor advised funds (ABC) This is one of the most concise and complete listings of global trends I have seen. "John Canady, CEO of the National Philanthropic Trust UK (NPT-UK) spoke on 'Global Trends in Philanthropy' at the Arab Foundations Forum event hosted by the King Khaled Foundation, in Riyadh on May 2. Mr. Canady also joined the panel discussion with HRH Princess Banderi Al Faisal, CEO of the King Khaled Foundation, and Ms. Clare Woodcraft, CEO of the Emirates Foundation [...]. The presentation highlighted five trends in global philanthropy." 5/9/17
  • Data is giving rise to a new economy (Economist) This one article made me re-subscribe to The Economist. "Data are to this century what oil was to the last one: a driver of growth and change. Flows of data have created new infrastructure, new businesses, new monopolies, new politics and—crucially—new economics." 5/6/17
  • Why Aren't More Big Donors Giving to Public Libraries? (Inside Philanthropy) Personally, I believe it is because libraries have been late to the asking party. That is changing but shifting this trend will take time. "One problem here may be that libraries are perceived as public institutions that don't need private support." 5/5/17
  • An End to Homelessness? Behind the Rising Optimism Among Funders (Inside Philanthropy) "Homelessness is a famously tough problem—so tough that's it's long scared away many funders who'd rather take on more tractable challenges. But here's a hopeful thought: Maybe philanthropy can finally help solve this problem by ensuring that the homeless have access to appropriate housing." 5/4/17

Cool tools

  • Facebook wants you to say happy birthday with a donation (CNN) I am pretty stoked about this. I have been blessed by having many lovely well-wishers on my Facebook page on my birthday. Now, if I like, I can give these well-wishers an option to make a gift to a charity instead. I am saving this for birthdays with a zero in them but when that happens...boom! 5/5/17

Large gifts

  • Another $1M donated anonymously to Regina's Darke Hall renovations (CBC) REGINA STORY Terrific. I love it when we are able to keep and restore our historic buildings. Thank you anonymous donor. "Another anonymous donor has stepped forward to donate $1 million toward restoring a concert hall at the University of Regina [...]. Darke Hall, a music venue located on the University of Regina's College Avenue campus, originally opened in 1929 and requires significant repairs." 5/11/17
  • Mizzou lands another seven-figure donation for football facility (Clay Center Dispatch) "Mizzou athletics has received another seven-figure donation for the proposed south end zone facility at Memorial Stadium. MU announced Wednesday an anonymous gift of $1.2 million, the seventh seven-figure donation earmarked for the football facility." I am beginning to think these are all from the same person. 5/11/17
  • UW-Stout opens new center with donation from Charles Koch Foundation (ABC) "UW-Stout will offer new opportunities for its students next fall, with the help of a nearly $2 million donation from the Charles Koch Foundation. UW-Stout said it has been developing The Center for the study of Institutions and Innovations for more than a year. The center will be in the College of Arts, Communications, Humanities and Social Science." The University of Wisconsin–Stout is a four-year college located in Menomonie, Wisconsin. 5/9/17
  • BJ’s makes largest single donation in its history (DSN Drugstore News) "BJ’s Wholesale Club [...] announced a $1 million donation from its foundation to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. BJ’s donation, its largest single donation to any organization to date, will support local food banks on the East Coast by providing infrastructure to support growth and resources to handle additional perishable food." 5/9/17
  • Aerojet Rocketdyne makes $1 million donation to UAH (Space Alabama) "Aerojet Rocketdyne will fund a $1 million endowment to the University of Alabama in Huntsville to establish the Aerojet Rocketdyne Chair in Space Science." Now, that's the coolest name for an endowed chair that I have seen. 5/8/17
  • Maryville College announces largest donation in school's history (Knoxville News Sentinel) "Maryville College announced Monday that it will receive its largest donation in school history. Around $15 million will be given to the college from the estate of Dan and Elaine McGill [...]. About $1 million will go toward Anderson Hall — the first floor will be named 'The McGill Family Floor' — and the remaining $14 million will be allocated for scholarships [...]. Dan McGill died in 2013 and his wife Elaine, last July." Maryville College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Maryville, Tennessee. 5/8/17
  • Anthony Rizzo's Foundation Announces $3.5 Million Donation to Lurie (NBC) Go Cubbies! "Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has gained a well-earned reputation as a philanthropist during his time in the Windy City, and [...] his foundation announced yet another massive charitable donation. [This] donation, which [totals] $3.5 million, will be used to set up two endowment funds at the Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago [...]." 5/8/17
  • Meet the businessman who donated $1 million to cancer research (The Standard) What I love about this story is the conversation that was held between the donor and the organization. If you are ever in a situation where a prospective donor asks you, "What would you do with a big donation?", this is the article for you. 5/8/17
  • Alumnus Makes $1 Million Donation to Iowa's Cornell College (U.S. News) "Jerry Ringer, a retired ophthalmologist in Bloomington, Illinois, and his wife, Carole, donated the money for the college's $35 million science facilities project." Cornell College is a private liberal arts college in Mount Vernon, Iowa. 5/7/17
  • Utah State University Receives Joint $50 Million Donation (U.S. News) "University officials say the money given by the Huntsman Foundation and the Charles Koch Foundation will allow the Huntsman School of Business create six faculty positions. It will also allow the university to expand its Huntsman Scholars and the Koch Scholar programs. A portion of the money will be [set] aside for [the] school's new nonprofit, the Center for Growth and Opportunity." Utah State University is a public doctorate-granting university in Logan, Utah. 5/7/17
  • Myers donates $2.4 million, names west side stadium complex Lonn Reisman Athletic Center (The Flash Today) "Tarleton State alumnus and athletic hall of fame member Mike A. Myers presented a record $2.4 million donation toward the renovation of Tarleton Memorial Stadium [...]." Tarleton State University is a public, coeducational, state university located in Stephenville, Texas, and is a member of the Texas A&M University System. 5/6/17
  • $3 Million Dollar Donation Kicks Off Kingwood Project (WMFD.com) "Shortly before his passing in 2017, Richard Taylor presented the Kingwood Center Gardens with a check for $3 million dollars to go towards to visitor’s center. Richland Taylor and his wife Helen made donations to Kingwood often, but usually the donations were private." The Kingwood Center is a historic 47-acre site with a house, gardens and greenhouses, located at 900 Park Avenue West in Mansfield, Ohio. 5/6/17
  • Dallas CASA Classic golf tournament breaks a record, raising $2 million (Dallas Morning News) That's a big take on a golf tournament. Nice work. "Dallas CASA got a $2 million check last week thanks to a golf tournament presented by AT&T, Goldman Sachs and Pioneer Natural Resources. It was a record for the Dallas CASA Classic, which attracted 700 golfers to the Brookhaven Country Club and Four Seasons Resort & Club Dallas on April 24. The invitational non-PGA tournament has generated $16.2 million for the charity over the last 20 years." 5/5/17
  • West: School district receives $1 million donation (KWTX) "A San Antonio law firm has donated $1 million to the West Independent School District [WISD]. Gravely & Pearson LLP, which represented WISD against their insurance carrier in court over the deadly fertilizer plant explosion in 2013, made the announcement [...]. The explosion on April 17, 2013 killed 15 people, 12 of them were first responders. More than 200 people were injured and many homes and businesses were destroyed." 5/5/17
  • McManus donation will benefit over two thousand students (Limerick Post) "JP McManus has announced that he is to invest €32 million in scholarships for eligible students throughout Ireland, North and South. This follows on from the €32 million Mr McManus donated to the All Ireland Scholarships in 2008 and brings his total contribution to third level education to €66.5 million; consisting of €64 million to the All Ireland Scholarships and €2.5 million to the CBS Sexton Street Scholarships. This latest investment will extend the scholarship scheme for a further ten years, benefiting in total over 2,400 students." John Patrick "J. P." McManus (born 10 March 1951) is an Irish businessman and racehorse owner. 5/5/17
  • Dalhousie University to build new concert hall thanks to $5-million donation (Metro) HALIFAX STORY What a lovely tribute. "A new concert hall is coming to Halifax thanks to a multi-million dollar donation from local businessman and Holocaust survivor Morris Strug. [The] Dalhousie Arts Centre will house the future performance space made possible by Strug’s $5-million donation in honour of his late son Joseph, who passed away in January 2016 following a lengthy illness." 5/5/17
  • Development and Peace receives $4M donation from the Sisters of St. Ann (reliefweb) CANADIAN STORY "Development and Peace is one of the most important international development organizations in Canada. It was founded in 1967 by the Canadian Catholic Bishops as a means of inspiring Canadians to act in solidarity with their sisters and brothers in the Global South who are suffering the injustice of poverty. Over the past 50 years, Development and Peace has invested $600 million in more than 15,000 projects in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. The Sisters of Saint Ann is a congregation of religious women founded in Vaudreuil, Quebec, in 1850 by Blessed Marie Anne Blondin. The Congregation was originally formed to educate children in rural Quebec." 5/4/17
  • LAKELAND COLLEGE RECEIVES HISTORIC DONATION (My Lloydminster Now) LLOYDMINSTER STORY "Lakeland College has received a $2.7 million donation from a private donor, the largest in it’s history. The donation came in the form of three acres of industrial land, and two large buildings. It will allow the college to increase its capacity and create increased student-managed learning opportunities." 5/5/17
  • Cottey College receives large donation (FourStatesHomePage.com) "The $1.75 million anonymous donation was given to boost the college's growing science programs. Funds will be used to create scholarships for students entering the science field in the 2018-2019 school year." Cottey College, located in Nevada, Missouri is an independent, liberal arts and sciences college for women. It was founded by Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard in 1884. 5/4/17
  • Tate Modern's extension renamed Blavatnik Building after record £50m donation (The Art Newspaper) "Tate announced that Tate Modern's new extension will be named the Blavatnik Building, after the Ukrainian-born American businessman Len Blavatnik. Although the size of the donation is not being disclosed, The Art Newspaper can report that it is over £50m. This makes it the largest-ever financial donation to a UK museum. Until now the Sainsbury family has been the most generous donor, providing £25m for the British Museum’s 2014 extension and over £30m for the 1991 Sainsbury Wing extension at the National Gallery (the 1991 sum would be around £60m in today’s money, taking inflation into account)." 5/4/17

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