Weekly News Recap: August 25, 2017

The non-profit organization harvested 112 acres of Durum Wheat and will be donating all the proceeds from the crop. (Silver Blue Photography. )

The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. — Stephen Covey

Charlottesville

  • Clooneys make $1 million donation to fight hate groups (CNN) "George and Amal Clooney have joined the fight against hate groups in the United States. The couple, through the The Clooney Foundation for Justice, have made a $1 million donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) that will fund a joint initiative to combat hate groups." 8/22/17
  • Apple is now taking donations for the Southern Poverty Law Center through iTunes (The Verge) Apple has committed $2 million to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and the Anti-Defamation League. Additionally, Apple has opened up the ability to make gifts to the SPLC via iTunes. Both of these are in direct response to the Trump administration's (lack of) response regarding the violence in Charlottesville. 8/20/17
  • James Murdoch, Rebuking Trump, Pledges $1 Million to Anti-Defamation League (New York Times) "James Murdoch, the chief executive of 21st Century Fox and the son of a frequent ally of President Trump’s, condemned the president’s performance after the violence in Charlottesville, Va., and pledged to donate $1 million to the Anti-Defamation League." Of note, James Murdoch is Rupert Murdoch's son. Rupert Murdoch is "a conservative media mogul who has become an informal adviser to Mr. Trump, recently dining with the president in the White House residence." 8/17/17

News

  • Saskatchewan farmers donating crop proceeds to charity (CBC) SASKATCHEWAN STORY A group of farmers in the southern Saskatchewan community of Mossbank have formed a nonprofit organization and have dedicated land and crops to charity. "When it came time to harvest, seven combines were out in the field and were able to finish within one day, on Aug. 17." Individuals and organizations will be able to apply for grants from Farm it Forward through their board. Nice work Mossbank! 8/20/17
  • AVAM seeking $25 million for its endowment and naming rights (Baltimore Sun) The American Visionary Art Museum is a jewel. I have been there a number of times. I have been asked by clients in the past if advertizing the naming rights is the way to go. Clearly, the AVAM feels it is. I suspect, in their case, they might be right. Stay tuned. 8/18/17

Lists of lists

Life and career hacks

  • Your Ultimate Guide For Waking Up Early (Personal Growth) My goal is to get up early. Sometimes I succeed in this goal. Often I don't. This helped me, it might help you (assuming you want to get up early). 8/9/17
  • Dangerous Design trends 2017 (Muzli) "You cannot judge a book by its cover, but you can certainly judge a website by its design. People tend to evaluate and judge products and websites early based on their looks before they even get into their functionality and usefulness." 8/7/17

Philanthropic personalities

  • Sheryl Sandberg Donates $100 Million of Facebook Stock to Charity (Fortune) "Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg has recently allotted nearly $100 million worth of her Facebook stock for charity. A document filed [...] with the Securities and Exchange Commission shows that Sandberg has transferred 590,000 shares of Facebook stock, which Recode reports is worth nearly $100 million, to a fund she uses for charitable giving." 8/18/17

Philanthropic controversy

  • Exeter University accused of accepting donations from dictatorships (DevonLive) "Exeter University has been criticised for its links to a controversial Arab ruler. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad al-Qasimi, the ruler of Sharjah – one of the most conservative emirates in the United Arab Emirates – has given more than £8m to the institution over 20 years. An investigation by the Daily Telegraph found that Sheikh Sultan was described as 'the university’s single most important supporter' in its 2007 annual report after contributing £5m towards its £48m Forum building. Human Rights Watch claims that the UAE often uses its affluence to mask the government’s 'serious human rights problems'." The University of Exeter is a public research university in Exeter, Devon, South West England. 8/22/17

Large gifts

  • Ivy Tech receives $1M land donation for training center (IBJ.com) "The Ivy Tech Community College Foundation announced Tuesday that it has received a land donation from the Eskenazi Family Foundation that will enable the college to build a new automotive technology center." Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana is Indiana's community college system, encompassing 30 campuses in 14 regions. 8/22/17
  • Sanford, Beacom donate $30 million to Dakota State University (Argus Leader) "A historic $60 million donation will solidify Dakota State University's position as a national hub for cyber security. [DSU] President Jose-Marie Griffiths announced a $30 million gift from Denny Sanford, and Miles and Lisa Beacom to the university. The money will be used, in part, for a new building outfitted with a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF, pronounced "skiff"), which will allow highly classified government and industry work to be done in Madison. It will also allow for more scholarships and will bring 5G internet to Madison." Dakota State University is a public non-profit university based in Madison, South Dakota. 8/21/17
  • IVCC receives largest donation in its history (mywebtimes.com) "Illinois Valley Community College President Jerry Corcoran told the board the college received a $1.1 million bequest from the late Mary Margaret Weeg, a former graduate and educator at L-P-O Junior College. The donation is the largest in the college’s history. Weeg passed away in April 2015. Corcoran said the college would use the funds to establish a Dr. Mary Margaret Weeg arts scholarship, build the college’s scholarship endowment and support adult education IVCC foundation operations." 8/17/17
  • $1 million donation boosts plans for new Seneca Babcock Community Center (The Buffalo News) "The effort to build a new Seneca Babock Community Center at the site of former Buffalo Public School 26 [has] received a major boost [...]. Businessman Roger Hungerford announced he would match the $1 million donation made in March 2016 by Dr. Daniel and Gail Alexander for a new community center [in downtown Buffalo.]" 8/17/17

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