9 Nonprofits Participate for $25,000 Top Grant in Innovative Student-Engagement Initiative; Grants to be Presented During America East Conference Basketball Championship
Westport, Connecticut — Newman’s Own Foundation today announced the
nine nonprofit finalists to participate in the second annual Newman’s
Own Foundation Campus Community Service Challenge. The selected
nonprofits, nominated by and paired with a student group from each of
the America East’s nine member universities, are eligible to receive the
Challenge’s top grant of $25,000. In total, $80,000 will be awarded to
nominated nonprofits.
“A priority of the Foundation is to encourage the practice of
philanthropy among younger generations,” said Bob Forrester, president
of Newman’s Own Foundation. “The Newman’s Own Foundation Challenge
underscores the commitment and enthusiasm of so many young people to
make ours a better world. The caliber of the student group and nonprofit
partnerships we have recieved this year is quite extraordinary.”
One student group has been selected as a finalist by each member
university for its work with a nonprofit partner. The top grants will be
awarded based on:
· The
level of the student group’s involvement with its nonprofit partner,
and the impact of the partnership on those served by the nonprofit, as
well as on the students themselves.
· The
actual mission and programs of the nonprofit, the populations and
purposes it serves, and the impact the Foundation’s grant will have on
it.
The top grant will be $25,000. The next two grants will be for
$15,000 and $10,000 respectively. Six nonprofits will each receive a
$5,000 grant from Newman’s Own Foundation. The Challenge’s grant
finalists are:
· University at Albany’s
Third World Impact, partnering with The Giving Circle, to build a
school for 500 students in Uganda, as well as sending Albany students to
Uganda to teach.
· Binghamton University’s
Boys & Girls Club Mentors, partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs
of Binghamton, to improve the lives of underprivileged youth through
programming that targets personal development, academics, and service to
others.
· Boston University’s
Student Food Rescue, partnering with Community Servings, Inc., to
regularly provide meals to homebound and sick children and families, and
advocate for hunger relief.
· University of Hartford’s Habitat for Humanity, partnering with University of Hartford’s Alternate Spring Break, to help build houses in Valdosta, GA.
· University of Maine’s
Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism, partnering with University
of Maine’s Welcome Weekend Day of Service, to connect approximately 800
volunteers with 40 local, nonprofit organizations.
· University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s
Baseball and Softball teams, partnering with League of Dreams, to lead
baseball and softball clinics for physically and mentally-challenged
children.
· University of New Hampshire’s
Eta Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi, partnering with Girl Scouts of the
Green and White Mountains, to educate girls about healthy relationships,
domestic-violence prevention, and self defense.
· Stony Brook University’s
Alpha Epsilon Delta Health and Pre-Professional Honor Society,
partnering with Make-A-Wish Foundation of Suffolk County, to grant
wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
· University of Vermont’s
Alternative Spring Break, partnering with University of Vermont, to
provide funds for a greater number of students to travel and volunteer
with nonprofit organizations around the country.
The nine student/nonprofit partnerships will be reviewed and voted on
by the Newman’s Own Foundation Campus Community Service Challenge’s
Selection Panel. Leaders in philanthropy and social activism, the
judges are:
· Jonathan Fanton,
president emeritus of New School for Social Research and the John D.
and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and current Franklin D. Roosevelt
fellow at Hunter College
· Ben Goldhirsh, CEO and co-founder of GOOD Magazine
· Rebecca Lobo, basketball analyst for ESPN and former player in the Women’s National Basketball Association
· Dikembe Mutombo, NBA legend and well-known philanthropist who currently serves as a global ambassador for the NBA
The winners will be presented throughout the America East Men’s and
Women’s Basketball Championships held at the University of Hartford from
March 3-6, 2011.
To learn more, please visit www.NewmansOwnFoundation.org/Challenge
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About Newman’s Own Foundation (www.newmansownfoundation.org)
Paul
Newman was committed to helping make the world a better place. To carry
on his philanthropic legacy, Newman’s Own Foundation donates to charity
all net royalties and profits after taxes it receives from the sale of
Newman’s Own products. To date, Paul Newman and Newman’s Own Foundation
have given over $300 million to thousands of charities around the world.
About America East (www.americaeast.com)
Since
its beginning as a men’s basketball conference in 1979, America East
has evolved into one of the most comprehensive NCAA Division I
conferences with 20 championship sports serving more than 3,000
student-athletes. Supporting the missions of its nine member
institutions – Albany, Binghamton, Boston University, Hartford, Maine,
UMBC, New Hampshire, Stony Brook and Vermont – America East is committed
to developing champions in academics, athletics and leadership.