Posted on June 4, 2011

Community Foundation Update (6/04/11)

Florida

The Community Foundation of Broward in Fort Lauderdale has reached the $100 million milestone in assets. Established in the early 1980s, the foundation has awarded nearly $50 million in grants from funds created by more than seven hundred donors.

Michigan

The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area has launched a new education program that aims to help at-risk students and their families plan for, apply to, and pay for college or other post-high school credentials, the Holland Sentinel reports. Like the foundation's Ready to Learn initiative, which is designed to boost kindergarten readiness, Destination Education was developed in response to education needs highlighted by attendees at a community forum in 2007. The new program will be led by Monique Powell, who was previously Holland Public Schools' liaison to homeless families.

New Jersey

The Haddonfield-based Community Foundation of South Jersey has named Salem Health and Wellness Foundation executive director Brenda Goins to its board of directors, NJ.com reports.

Oklahoma

Phil Lakin, president and CEO of the Tulsa Community Foundation, has announced that he will seek the District 8 council seat, Tulsa World reports. In 2009, Lakin was defeated in the Republican primary for the south Tulsa seat by councilor Bill Christiansen, who is not seeking re-election. The foundation — the largest community foundation in the country, with more than $4 billion in assets — has donated funds to the city to cover an array of items, ranging from a KPMG efficiency study and the city's comprehensive plan, PLANiTULSA, to beautification projects and the mayor's travel expenses to conduct city business.

Virginia

The Staunton-based Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge has awarded grants totaling nearly $200,000 to thirty-six organizations, the News Leader reports. Recipients include the American Shakespeare Center, the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Rebuilding Together Amherst/Nelson, and Shenandoah National Park Trust.

Washington

The Seattle Foundation has announced that it will conduct a one-day online-only event to raise funds for local nonprofits. The GiveBIG campaign will be held on June 23, from 7:00 a.m. to midnight, and a portion of every donation made through the foundation's Giving Center will be matched with a "stretch pool" of $500,000 provided by the Seattle Foundation and various GiveBIG supporters, including JPMorgan Chase, the Seattle International Foundation, and Seattle Sounders FC.