Final post on first WordPress platform
The Community Foundation was just beginning to use social media back in 2008 when we began sharing on this WordPress platform. We enjoyed sharing good news about the great things going on in our community. And we enjoyed imagining together what we could do to shape a brighter future for everyone.
In August 2011, with the launch of a new website for the Community Foundation, we shifted our posts to another WordPress platform, this one embedded within our regular website. We hope you will follow us there and continue to share good news about this great place we live and the generous people who support its future through the Community Foundation.
One week more for Philanthropy nominations
Attention, nonoprofits and volunteers — what great philanthropist or outstanding charitable organization or amazing young person or professional advisor or civic leader or business or fundraising professional deserves the highest recognition for their hard work and generosity? You still have one week to submit that nomination for the 2011 National Philanthropy Day awards, a 30-year tradition presented by the Alabama Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
You can find a list of past winners as well as a nomination form on the AFP website. Think about the great people and organizations you know and be part of this wonderful event by submitting a nomination. The extended deadline is August 12.
Look for more information soon about the event itself, which promises a national speaker and a great reception at The Club on November 15.
Remy Fund makes first grants for pets and animal services
Ken Jackson has a passion for pets, and he uses a special fund at the Community Foundation to help organizations that share that passion. The Remy Fund for Pets and Animal Services just awarded its first grants ever, $15,000 in grants to:
• Bama Bully Rescue, $5,000 to support the organization’s work to find homes for Pit Bulls and other “Bully” breeds that have been abandoned, abused or neglected.
• Momakat Rescue, $5,000 to support spay/neuter surgeries for abused or neglected cats.
• Spirit of Hope Youth Ranch, $5,000 to support animal-assisted therapy programs that involve at-risk and disadvantaged youth working with horses rescued from abuse, neglect or abandonment.
Thanks to the members of the Remy Fund Advisory Committee who reviewed so many great applications, to Ken for the original $250,000 gift to set up the fund and to others who have added their gifts over the past year. The fund is still open for donations from people interested in supporting its priorities:
• Rescue/shelter programs for traditional companion animals
• Spay/neuter programs
• Animal-assisted therapy programs involving traditional companion animals
• Education and advocacy programs (promoting the humane and dignified treatment of traditional companion animals)
• Service dog programs
Nonprofits can apply again for grants next year, starting May 1, 2012, so stay tuned through the Community Foundation.
Prize2theFuture makes the list when Mashable discusses the use of crowdsourcing in making communities better. Thanks to Idea Crossing for the platform, to our great judges for their time and most of all to all the people who contributed their ideas in what became a true community workshop. Check out the story on this link:
How 3 Cities Are Crowdsourcing for Community Revitalization.
$250K grants from Bama Rising Fund
A month after the sold-out concert that raised more than $2 million for tornado recovery efforts across Alabama, $250,000 is going out in grants to rebuild and furnish homes for families in need. These first grants will help to put people back in their own homes and supply needed furniture and appliances.
Grants are going to nonprofit organizations in coordination with Long Term Recovery Committees serving Jackson, DeKalb, Marshall and Franklin counties. That’s the way the process will continue, as members of the Advisory Committee for the Bama Rising Fund of the Community Foundation look for more opportunities to give in hard-hit areas across the state. These LTRCs provide a great connection to unmet needs, because they are made up of people who really know what their communities are facing and what resources are available.
None of this could have happened for Bama Rising or for the Rihanna concert without the great stars, the hard-working promoters and creative support, the sponsors and all the fans and people from across the country who cared enough to buy a ticket or T-shirt or send a donation. We are so lucky to have this support, because the needs of our state are still so great!
June 27 marks two months since tornadoes devastated Alabama and once more a music star is stepping out to help. On July 11, Rihanna will headline a benefit concert in Birmingham called Celebrate Alabama with proceeds going to support the needs of tornado survivors in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham.
The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham serves as one of the philanthropic partners for the concert, creating the Mayor’s Disaster Relief Fund as an advised fund in partnership with the City of Birmingham. An advisory committee will include local leaders and representatives of the community foundations.
Tickets go on sale Thursday, with two levels of pricing topping out at $49. Let’s make this another great success for our community and keep attention on the on-going needs of tornado survivors.
The Bama Rising benefit concert sold out so fast — in less than an hour — last month, and 12,000 concert-goers will be part of this special event tonight. Whether you have a ticket or not, you can still be part of supporting the Bama Rising Fund for statewide tornado recovery at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.
Tonight through June 16 you can participate in the on-line auction organized by the Bama Rising promoters. You can make an on-line gift in any amount or give $10 by texting BAMA to 501501 (message and data rates may apply).
Tomorrow night, June 15, you can use your purchase of a meal at Alabama locations of Chipotle Mexican Grill to do some good. From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at any Alabama Chipotle location, 50 percent of the proceeds will benefit the Bama Rising Fund for statewide tornado recovery.
Former University of Alabama football favorites and current NFL players Javier Arenas, Mike Johnson and John Parker Wilson will sign autographs and join fans for photographs, all in the cause of raising funds for tornado recovery. Join them at the Wildwood Verizon store at 225 State Farm Parkway in Birmingham from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, for this special opportunity.
Many thanks to Verizon, the presenting sponsor for the Bama Rising benefit concert on June 14, for this additional chance to be part of supporting the Bama Rising Fund at the Community Foundation, which will support statewide tornado recovery.
“When we heard word of this amazing concert, we reached out to Verizon to find out if there was anything we could do to help,” Wilson said. “We are challenging Alabama fans across the state to show their support for ongoing recovery efforts by coming out and giving what they can to the cause – no donation too big or too small.”
All three players also will appear on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Jones Valley Verizon store at 2762 Carl T. Jones Drive Southeast in Huntsville and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the McFarland Verizon store at 2340 McFarland Boulevard East in Tuscaloosa.
At all three locations, you can also enter a drawing for two tickets to the Bama Rising concert, which sold out general Admission tickets in less than an hour. You can give by cash or check, made out to the Community Foundation. Credit card donations can be made through an online DONATE button at the concert website, or you can text “BAMA” to 501501 to donate $10 (a charge to your cell phone bill. Message and data rates may apply.).
Brock Parker, head of Alabama Ghostbusters, had a great question — could this statewide costuming and fan group use a benefit showing of “Ghostbusters 2” at the Alabama Theatre on July 30 to raise money for tornado relief in Alabama?
We said yes and thank you for this creative way to keep the focus on the long-term needs of tornado survivors across our state.
In addition to ticket sales, Alabama Ghostbusters will raise money for recovery efforts through a special auction starting the week before the show. Click here to find out more about the show and the fundraising effort which will support the Alabama Tornado Recovery Fund of the Community Foundation.
Alabama Ghostbusters use the phrase Geeks for Good. As far as the Community Foundation is concerned, this is another great way to give back to an on-going need.
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham 