philanthropy : Buzz

Johns Hopkins University's engineering department started the New Year with a big bang, accepting a $30 million gift from John C. Malone, chairman of Liberty Media and a Hopkins alum, to build a new research building.

Here's an excerpt:

"The gift will finance construction of a 56,000-square-foot building for studying social and industrial systems and individualized health-care treatment, the university, in Baltimore, said in a statement on its website today. The building will be named after Malone."

Read the story.

Maryland business owner Ken Wood has found new purpose and passion doing what he's done for years.

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Forget the corny camp songs, At Opera Summer Camp gives Baltimore tweens a broader playbook taken from opera's masters.

Here's an excerpt:

"On a bright summer morning in Baltimore, camp is in full swing. A few dozen youngsters run through their daily exercises � vocal exercises, that is. Forget the bug spray and sleeping bags. At Opera Camp, the kids need only bring talent and a desire to sing.

Five days a week, from 9 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., camp is held inside a sprawling concert hall. The four-week session aims to introduce the texting generation to opera. Students receive instruction in music, acting, dance, lighting, set design, and makeup and wigs. Thanks to private donors, everything from field trips to lunch is free."

Listen to the entire report here.

Paul Lebelle and Adam Burkowske, two friends from Baltimore, have hit the middle stages of a cross country bike tour for their Bike Free charity. The idea is to raise $125,000 to purchase bikes and helmets for the children of military personnel.

Here's an excerpt:

"The pair began their ride in Maryland on June 10 and plan to end it with several large fundraisers in mid-October in California. They have been riding about 300 miles a week while carrying 60 pounds of gear on each bike.

Burkowske said Bike Free has connected with Rotary Clubs along their route to help raise money for the cause and has paired with the USO for distribution of the bikes, which they hope to do in December.

Lebelle and Burkowske met five years ago while working in a Baltimore restaurant. Both had given up their vehicles and taken to bicycles, and both were looking for something that would give their life greater purpose.

Burkowske said he had always wanted to walk across the country, doing volunteer work along the way. He shared his dream with Lebelle."

Read the entire article here.

If you haven't been able to cop a ticket to a Stew dinner, here's a peek at a recent dinner and the trend that is spreading across the country.

"A Stew meal is not elaborate. The main course is soup; tonight it's a choice between vegan spring onion and rabbit with dumplings. Tickets to the event are $10 each. But there's more to this meal than the composition of a plate of radishes, or of the next course: spears of roasted asparagus, pleasantly salted, arranged to form squares that overlap at the corners.

Stew is the brainchild of the Baltimore Development Cooperative (not to be confused with the Baltimore Development Corp.), which was started in 2007 by three recent MICA graduates, all artists now in their late 20s: Scott Berzofsky, Nicholas Wisniewski and Nester. They wanted to use food to foster community and stimulate activism."

Read the entire article here.

A law newly passed by the Maryland legislature will enable entrepreneurs to combine their desire to do good works with their responsiblity to their shareholders.


Here's an excerpt:

"Maryland has created a new legal structure -- called a benefit corporation -- for companies that blend business with social and environmental good.

The legislation, signed into law by Gov. Martin O'Malley, requires that benefit corporations create a positive impact on society and that boards of directors consider how decisions will affect employees, local jurisdictions, and the environment, rather than just looking at shareholders' interests. It also offers board members legal protection for taking social and environmental issues into consideration."

Read the entire post here.

In its most recent newsletter, Cities for CEOs highlighted a November 2009 essay in which The Goldseker Foundation's Tim Armbruster shares his thoughts on philanthropy and how it can be used to help transform cities.

Here's an excerpt:

"Timothy Armbruster, President & CEO of The Goldseker Foundation, has spent nearly half of his life shaping the social and economic agenda in Baltimore. Fortunately for the rest of us, he has captured his wisdom in an insightful and refreshingly personal essay titled, Unfinished Business: Lessons from Baltimore.Tim's 30-year career in civic and philanthropic leadership in this post-industrial city reveals a very nuanced perspective about civic leadership and placemaking that is attuned to, but not overly influenced by, the latest city trends. His ingredients for success are simple and clear: patience, collaboration and commitment."

Read the essay here.

Last week was a great week for Baltimore's twitter crowd, especially if they were interested creating something for the good of us all....

@ignitedc had some advice on how to make a change on the cheap, "From Ignite DC #2- how to use $100 & put on your own mass culture event by @elbuenob http://su.pr/2Ejbva (blip)/http://su.pr/1DaScY (itunes)"

@BoltonHill is seeking anyone who, "Know any women-led life science or clean tech companies looking for funding? Springboard Enterprises is looking-raised over $5B in capital."

@baltcommfdn is spreading the word about "$10-25k grants avail for Poverty Alleviation thru ABC-MD & @OSIBaltimore - Proposals due 3/8 http://ow.ly/d/1yP"

@TowsonUNews needs you to "Help keep Towson University's @WTMD on track -- volunteer for the March 6-12 fund drive http://bit.ly/98bR3r"

Twitter chatter wasn't all about philanthropy though, there was also...

@CenterMaryland says that "SURVEY: 78% of college students in Baltimore say they would recommend the region as a good place to go to school http://bit.ly/9hzGgD"

@BeerConnoisseur pays an homage to their favorite brew, "You foam within our glasses, you lusty golden brew, whoever imbibes takes fire from you. The young and the old sing...http://bit.ly/cNdSqi"

@davetroy wonders, "After the rapture, who will take care of the pets? Caring atheists, obviously. Duh! http://bit.ly/aMI8PD"

Need a gig? @R2integrated says, "R2i is looking for an entry level Search Marketing Specialist! Please email [email protected]. http://bit.ly/9PDxM2"

Could there be a better combination? @midnightsunblog, "on thursday, pazo is launching their new cupcakes & cocktails menu, pairing fancy cupcakes with fancy drinks. http://bit.ly/dxahCE"

We'll have to roll up our sleeves for this one, @WhatsToEatBmore, "Baltimore Snuggie Pub Crawl this Saturday! Who's In!?!??! http://ow.ly/19Uxh"


@JustinKownacki wonders and we have to agree, "Are we past the parking chair stage yet, Baltimore? It's been two weeks since the big storm; if you haven't dug out yet, you're not trying."


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On 'Today's Pet' segment, Jill Rappaport interviewed the founders of 'Pets with Disabilities'. The Prince Frederick, MD couple take in dogs with a varying disabilities - even from as far away as Russia.

Here's the video:

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Award-winning blogger Mike Hitchen reports on a Baltimore-based soccer tournament, sponsored by the International Rescue Committee, that is allowing kids who have escaped conflict-ravaged countries to play soccer free from danger. Hitchen reports that plans are underway to create a permanent refugee soccer league -- a Peace League -- in Baltimore.

An excerpt from the blog post reads:

A soccer tournament is underway on a field next to a busy street in Baltimore, an hour or so outside of Washington, DC. Four teams of teenage boys are competing for ribbons and a gold cup. They could be from anywhere, but these teens are all refugees from conflict zones - Iraqis, Burmese, Bhutanese, and Meskhetian Turks.

Marwan Saleh plays defense for the Iraqi team, the "Tigers." The 17-year-old left his homeland nine months ago. "There, there's war. We don't have a chance to play soccer," he explains. "It's my chance to play soccer. We cannot live there. We don't have jobs. We cannot study; we cannot do anything. There's war, there's shooting, there are guns, gangs, the army, fighting between people. Here's better for us - safe. We can study. We can do anything here. Here is the future."

Read the entire post here:

In an effort to stretch resources and help more families, Anne Arundel's Habitat for Humanity and Chesapeake Habitat for Humanity of Baltimore merged July 1, according to Mike Mitchell, executive director of the new Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake. The merger resulted in two layoffs.

An excerpt from the article reads:

"We had been hearing from donors for at least four or five years that this was something they wanted to see," said Mitchell, former executive director of the Chesapeake Habitat. "We're really excited about it."

One of Arundel Habitat's main projects was in Brooklyn, just over the Anne Arundel County line. In the past few years, the neighborhood along Jack Street has transformed from a rundown city neighborhood to a home for dozens of Habitat families.

But Chesapeake Habitat, which focused on projects in Baltimore city and Baltimore County, was building homes in the Pigtown neighborhood, just a few miles away. Joining forces just made sense, Mitchell said.

Read the entire article here.