Health

Wildlife Trust, a non-profit international conservation organization dedicated to protecting wildlife and safeguarding human and animal health, announced that the organization will be re-branded with a new name and tagline: EcoHealth Alliance, "Local Conservation, Global Health." The organization also launched its new website at http://www.ecohealthalliance.org today, and re-branding efforts will extend to hiring new scientists, developing additional programs, and forming new alliance partners.

Snapshots of charitable support in 2009 have produced two very different pictures for nonprofit health care institutions in the United States and Canada, according to the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP). The association's annual Report on Giving indicated donations dropped $944 million in the U.S. last year from 2008 levels, while rising $56 million in Canada.

General Electric Co plans to donate about $50 million to community health clinics across the United States over the next couple of years, saying that urban clinics can play a role in the effort to slow the rapid rise of the nation's healthcare bill.

The largest U.S. conglomerate doubled its prior pledge on Wednesday as it announced $1 million in grants to two Atlanta clinics, bringing its total giving since it kicked off the drive last year to $8.5 million.

Women in Philanthropy awarded $47,000 in grants to community organizations Thursday evening, more than four times what the group contributed last year.

Eight nonprofit organizations were chosen for grants: The Naomi Project, Mercy Medicine’s Healthy Smiles Program, Lighthouse Ministries, McLeod Health Foundation, Mercy in Me Free Medical Clinic of Cheraw, the Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault, the Senior Citizens Association’s Home Care Services and Camp RAE.

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) announced that in connection with the Sept. 10, 2010, simultaneous commercial-free telecast, more than $80 million has been pledged so far to accelerate groundbreaking research and bring new treatments to patients as quickly as possible. The telecast is available online at www.su2c.org/2010show. Donations can continue to be made online at www.su2c.org and at 1-888-90-STAND (78263).

The Dalai Lama is putting his money where his mouth is.

The Tibetan spiritual leader has given $50,000 from his personal trust to support research into the science behind kindness and compassion at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The grant to the school's Center for Investigating Healthy Minds comes after the Dalai Lama promoted its work during a visit to Madison in May.

Johnson & Johnson, the pharmaceutical company, announced today that it will commit $200-million over five years to improve the health of women and children in poor countries.

Three-quarters of the commitment from the company, in New Brunswick, N.J., will be in the form of cash grants to nonprofit organizations; the rest will be medicines and other supplies.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® and Chili's® Grill & Bar are tapping into the power of the digital world, making it easier than ever for guests to donate to St. Jude during the seventh annual Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer campaign. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month and now through Sept. 30, guests can donate in restaurants nationwide, online, or via text message. Donations made during the Create-A-Pepper campaign support the St. Jude mission of finding cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.

My Sports Dreams announced that for every credit card donation received by one of its clients’ fundraising campaigns, the company will donate $1 to The V Foundation for Cancer Research. The immediate goal is to raise tens of thousands of dollars with the help of young athletes nationwide. My Sports Dreams specializes in helping youth, high school, and collegiate teams raise money for their program’s operating expenses. Now, however, they are branching out to help those who fight for the thousands who “never give up.”

Matt Galland, a running back for Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School’s football team, established Rush for a Cause to raise money for injured high school athletes. Photo courtesy of Matt Galland SHARON — Injured athlete Kory Wiita will be the first recipient of a new fundraising effort started by a Northeast Ohio football player. Matt Galland, 17, a Broadview Heights resident and senior at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, established Rush for a Cause this past year. The nonprofit organization will raise money through pledges made on the number of yards rushed by participating high school running backs. Galland said he