Authors of ‘What to Expect’ books use their clout to start charity that serves the needs of poor pregnant women When Heidi E. Murkoff was asked to talk to pregnant inmates at Rikers Island about how to improve their chances of giving birth to a healthy baby, she had little idea what to expect. As…
By DOMENICA MARCHETTI
Contributor
Photograph by Maggie Steber For nearly 30 years, the Kunsberg School, in Denver, has been helping children suffering from chronic illnesses like asthma lead a normal life. The day school, which enrolls 100 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, offers a broad-based academic program as well…
Performing ‘All Stars’ Are Now Official ‘Points of Light’
Following are the people and organizations that have most recently been named to receive President Clinton’s Daily Points of Light Award. The Points of Light Foundation, a Washington charity, assists the president in making the choices and carrying out the award program. More information about the…
Prominent Donor Cuts Ties to Museum Over Exhibit
Controversy over an exhibit has prompted Marylou Whitney, a descendant of the founder of the Whitney Museum of American Art, to resign from the institution’s national fund-raising committee. She said that she would no longer give any financial support to the institution and that the museum has been…
By Meg Sommerfeld
Contributor
Florida Donor Sues to Recover $3.6-Million Gift to Seminary
A Florida philanthropist and technology-company executive is asking a court in Tampa to return a $3.6-million donation that he made last year to a seminary in Charlotte, N.C. John Sykes, chief executive of Sykes Enterprises, in Tampa, is alleging in a lawsuit filed in Hillsborough County Circuit…
By Thomas J. Billitteri
Contributor
Northwestern Gets $40-Million; Other Gifts
Four organizations have received big gifts. * Ann Lurie, widow of the real-estate developer Robert H. Lurie, has given $40-million to Northwestern University, in Evanston, Ill., to establish a medical-research center. The new facility, which will be located on the university’s Chicago campus, is…
CEO Gives $100-Million for New Fund
Michael Saylor, the billionaire chief executive of a northern Virginia software company, has created a $100-million foundation that will be devoted to making a free college education available to anyone -- through the Internet. Mr. Saylor, 35, heads MicroStrategy, which creates so-called…
By DOMENICA MARCHETTI
Contributor
Companies Urged to Increase Grants to Minority Programs
U.S. corporations should significantly increase their support for programs that benefit racial and ethnic minority groups, a new report suggests. America’s principal minority groups -- blacks, Hispanics, Asian Pacific Americans, and American Indians -- together make up about 28 percent of the U.S.…
By Stephen G. Greene
Contributor
Independence of fund’s board at issue in disposal of multimillionaire’s estate Multimillionaire Howard Gilman was passionate and personal about his charitable causes -- especially wildlife conservation and the performing arts. He loved talented, beautiful people and provided the dancer Mikhail…
By Constance Casey
Contributor
Photograph by Karla G. Nicholson In 1989, four dancers from Chicago got together to come up with a way to promote and cultivate jazz dance in the city. The result was the River North Chicago Dance Company, now celebrating its 10th season. Over the years, the group has grown from a handful of…
Foundations That Gave the Most to Education, 1998
ALSO SEE: Gates Foundation Pledges $350-Million to Improve Public-School Education Amount 1. Annenberg Foundation (Pa.) $56,860,376 2. Lilly Endowment (Ind.) $53,760,384 3. W.K. Kellogg Foundation (Mich.) $26,841,752 4. DeWitt Wallace & Reader’s Digest Fund (N.Y.) $26,115,439 5. David and Lucile…
After-School Program for Girls Is Among Those Honored as ‘Points of Light’
Following are the people and organizations that have most recently been named to receive President Clinton’s Daily Points of Light Award. The Points of Light Foundation, a Washington charity, assists the president in making the choices and carrying out the award program. More information about the…
Gates Foundation Pledges $350-Million to Improve Public-School Education
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $350-million over the next three years to help improve elementary and secondary schools across the nation, with an initial emphasis on schools in the foundation’s home state of Washington. Not surprisingly, the foundation’s first major commitment to…
By Meg Sommerfeld
Contributor
Minn. University Gets $50-Million; Other Big Gifts
Four non-profit organizations have received big gifts. * Richard M. Schulze, founder of Best Buy Company, and his wife, Sandra, have given $50-million to the University of Saint Thomas, in St. Paul. The couple designated the gift for entrepreneurial-education programs, scholarships, and the School…