Latest Philanthropy News

Luka Doncic starting foundation, already studying ways to improve access to youth basketball

Dec. 19, 2024 21:29 PM EST

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic is starting his own foundation, saying his primary goal is to ensure that children learning how to play basketball are doing so the right way and within a positive environment. The Luka Doncic Foundation will be formally launched...

MrBeast's new show already faced controversy. Its new giveaway partner may bring more

Dec. 19, 2024 15:31 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — MrBeast's ambitious reality show, which the YouTube megastar hopes will expand his giant online reach and turn the corner on recent controversies, is already raising questions from consumer advocates over a partnership with a fintech company. Prime Video's Thursday...

Harmful gas billowing from Texas and New Mexico comes mostly from smaller leaks, researchers say

Dec. 19, 2024 09:30 AM EST

The blob on the satellite image is a rainbow of colors. An analyst digitally sharpens it and there, highlighted in red, is the source: a concrete oil pad spewing methane. In the 75,000-square-mile (194-square-kilometer) Permian Basin straddling Texas and New Mexico, the most...

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott reveals another $2 billion in donations in 2024

Dec. 18, 2024 16:36 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — Billionaire author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott acknowledged another $2 billion in donations in a blog post on Wednesday, bringing the total she’s given away since 2019 to $19.2 billion. She also revealed new information about how she was managing her...

MacKenzie Scott gives rare third gift to medical debt relief group

Dec. 18, 2024 14:59 PM EST

MacKenzie Scott continues to make medical debt relief a priority in her mysterious giving. This week, Undue Medical Debt, formerly RIP Medical Debt, announced it had received a rare third gift — $50 million — from the billionaire philanthropist, signaling her satisfaction with...

Several children killed in stampede at a holiday fair event in Nigeria, state governor says

Dec. 18, 2024 12:50 PM EST

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Several children have died during a stampede on Wednesday at a holiday funfair in southwestern Nigeria, authorities said. The incident happened at the Islamic High School in Basorun, Oyo State, near the economic hub of Lagos. Security forces attended the scene...

Brazilian Santa swaps sleigh for Jet Ski to deliver toys — and joy — to disabled children in Rio

Dec. 17, 2024 20:53 PM EST

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Santa Claus is coming to town ... on a Jet Ski. Dozens of children with disability gathered on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach on Tuesday to receive presents — and joy — from the white-bearded man himself, a joint effort by the city's firefighters and...

West Virginia's state health officer resigns but will continue opioid nonprofit work

Dec. 17, 2024 12:01 PM EST

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia's state health officer, who was recently reelected as a leader of the private nonprofit charged with distributing much of the state’s opioid settlement dollars, has resigned. Dr. Matt Christiansen' s final day with the state health...

Billion-dollar donation from Netflix's Reed Hastings leads 2024's list of biggest gifts

Dec. 17, 2024 11:05 AM EST

The Chronicle’s annual list of the biggest charitable donations from individuals or their foundations totaled nearly $6 billion in 2024, with half of that coming from three contributions of $1 billion or more each. Two of those three gifts went to medical schools to provide financial aid....

Pakistani air ambulance delivers medicines to violence-hit district as roads remain closed

Dec. 17, 2024 10:16 AM EST

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A Pakistani charity used an air ambulance on Tuesday to deliver medicines to a northwestern region where a doctor said 29 children had died in the past two months because life-saving supplies couldn't get through roadblocks following sectarian clashes. Air...