Bloomberg Philanthropies works primarily to advance five areas globally: the Arts, Education, the Environment, Government Innovation and Public Health.
We have a full house today at Bloomberg Philanthropies, as we welcome our arts organization grantees for #springsocial—a full day of presentations and discussions that will provide grantees deep insight into the world of social media.
Vietnam is home to more than 15 million adult smokers—a staggering one-sixth of the country’s total population. But yesterday, a new law went into effect that will reduce that number, saving lives and reducing Vietnam’s healthcare burden through proven tobacco use reduction strategies.
The first annual program update and letter by Michael R. Bloomberg provides an in-depth look at the organization’s charitable activities for 2012. The letter lays out Michael Bloomberg’s philanthropic philosophy, and how his experiences as Mayor of New York City and as an entrepreneur inform Bloomberg Philanthropies’ approach to its work.
Read the program update
Bloomberg Philanthropies today launched a new website featuring the first comprehensive look at all programs and initiatives in the organization’s five key focus areas including Public Health, Environment, Education, Government Innovation and the Arts.
Visit the web site
Read the press release
Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced that the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use Grants Program has awarded 500 grants since 2007. The Bloomberg Initiative Grants Program was designed to provide direct funding to governments and non-government organizations located in low- and middle-income countries to support development and implementation of evidence-based tobacco control activities. Since inception, the program has distributed $100 million in grants to more than 70 countries. More than 5 billion people—almost 75 percent of the world’s population—live in a country that has received a grant.
Read more on our web site
According to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report, only 28 countries have comprehensive road safety laws that address all five WHO key risk factors: drinking and driving, speeding, motorcycle helmet use, seat-belt usage, and child restraint device usage. These 28 countries cover only seven percent of the world population.
Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced the winners of the Mayors Challenge, a competition to inspire American cities to generate innovative ideas that solve major challenges and improve city life – and that ultimately can be shared with other cities to improve the well-being of the nation. More than 300 cities competed in this inaugural competition. Providence was presented the Mayors Challenge Grand Prize for Innovation and a $5 million implementation award for its cutting-edge early education initiative. Mayors Challenge innovation prizes also were awarded to Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and Santa Monica, all of which will receive $1 million to support implementation. Sculptures created by world-renowned designer Olafur Eliasson were created to commemorate the Mayors Challenge winners.
Michael R. Bloomberg today announced a $100 million donation to support polio eradication efforts through Bloomberg Philanthropies. The donation will help fund the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s (GPEI) six year plan to eradicate polio.
Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced the launch of the Mayors Challenge Fan Favorite selection. The selection, launched in partnership with The Huffington Post, allows citizens to learn more about the bold and innovative ideas of the 20 Mayors Challenge finalists and vote for their favorite. Each finalist city will showcase its idea through an original video and a blog post from its mayor.
Politically, environmentalism has had a few good months in the U.S. Hurricane Sandy put the words “climate change” back in the national vocabulary. Republican attempts to attack Democrats for waging a “war on coal” failed to win many votes in states like Virginia and Ohio on Election Day. In his second inaugural address, President Barack Obama made climate action a priority. A climate rally in Washington is being planned for later this month, and the president has committed to conducting a “national conversation” on the subject.
Read more at Bloomberg View
