Pace Academy: Offering Holistic Education

Ideally, a school should nurture not just academic excellence, but also athletics, arts and other programs. This has been the strategic approach of Pace Academy in mentoring students that are ready to prepare the world.

Pace Academy was created in 1958 and has been dedicated to providing the best education in the country. Born from the visions of interfaith group of community leaders, these entrepreneurs created an organization that nurtures fresh ideas and a stimulating learning environment. As of 2015, they have over 1000 students enrolled between Pre-First through 12th grade. To ensure the quality of education and support every learner needs, the organization has a 9:1 student-teacher ratio.

Pace Academy has its eyes set on creating students that are ready to become citizens of the world. The institution continues to THINK BIG in their approach in improving their educational system. The company is based in Atlanta, Georgia and maintains high end facilities sitting in on a 34 acre property.

West Central Initiative Serving the West Central Minnesota

West Central Initiative has a mission to improve the west central Minnesota region via a wide range of funding grants, technical assistance, and programs. As a non-profit organization, its vision is to unite the ideas and resources of the communities in and around the region and, in the process, help the people in the area to create a better future.

Its core values reflect the crucial role that it plays in the region, such as building a community, treating everybody with respect, and adopting a responsive approach to inquiries and requests, as well as a maintaining a strong commitment to continuous learning. Such is its commitment to these core values that it has provided stability to the communities it serves by establishing and maintaining a sustainable asset base.

West Central Initiative contributes to the improvement of west central Minnesota by sharing its resources in several ways including:

• Funding grants through partnerships so that resources can be provided to families and communities that need the funds. It focuses on community development, family economic success, and workforce development.
• Business loans particularly gap loans for qualified start-ups and for business expansions.
• Technical assistance in regional planning particularly economic development and transportation (i.e., the organization convenes groups like regional EDA planners, labor force development council, and family economic success groups)
• Donor services that encourage donors to make their contributions to community, family and business development

The organization serves nine counties at present. It does the most good in these communities by finding the most cost-efficient, results-effective ways in using its resources including its funds. Its success lies in its strong partnerships with stakeholders as well as its ability to listen to regional wisdom, gather facts and figures, and combine its resources during the decision-making process.

The result: West Central Initiative is considered as a force for progress and development in Minnesota!

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind Improves Quality of Life

Founded in 1946, the mission of the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind was initially to provide guide dogs and training for people who were visually impaired or blind – free of charge. But its mission has changed over the years such that today it is to improve the quality of life for people who are visually impaired and blind, among other special needs.

The Foundation has also consistently promoted the enhanced mobility, personal independence, and companionship that a suitable guide dog can bring to its handler. For this reason, the non-profit organization provides students with their guide dogs and training for free, thus, the coverage for the transportation within the United States and Canada only as well as the room and board. Its classes are characterized by an excellent student-to-teacher ratio and customized instruction, which attract not just visually impaired people but physically-challenged people as well.

The Foundation relies on contributions and donations to provide the guide dogs and training for free. Its emphasis on fiscal prudence makes it one of the organizations that donors appreciate giving their dollars.

The Global Philanthropy of JP Morgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase is one of the oldest financial institutions in the United States. Their history dates back over 200 years, but they have managed to break old traditions to provide clients with modern services. Today, the company  is the leading global financial services firm with assets worth $2.2 trillion. They operate in more than 60 countries, serving millions of consumers, small businesses and many of the world's most prominent clients from different sectors.

With all these achievements under their belt, JPMorgan Chase is undeniably a leader in financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking. But like any other successful company, JPMorgan Chase recognizes their responsibility to the society that helped them reach the top of their game. As they become one of the world's most influential global financial institutions, their philanthropy has also evolved.

The company’s goal is to become a catalyst for positive and sustainable change within less privileged communities across the globe. Last year alone, JPMorgan Chase has donated $150 million worth of grants and sponsorships to thousands of non-profit organizations across more than 25 countries. In a smaller scale, the company also supports the interests of our employees through the Matching Gift and volunteer programs.

The firm’s charitable programs are focused on three areas, which are community development, education, arts and culture. JPMorgan Chase is working with the best community-based partners to provide support to families in poverty-stricken neighborhoods, giving them long-term solutions to alleviate the quality of their lives. Disadvantaged children can also benefit from high-quality educational opportunities initiated by the company. Teacher are also taught to deepen their knowledge and become more effective educators for the youth. Last but not the least, the company considers arts and culture and integral part in the education of the youth. As such, JPMorgan Chase builds the capacity of community-based arts institutions for local cultural and economic revival.

Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association: Spreading the Gospel

The Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association was the brainchild of Garner Ted Armstrong (9 February 1930 – 15 September 2003), a well-known American evangelist. His life was as filled with righteousness as with controversy especially in relation with his father, Herbert W. Armstrong, also an evangelist who established the Worldwide Church of God.

Armstrong initially came to the world’s attention as his father’s successor as The World Tomorrow’s voice; it was the church’s radio program with a worldwide broadcast. His success eventually gave way to his own radio program wherein he mixed social, political and cultural commentary with Biblical messages, a polemical message that was unlike the styles of most religious broadcasters of the day.

In the 1970s, however, Garner was disowned by his father and thus began a new chapter in his life and career. His daily radio program broadcasted over several nations from the United States to the Philippines in various languages including English, Spanish, German, Italian, French, and Russian. He also appeared in a daily television show.

Public Knowledge: Focusing on the Three IPs of Copyright and Communications

Founded by David Bollier and Gigi Sohn in 2001, Public Knowledge is a non-profit public interest group focused on the three IPs of copyright and communications policy, namely, intellectual property, information policy, and Internet protocol. With its headquarters in the United States’ capital, Washington D.C., the organization is well-positioned to promote its cause especially in its involvement with intellectual property law, choice in the digital marketplace, market competition, and an open standards/end-to-end Internet.

Public Knowledge is also well-known in the advocacy industry for its dedication to one of its major causes – copyright defenses and exemptions, including fair use, as well as against copyright expansion. One of its most notable successes was the overturning of the FCC’s rule of placing a broadcast flag for digital television tuners – truly, a jewel in Public Knowledge’s crown of achievements.

Public Knowledge has also been hailed for its rise to prominence as the finest policy advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. within the coalition of organizations working for fair use.

According to its website, Public Knowledge has avowed mission of promoting freedom of expression, access to both creative works and communications tools, and an open Internet. The organization works in shaping policy in the three focus areas on behalf of the public’s welfare and interest.

Public Knowledge is involved in the following activities:

• Ensure universal access to open and affordable networks;
• Advance the general public’s access to information including knowledge
• Promote and protect consumer rights
• Educate the public, press and policymakers through a wide range of tools including analysis, blog posts and white papers as well as videos

By working at the intersection of three areas, namely, telecommunications, copyright and Internet law, it is also in the middle of their convergence. Its experience in these three areas is also an advantage in its advocacy, thus, explaining Public Knowledge’s success.

Monadnock United Way: Building a Community

In the tradition of the United Way, the Monadnock United Way has a mission of improving the lives of its beneficiaries mainly by mobilizing its diverse partners and making investments in programs that create meaningful and measurable change in the long-term period. Its objectives include the evaluation of the extent of regional human service needs, the development of monetary and non-monetary resources necessary to meet these needs, and allocation of resources in an effective manner, among others.

The Monadnock United Way also works toward promoting the spirit of volunteerism in the community, facilitating community initiatives including finding viable solutions for problems; and promoting public awareness of the community’s issues. Its ultimate goal is to build a better community in the Monadnock Region by harnessing the capabilities of its partners, such as social service providers, local governments, foundations, and the medical industry, among other stakeholders.

With its endowment managed by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the Monadnock United Way ensures that its funds are invested in the right manner.

Mile High United Way: First of Its Kind

While the Mile High United Way has undergone several name changes since its original establishment on 16 October 1887 – it was previously known as The Charity Organization Society, Community, Chest, Red Feather Drive, and United Fund before adopting its current name in 1964 – its mission has essentially remained the same. The men and women behind the non-profit organization are committed to advancing the common good by changing lives and transforming communities.

Its three-pronged approach toward improving the quality of life for its beneficiaries can be summarized as follows:

• The School Readiness Initiative focuses on providing children from low-income families the opportunity to access world-class early childhood education. As a result, the children enter school especially their elementary grades with a ready attitude particularly in terms of reading at grade level by the end of their third grade.
• The Youth Success Initiative extends the education opportunities to school-age, at-risk students from low-income families. Students are provided with access to afterschool programs that include mentoring and tutoring as well as drop-out prevention methods. The initiative also includes post-secondary programs designed to ensure that the students succeed in their academic, thus, preparing them for college or work.
• The Adult Self-Sufficiency Initiative creates and supports programs designed to help low-income adults with the knowledge and skills necessary for economic self-sufficiency. The program also provides opportunities for the development of workforce experience.

Mile High United Way also considers itself as a catalyst for social change. Its strong partnerships with local non-profit organizations, policy makers, businesses, and government agencies promote the common good in various ways. Its focus on early childhood development and literacy as well as youth education and development coupled with economic stability for families has made it a welcome presence in the community.

The organization serves the Metro Denver community that covers five counties, namely, Arapahoe, Adams, Douglas, Denver, and Jefferson.