BLOCH HONORED — On May 15 Nonprofit Connect honored Annette Bloch as its Philanthropist of the Year. Nonprofit Connect Executive Director Luann Feehan said Bloch and the other three Philanthropy Award winners have impacted the community through the giving of their time, talent and funds. The award was presented at the 31st Annual Philanthropy Awards Luncheon, Kansas City’s oldest and largest celebration of giving. The funds raised at the Awards Luncheon allow Nonprofit Connect to continue to offer education, resources and networking so that area nonprofit organizations can more effectively achieve their missions. Nonprofit Connect is a membership organization and is the first source for nonprofit professionals, volunteers, students, funders and businesses seeking opportunities to network, learn and grow. Nonprofit Connect links the nonprofit community to education, resources and networking so organizations can more effectively achieve their missions.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK — I was recently a very proud mother attending the University of Kansas School of Business graduation and the dean shared this wise quote from John Templeton. {mprestriction ids="1,3"}“It’s nice to be important but more important to be nice.” I’m adding it to my lists of favorites.
MARC TO HONOR JFS — Our friends at Jewish Family Services are being honored for the agency’s work with older adults in the metropolitan area.
The Mid-America Regional Council has named the agency one of its 2015 Regional Leadership Award winners. The award recognizes JFS as a regional leader in innovative and holistic programs for older adults and aging-in-place. The JFS Care Management, Jet Express and Help@Home teams all work with the older adult population.
“All of us at JFS who work with older adults are humbled by this award,” said Dawn Staton, JFS director of Older Adult Initiatives. “We value the trust our members and clients bestow upon us and we look forward to continuing to provide the programs and services they need to remain active, independent and in control of their own lives.”
The award will presented to JFS staff at MARC’s Regional Assembly June 5.
Since 1992, MARC annually recognizes individuals and institutions that have made outstanding contributions to the region. The recipients of MARC’s Regional Leadership awards have advanced a vision of a strong, healthy region, demonstrated commitment to its growth, and encouraged others to support and work towards that vision. Each spring, MARC calls for nominations for the annual leadership awards.
JFS staff works to strengthen individuals and families in the Kansas City region through its extensive network of services. JFS is recognized as a regional leader for advancing creative approaches to aging in place, such as in-home care management and transportation for older adults. JFS serves people across the region, regardless of age, religion, race, lifestyle or economic status.
ISRAEL RANKED AS 7TH BEST COUNTRY FOR GAY MEN (JTA) — Israel is the world’s seventh-best country for gay men, according to a poll of 115,000 gay men in 127 countries.
The Gay Happiness Index, a collaboration of the gay dating network Planet Romeo and researchers from Germany’s Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, named Iceland the best country for gay men, followed in order by three other Nordic nations — Norway, Denmark and Sweden. The United States was 26th in the survey.
Twenty-seven of the 30 least happy countries for gay men are located in Africa and the Middle East.
The survey claims that the sample of men who were polled were taken from Planet Romeo’s index of 1.8 million users. The list used three categories to rank countries: public opinion, or how society in that country views gay men; public behavior, which took public discrimination into account; and general life satisfaction.{/mprestriction}