Opening Of New YMCA In Coney Island Delayed After Sandy

Coney Island, a community and a perennial tourist attraction in Brooklyn, N.Y., was hit hard by Superstorm Sandy, but the damage done won't stop the YMCA from opening the area's first center.

The new location is on track to open, though it will likely be delayed by at least four months, according to a report in Crain's New York Business. The new Y is scheduled to open sometime during the second half of next year. The 44,000-square-foot facility will be designed to fit the needs of the area, and will include two swimming pools and a gym and fitness area, both which residents hope will combat the high rate of diabetes around Coney Island.

Plans for the new location are part of a decade-long effort to revitalize Coney Island, which might be best known for its oceanfront amusement park.

Presently, the closest Y location is in Park Slope, 16 subway stops from Coney Island. Jack Lund, CEO of the YMCA of Greater New York, told Crain's that construction of the new location will employ 125, including part-time positions. These new jobs will be a boon to a community that has an unemployment rate of 51 percent, six times the average of Brooklyn. 

The Coney Island YMCA facility will be located on Surf Avenue and 29th street, where it will be exclusively focused on the residents of the community. It is expected to draw 15,000 members, two-thirds of whom will be children.

You can read the full article in Crain's New York Business.

NY AG Requests Sandy Aid Info From Nonprofits

Nonprofits across the country have been busy raising money in support of relief efforts in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman now wants to know the exact details of those fundraising efforts.

According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, Schneiderman's office sent letters to at least 75 nonprofits on Tuesday requesting disclosure of their fundraising efforts for Sandy. The information will be compiled online by the attorney general's office Charities Bureau in an effort to improve transparency and donor confidence.

"In the coming weeks and months, we expect to reach out to you for additional information, including more detailed information about how donations have been expended and the steps taken to prevent fraud and/or misuse of resources," Jason Lilien, chief of the Charities Bureau, wrote in the letter.

Lilien goes on to write that he expects to get responses from the organizations by Dec. 11. The information that is being requested includes amounts raised and spent so far and whether the donations received will be used solely for storm relief. In addition, information regarding services provided to victims, funds forwarded to other groups, and plans for any surplus or direct grants to individuals, families or businesses.

The nearly 75 organizations contacted by the the Charities Bureau include the American Red Cross and the AARP Foundation. Letters to more nonprofits are expected to be sent in the coming weeks.

As of  this writing, the agency has only received a small number of complaints about Sandy-related relief efforts by charities, reports which are currently being investigated.

You can read the full story in The Wall Street Journal.

Gulf Oil Spill Donations Going to New Orleans Nonprofits

One of the worst oil spills in history occurred when British Petroleum's (BP) Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, setting off a long clean-up process in the the region.  The spill not only affected the wildlife, but also local businesses and communities.  Communities are still recovering two years later, but help is on the way.

The Times-Picayune reported last week that nine New Orleans, La.-based nonprofits will receive the last $2.2 million of a fund meant to help local communities affected by the spill.  The Greater New Orleans Foundation made the disbursements and is responsible for donating $5 million of the $25-million Fund for Gulf Communities, established by an anonymous donor through Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.  The remaining $20 million will be distributed by five other organizations associated with groups in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

Here is a list of the organizations receiving the funds:

• The Children's Bureau of New Orleans -- $250,000
• The Partnership for Youth Development -- $299,708
• The Youth Empowerment Project -- $210,548
• The Mercy Family Center -- $274,500
• Grow Dat -- $214,586
• The Latino Farmers' Collaborative of Louisiana -- $125,857
• The South Central Industrial Association -- $374,000
• The Houma Regional Arts Council -- $240,447
• Bayou Grace Communities Service -- $241,850

The Greater New Orleans Foundation distributed $2.4 million last year to 12 nonprofit organizations.  Overall, 21 nonprofits in the metro New Orleans area have received funds, which have played a role in the economic and emotional recovery from the Deepwater oil spill.

You can read the full story in The Times-Picayune.

Families Reach Settlement In Death Of WV Miners

USA Today reported yesterday that Virginia-based Alpha Natural Resources, which bought the mine from Massey Energy last summer, reached a settlement in the wrongful death lawsuits filed by the families of those killed in the April 2010 blast, which was the worst mine disaster in nearly 40 years. 

The company did not confirm the agreement, but attorney Mark Moreland confirmed that the deal was struck on Tuesday.  Moreland would not disclose the details of the agreement, saying only that it was "compensation."  The NonProfit Times reported on this disaster in 2010, in a piece about Black Lung Trusts.

These were the final 13 lawsuits remaining.  Some had already been settled, including a $210-million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice in December that spared Alpha Natural Resources from criminal prosecution.  Individuals from the corporation, however, can still be prosecuted.  Former security chief Hughie Elbert Stover has already been convicted of lying to investigators and destroying mine records.  He is currently awaiting sentencing.

Investigation into the Upper Big Branch blast by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the United Mine Workers of America and an independent panel appointed by former Gov. Joe Manchin concluded that Massey had allowed highly explosive methane gas and coal dust to build up in the mine, creating a hazardous work environment.  The parties also agreed that the main cause of the disaster was Massey's efforts to conceal these problems.

You can read more about the settlement in USA Today.

Retro Article Of The Week: Proxies Aim To Have Their Say At BP’s Annual Meeting

The United States experienced one of the worst oil spills in the country's history on April 20th, 2010 when British Petroleum's (BP) Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico.  Gallons of oil flooded into the waters, causing damage to wildlife and the way of life of countless local fisherman.  It wasn't until September 19th that the oil well was sealed and by then, the damage had already been done.

BP held its annual meeting in London in April of 2011, and a fourth-generation fisherman named Diane Wilson and five others came along.  Wilson and the others were hoping to display the human cost of the disaster.  The NonProfit Times wrote an article on their efforts on April 14, 2011:

“People in the media like to ask us why we are so upset,” Wilson said in an interview last week. “I am coming to the annual general meeting (AGM) to call BP to account for its actions in the Gulf — for the oil spill, the lies, the cover-ups, the skimping on safety, the deaths, the nonexistent documents and the ‘swinging door’ with regulators.”


Part of a five-person delegation funded by the New Orleans, La.-based Gulf Coast Fund, Wilson and her cohorts planned to appear at the BP annual meeting as proxies to directly engage BP leadership and its board of directors about the corporation’s response to the Gulf oil spill. The Gulf Coast Fund does not own shares of BP stock but through a partnership with the UK Tar Sands Network, based in London, England, was to appear as a proxy on behalf of the nonprofit organization.


The AGM is “an opportunity for shareholders to question the company and raise any matters of concern,” said BP spokesman Robert Wine, declining further comment.


Having activists or affected residents appear as proxies on behalf of other nonprofits is not something new and has been a useful in engaging the leadership of major corporations.


At the BP annual meeting, the group will have the option to vote for or against the annual report submitted by BP. Although the group has issues with items in the report, they had not yet decided how to vote, choosing once they were to meet in London, Bryan Parras, board member for Houston’s Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services (T.E.J.A.S), said last week.


Besides a discussion with leadership, there is not much more the group can accomplish in terms of getting BP to enact change, said Mark Regier, director of stewardship investing at Everance Financial, based in Goshen, Ind. “If you want to be involved in filing a resolution in the United States — rather than just voting or attending an annual meeting, it requires ownership of more than $2,500 in stock for a continuous period of one year,” he said.

If you are interested in reading the rest of this article, please visit our website.

Retro Article Of The Week: Hurricane Katrina And Nonprofits

Hurricane Irene caused havoc up and down the East coast over the weekend.  It caused major flooding, power outages, and some loss of life, but we should consider ourselves lucky we didn't have another Katrina on our hands.  That fateful storm struck 6 years ago, and we all know the damage and chaos it caused.  The storm hit during what was supposed to be the Community Action Partnership's (CAP) annual convention, which was being held in New Orleans that year.  In our October 1st, 2005 issue, we wrote about the impact Katrina had on conferences in New Orleans:

As Category 4 winds battered New Orleans approximately 300 people huddled in the confines of The New Orleans Marriott hotel just steps from the historic French Quarter. The accommodations were modest -- cots set up on the facility’s ballroom floor became a safe haven from the danger of flying glass shards from broken windows.


The tenor was a far cry from the buzzing activity of what was intended to be the Community Action Partnership’s (CAP) annual convention. Three of the CAP staff, one member of its board and some of its delegates were among those waiting out the storm.


“We were getting updates from the hotel staff and some people had the small, transistor-like radios,” recounted Brian Peterkin-Vertanesian, J.D., vice president for programs, and grants management, one of CAPs staff holed up at the Marriott.


“Things were mostly calm, although people did get a little more worried when we heard what was going on with the problems at the Superdome. You could tell that people were a little nervous but most were resigned to being there for a couple of days.”


New Orleans was a top convention city, with numerous charities and associations having to cancel or move their biggest revenue generator of the year.


Located near the Mississippi River, the area immediate to the Marriott was spared the deep flood water resulting from the broken levees on the 17th Street Canal in the western part of the city and the Industrial Canal on the east side.


Once the brunt of the storm had passed, Marriott allowed its guests to use the one functioning elevator to retrieve personal items from their rooms. When Peterkin-Vertanesian was able to look outside to assess the damage, he reported seeing blown out windows and flood water that had halted approximately a block away from the hotel.


During his time in the Marriott ballroom Peterkin-Vertanesian befriended a woman and her son, who worked at the Marriott. It was through that relationship that he was able to hop a 1 a.m. ride out of town after the storm had passed. Other than a strong police presence blocking off impassable roadways, Peterkin-Vertanesian described the departing trip as “not much of a problem.”


The magnitude of the disaster didn’t fully hit him until he arrived back in Washington, D.C. “I usually don’t tend to watch a tremendous amount of television coverage of these events -- with the tsunami and 9/11, I wasn’t tuned in 24/7 like a lot of people,” he explained. “But I took a few days off and watched it with my wife. I’ve been to New Orleans many times, I love jazz, and this was just totally devastating.”

You can read the rest of this article over on our website.

Japan Easing Towards Nonprofit Groups

Note: This is a summary of an article from an outside news organization.  To read the full article, click on the links in this post.

It's no secret that Japan has a negative view of nonprofit organizations.  During natural disasters, such as the recent tsunami or the 1995 Kobe earthquake, the government advised relief organizations to keep away.  Those that came anyway found that it was almost impossible to get anything done.  This is because the country lacks a long history of private philanthropy.  Support for those in need is supposed to come from the family, and nonprofits are viewed as interfering.  And with restrictive laws in place, life for nonprofits in Japan is very difficult.  All this is about to change, however, according to a story in The Economist.  Well, at least for the most part.

On June 22, a law was passed in Japan that will allow nonprofits to get tax relief much easier.  Currently, only 223 of the 90,000 NPOs in Japan have a special tax status.  To put this in even greater perspective, that number is at 160,000 in the UK and 1.8 million in the US.  The new law will drastically change the way the current cumbersome process is handled.  Now, municipal authorities will handle the certification process instead of the national tax agency handling certification.  This is a big deal, as the latter views most NPOs as a detriment to the country's finances.  Other changes include:

• The so-called "public support test" will be scrapped, removing a huge burden for nonprofits eligibility.
• Contributions will be nearly 50% tax-deductible.  This is an increase from the current 10% level

When the law comes fully into effect, it will be a huge boon for any future disaster relief efforts.  The way nonprofits are viewed by Japanese officials may never change, but this law will at least make it easier for them to operate in times of need. 

If you want to read the full story, head on over to The Economist.

Ohio-Based Nonprofit Starts Shoe Drive for Joplin Kids

Note: This is a summary/reaction of a news story from an outside organization.

We posted a story the other day about how disaster relief organizations are mobilizing to help out victims of the Joplin Tornado; now it looks like nonprofits across the country are joining the effort as well.  One such organization, the Dayton-Ohio based Shoes 4 the Shoeless, is starting a shoe drive for kids in Joplin, according to a story in The Dayton Daily News.  The article explains how Bryce Stuckenschneider, a volunteer at the organization, received a call from Missouri state Senator Mike Kehoe asking if their group could send over shoes and socks for the kids in the ravaged town.

Kris Horlacher, founder and chairwoman of Shoes 4 the Shoeless, began calling local shoe stores soon after; and it turned out they were more than happy to contribute.  One store, Roderer Shoe Center, donated $6,000 in shoelaces for children.  Pretty soon, the materials to be donated expanded from shoes and socks to underwear, water bottles, personal hygiene products, and notes to survivors.

If you live in Dayton, and are interested in helping this cause, you can call (937)-985-1273.  You can also read the full article by visiting The Dayton Daily News website.

Groups Mobilize to Help Victims of Joplin Tornado

Last night, Joplin, MO was hit by a massive tornado that, at last count, killed 89 people and left thousands more homeless.  Even with the two twisters that ravaged the South/Midwest weeks ago, it is being called the deadliest tornado in the US in more than a half a century.  Relief organizations, which already had their work cut out for them in the last few weeks, are already sending relief to Joplin, according to a new report just published on The NonProfit Times.  Below is an excerpt from that report:

At last report, at least 89 people were killed and thousands are now homeless in what’s being described as the single deadliest tornado in the U.S. in more than a half-century.


Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon told the Associated Press that he fears the death toll from a tornado will increase, but also expects survivors to be pulled from the rubble.




The American Red Cross has set up a website, https://safeandwell.communityos.org/cms/index.php, where people can report that they are safe, as well as search for people who have registered as being safe.


The Red Cross had a shelter open hours after the tornado struck, with 100 people in it last night and expectations for as many as 150 today, according to Suzy DeFrancis, chief public affairs officer for the Red Cross.


Several Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV) are going into neighborhoods to deliver food and water, said DeFrancis, and the organization is pulling more help from operations in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, along with mental health counseling for survivors. Supplies are being drawn from a branch office in Joplin and warehouses in St. Joseph and St. Louis, she said.


Joplin is located in the southwest corner of Missouri, near the borders with Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Michael Spencer, a spokesman for the national Red Cross based in the organization’s Fayetteville, Ark., office, said a shelter was opened last night at Missouri Southern State University, with a capacity for 3,600 people. Many people remain in the area, checking on neighbors to make sure they’re OK, he said. “It’s a very tight-knit community and I’ve heard a lot about neighbors helping neighbors,” said Spencer, adding that people are visiting the shelter for food and water at this point.

Our thoughts certainly go out to all those affected by this latest disaster.