by Shriya Nayyar | Jul 13, 2021 | Feature, General, News
Los Angeles, CA. The Ian Somerhalder Foundation is giving a $1 million donation to the Jane Goodall Institute. Dr. Jane Goodall has been one of the world’s foremost advocates in ape conservation and species conservation at large for the last 6 decades, traveling the world to educate people on the importance of conservation and taking positive action. Ian Somerhalder is an actor known for playing is work in the TV dramas Lost and The Vampire Diaries. He’s also a United Nations Global Goodwill Ambassador who founded the ISF for helping the environment and its living things for the better. This donation, announced in May, is a symbol of both organizations’ shared goal of improving the wellbeing of Earth’s ecosystems.
Here’s a video about the big donation:
The donation will provide the Jane Goodall Institute with resources to expand their Roots and Shoots program, which teaches conservation skills to around 700,000 people across more than 50 countries, and their programs to rehabilitate orphaned chimpanzees and protect chimpanzee environments across the world. JGI will also be able to work on more grassroots projects with local communities interested in conservation. Such projects will focus on sustainable living, agro-forestry, environmental education, and will therefore be able to simultaneously improve their lives and the world around them.
More about the Ian Somerhalder Foundation:
The purpose of the Foundation is to advance science; promote the conservation of natural resources, such as forests, lands, and wildlife, for the benefit of the entire community; provide relief to the poor, distressed, and underprivileged; and support other organizations conducting activities under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
To learn more about ISF, click here: https://www.isfoundation.com/
More about the Jane Goodall Institute:
The Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) is a global community conservation organization founded by Dr. Goodall in 1977. By protecting chimpanzees and inspiring action to conserve the natural world we all share, we improve the lives of people, animals, and the environment.
To learn more about JGI, click here: https://janegoodall.org/
by Yasmin Vieira | Nov 15, 2020 | Feature, General, Lifestyle, News
Los Angeles, CA. Valley Socials started in the San Fernando Valley. It is a unique social skills program for the special needs population. Program outings (pictured above before the pandemic) not only teach social skills but consumer skills and how to conduct confident business transactions. Unfortunately, during the pandemic, fundraising has become more challenging; the nonprofit is facing a funding crisis. Leaders fear families may need to pay for the enrichments. Janet Marie, the creator of the organization, says Valley Socials might have to be turned into a business instead of a non-profit, “I won’t stop working with the kids, but if we don’t get any donations soon, I might have to Valley Socials into a business.”
Social Valley friends at the museum before COVID-19
Currently, students are still meeting in parks and malls. They’re using safety measures and enjoying some social life activities. But, since the pandemic started, donations have stopped and it affects how the organization can continue to take the kids into activities. Janet drives kids to the activities and helps with snacks and other needs, but it is hard for her to keep going all by herself, especially because her daughter, Pauline, is a special needs teenager who needs all the support her mom can give.
Pauline was the reason Janet decided to start the Valley Socials. Janet saw all the improvements Pauline was making and wanted to give the same opportunities and hope to parents and kids in the same situation.
A day at the fire station with their community!
In addition to donations, Valley Socials is also looking for volunteers to help with meetings and having a bonding experience with special needs kids, teenagers, and adults.
If you’d like to donate, there’s more information on the Valley Socials website. The organization is also very active on social media.
From Valley Socials:
Our program provides lasting results because we don’t simply work with a participant’s strengths or compensate for a weakness, but we tackle the root cause of the issues by supervising social groups and having them actively participate in social activities.
“The Special Needs population is exploding due to the rise of diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and better assessments today. One in 59 children will be diagnosed with ASD. About 20% (or higher) students receive Special Education services in the USA. There are approximately 3.5 million Americans with special needs in America.”
