The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and Bloomberg Philanthropies Award Technical Assistance Grants to Seven More Cities Replicating the Financial Empowerment Center Model
February 21, 2014
The Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund and Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced a significant expansion of their national Financial Empowerment Center programs to seven cities. Financial Empowerment Centers help citizens make financially sound decisions and counsel citizens struggling with debt. Cleveland, OH; Hartford, CT; Hawai’i County, HI; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; San Francisco, CA; and Seattle, WA will be awarded in-kind technical assistance grants, valued at $600,000, which will support the cities’ efforts to provide free public financial counseling to citizens.
Read more155 European Cities Submit New and Creative Ideas to Solve Pressing Urban Challenges through Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 2013-2014 Mayors Challenge
February 19, 2014
Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced that 155 cities across Europe have submitted ideas in the 2013-2014 Mayors Challenge, a competition that seeks to inspire European cities to generate innovative ideas that solve major challenges and improve city life – and that ultimately can spread to other cities. 70% of cities have generated ideas to address major social or economic challenges, including unemployment, energy efficiency, obesity, and aging. The remaining 30% of cities’ initiatives focus on improving the overall effectiveness and efficiency of government. Modeled on a successful inaugural competition in the United States, the Mayors Challenge will award €5 million for the grand prize winner and €1 million for four additional cities that come up with the most creative and transferable ideas.
Read moreMichael R. Bloomberg Appointed United Nations Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change
January 31, 2014
Michael R. Bloomberg, 108th Mayor of New York City, founder of Bloomberg LP and philanthropist, has been appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to serve as Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change. In this role, Michael R. Bloomberg will assist the Secretary-General in his efforts to mobilize action among cities as part of a strategy to combat climate change. As Special Envoy, Michael R. Bloomberg will work with other mayors both to increase their climate change-related commitments and to encourage national governments to do the same. He will also help bring solutions to the 2014 Climate Summit that will be held in New York, September 2014.
The appointment of a mayor as Special Envoy – a title generally reserved for former heads of state or government – reflects the growing influence and importance of cities in fighting climate change.
Read moreCities Of Service Appoints Myung J. Lee As Executive Director To Lead Major Expansion
January 30, 2014
After an extensive national search, Myung J. Lee has been selected to serve as the new Executive Director of Cities of Service – an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The organization will spin out of Bloomberg Philanthropies, which incubated the organization since 2010.
This spin out is driven by cities’ success with the organization’s model over the last four years and the subsequent increase in demand for its services from mayors and cities across the United States and the globe. To support this spin out and program expansion, Bloomberg Philanthropies is providing Cities of Service with a $4.6 million grant to help cover operational expenses for the next three years.
Read moreBloomberg Philanthropies Launches The Vibrant Oceans Initiative, A $53 Million Commitment To Reverse Declining Fish Supply
January 29, 2014
Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced the launch of the Vibrant Oceans initiative, a commitment of $53 million over five years to promote reforms to boost fish populations in Brazil, the Philippines and Chile. Currently, over-fishing and destruction of important marine areas are threatening the global supply of fish. Reforming fishing practices in these countries will revitalize 7% of the world’s fisheries and will potentially serve as a model for future global reform efforts by providing insights into the best ways to protect the world’s fish supply.
Read moreCities of Service Awards $1 Million to 23 U.S. Cities to Implement Volunteer Initiatives That Address Pressing City Needs – Funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies
December 10, 2013
After receiving a record-number of applications, <a title=”http://www.citiesofservice.org/” href=”http://www.citiesofservice.org/”>Cities of Service</a> today announced that $1 million were awarded to 23 U.S. cities in the second round of funding from the Cities of Service Impact Volunteering Fund. Mayors will use the funds to implement “impact volunteering” strategies that tackle pressing local challenges. Grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 will support efforts in Allentown, PA; Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Birmingham, AL; Buffalo, NY; Campton Hills, IL; Charleston, SC; Fall River, MA; Flint, MI; Hartford, CT; Hayward, CA; Kalamazoo, MI; Kansas City, KS; Louisville, KY; Mesa, AZ; Milwaukee, WI; Nashville, TN; Orlando, FL; Philadelphia, PA; Richmond, CA; San Jose, CA; Utica, NY; and Washington, DC.
Read moreMore Than 180 European Cities from 29 Countries Enter Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 2013-2014 Mayors Challenge since Launch
December 4, 2013
Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced that 182 cities across Europe have already entered the 2013-2014<a style=”color: #1e0842″ href=”http://mayorschallenge.bloomberg.org” target=”_blank”> Mayors Challenge</a>, a competition that seeks to inspire European cities to generate innovative ideas that solve major challenges and improve city life – and that ultimately can be shared with other cities. Modeled on a successful inaugural competition in the United States, the Mayors Challenge will award €5 million for the grand prize winner and €1 million for four additional cities that come up with the boldest and most transferable ideas.
Read moreBloomberg Philanthropies Launches 2013-2014 Mayors Challenge in Europe
September 24, 2013
Michael R. Bloomberg today announced the launch of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 2013-2014 Mayors Challenge, a competition to inspire European cities to come up with bold ideas that solve major problems and improve city life – and that ultimately can be shared with other cities. Modeled on a successful inaugural competition in the United States, the Mayors Challenge (bloomberg.org/mayorschallenge) will award €5 million for the grand prize winner and €1 million for four additional cities that come up with the boldest and most transferable ideas.
Read moreBloomberg Philanthropies-Funded Report on Global Tobacco Epidemic Released By World Health Organization
July 10, 2013
The results of a Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded global tobacco control report released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that 2.3 billion people are covered by at least one effective tobacco control measure, an increase from the 1 billion covered in 2008. The report measures country-level adoption of the MPOWER policies that are proven to lower tobacco use including: Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies; Protecting people from tobacco smoke with smoke-free air legislation; Offering help to quit tobacco use; Warning about the dangers of tobacco with pack labels and mass media, Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and Raising taxes on tobacco.
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Bloomberg Philanthropies Expands Arts Engagement Initiative to Enhance Visitor Experiences Through Mobile Platforms
June 20, 2013
Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced the expansion of the Bloomberg Arts Engagement Initiative that provides support for mobile technology intended to increase access to the arts and enhance visitor experiences through technology. Five cultural institutions will receive a new $15 million commitment beginning in June 2013. Traditional audio guides–which have long been the default method of connecting museum-goers with exhibits–will be replaced by state-of-the art mobile guides that take advantage of cutting edge technologies like GPS and 3D imaging.
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