Chris Long donates thousands of books to CCS through his new nonprofit

Good News Notes: “One Charlottesville City school had a special guest Friday morning. Former NFL player Chris Long read to students and made a big donation at Burnley-Moran Elementary School. Chris Long is opening the next chapter of his nonprofit EdZone. He’s trying to solve equity gaps in schools. “It’s really gratifying to see the…

Nonprofit funds a way for high schoolers to skip a year of college

Good News Notes: “Pursuing a college education can be an expensive ordeal, but one big nonprofit is hoping to address the issue of affordability by helping high school students gain college credits at very low costs even before they graduate. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation earlier this week launched a series of grants to boost schools’…

Nonprofit Spotlight: Ziggy’s Haven Bird Sanctuary

Good News Notes: “It’s sometimes quite noisy at Ziggy’s Haven Bird Sanctuary in Inverness. Lots of chirping, whistling and clicking of tongues, squawks and screeches, even an occasional hiss. But it’s music to Wendy Waas’ ears. Waas is the founder and president of Ziggy’s Haven Bird Sanctuary, started in 2003 by Waas’ now deceased 15-year-old…

Latino-serving nonprofit receives more than $3M in funding

Good News Notes: “A nonprofit in Adams County will continue to expand its programs and services thanks to new funding granted through the Adams County COVID-19 Grant Program through the American Rescue Plan Act.  Adelante Community Development has received the largest grant in the county, totaling $3.6 million in funds, which will go toward providing financial…

Elementary students recognized as heroes for helping teacher in crisis

Good News Notes: “First graders at an Alabama elementary school are being hailed as heroes for taking quick action to help their teacher during a medical emergency. “It was scary for me because I knew that they were going to have to see something probably that they didn’t need to,” said Tracy Hodges, a first-grade teacher at…

Nonprofit sets sights on future commercial kitchen

Good News Notes: “Whether it’s supporting a community of local entrepreneurs, helping a farmer to develop value-added products or creating innovative ways to serve those in need throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Maui Food Technology Center has been seeking ways to expand its roots. For the next phase of growth, the nonprofit’s president Luana Mahi said…

Japanese bird researcher 1st in the world to prove animals use words, grammar

Good News Notes: “A Japanese researcher studying a bird common to the country’s forests and urban parks has proven for the first time that animals communicate using words and grammar. Toshitaka Suzuki, a 38-year-old assistant professor at Kyoto University’s Hakubi Center for advanced research, first became interested in Japanese tits — each about 15 centimeters…