MacKenzie Scott gives $123M to Big Brothers Big Sisters

Good News Notes: “MacKenzie Scott gave $122.6 million to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the national youth-mentoring charity announced on Tuesday. The gift is the latest of several the billionaire writer has given to large national nonprofits that carry out their missions through local chapters in neighborhoods throughout the country. With this latest donation,…

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…

Prom with a Purpose to raise funds for Grand Haven nonprofit

Good News Notes: “You don’t have to be in high school to dress up and attend prom. On Saturday, a Grand Haven-based nonprofit will host Prom with a Purpose, inviting anyone in the community to participate in an evening of dinner, dancing and a silent auction. The event, one of the largest annual fundraisers for…

Churches, nonprofit plan affordable housing for downtown Holland

Good News Notes: “Two churches are working with a nonprofit to bring affordable housing to downtown Holland. “Holland has seen significant rent increases. We’re finding that it’s harder and harder for working class families to be able to find quality places for people to live,” Dwelling Place CEO Jeremy DeRoo said. If the project goes…

MacKenzie Scott boosts another Pittsburgh-area nonprofit with $10 million gift

Good News Notes: “Pressley Ridge, a nonprofit agency based in McCandless, announced Wednesday that it received a $10 million unrestricted gift from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. The gift is the single largest donation the organization has received in its 190-year history. “We are grateful for and humbled by Ms….

Santa Rosa youth grow career and life skills in neglected garden

Good News Notes: “When Curtis Short and his wife Patricia Seddon first saw the space where they were asked to help young adults with special needs and disabilities create a garden, they were dismayed. The small fenced area was a tangle of weeds, with only a rose bush and several small fruit trees — plum,…

Jean’s Angels nonprofit unveils laundry truck for homeless people

Good News Notes: “A group of “angels” are taking their fight to help the Tri-county homeless to the streets via a mobile trailer. Today, the non-profit “Jean’s Angels” unveiled their new laundry truck.  It has four washer and dryer units, and will be brought to spots where the area’s homeless are known to gather, giving…