Imagine that your foundation is dedicated to eradicating childhood asthma in your home state. One day, you are listening to the local news during your morning commute and you hear a report about an aging coal-fired power plant where the sulfur dioxide emissions are so bad as to be implicated in the high incidence of childhood asthma in the neighboring towns.
A week later you are reviewing your foundation’s investment portfolio and realize that you own a good chunk of shares in an energy company — the very same energy company that owns the power plant. In fact, the dollar amount of the company’s stock in your investment portfolio is almost equal to the dollar amount you are putting into your childhood asthma eradication efforts.
It’s a common conundrum for private foundations: Many foundations that are established to solve society’s most pernicious problems have investments as their lifeblood. Their assets need to be invested in profitable businesses in order to sustain operations and grow. So what happens when a foundation’s mission is directly contradicted by its own investments? What if the very ills a foundation fights are exacerbated or even caused by the behavior of business entities found in its own portfolio?
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It can sometimes seem as though the foundation’s assets and its grantmaking programs are in direct opposition to each other, or at the very least, failing to work together to accomplish a charitable mission. And since many foundations invest 95% of their assets while distributing about 5% for charitable purposes, it’s even conceivable that the damage done by the investments exceeds the good accomplished by the distributions!
Over the last decade, more foundations have been attempting to address this issue and get all of their horses pulling in the same direction. These foundations want their investments to enhance their philanthropic efforts or at least not run counter to them. If their 5% for their minimum charitable distribution requirements are regarded as the “do good” portion of their foundations, the goal for the other 95% might at least be conceived as “do no harm.” Hence, their adoption of “impact investing,” a widely popular investment strategy that aims to generate a positive social or environmental impact in addition to providing a financial return.
Growth of the impact investing sector has exploded in the last 10 years. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) reports that $2.3 trillion was invested for impact in 2020, which is equivalent to 2% of global assets under management. And a Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) study reveals a 42.4% increase in the sector from 2019 to 2020. Impact investing is a broad tent as well; many different individuals, businesses and organizations claim a seat under its canopy, each employing different tools and approaches.
As private foundations ideally aim for 100% of their endowment assets and grant funds to serve the greater good, we examine four distinct approaches they can take for impact investing, ranging from fiscally conservative to financially risky:
• Community Investing
• Socially Responsible Investing
• Program-Related Investing
• Social Venture Capital Investing
One of the easiest ways to dip a toe into impact investing waters is by simply moving your money from a traditional bank to a community development financial institution (CDFI), such as a community bank or community credit union. These financial institutions are common throughout the United States, and you have probably heard of them without realizing that they have a social mission tied to their financial products.
CDFIs are government-regulated and government-insured, just like other financial institutions. They offer checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit and all the other usual services you’d expect from a traditional bank. They provide market-rate (or very close to market-rate) interest to depositors and from a consumer’s perspective, are comparable to commercial banking institutions, albeit with a less extensive network of ATMs.
The real difference between traditional banks and community banks is what they do with the money on deposit. Rather than lend it out to large corporations outside the local vicinity, community banks invest it locally through loans for affordable housing projects, home mortgages in low-income areas, and new businesses. Many low-income neighborhoods have benefited from CDFIs that use their deposits to build that same community, rather than siphoning funds out for the benefit of outside parties.(1) The Calvert Foundation, for example, directed Calvert Community Investment (CCI) notes to help rebuild communities in the Gulf Coast region devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. These same notes offer investors a range of terms, including interest rates that vary up to 2% payable at maturity.
Community investing can be a relatively low-risk cash management strategy, an easy way for a foundation or philanthropic individual to put more financial assets in the service of a charitable mission. To look for a CDFI in your community, go to www.cdfifund.gov for a listing of CDFIs by city and state.
The concept of socially responsible investing (SRI) has been around for more than 30 years. It began with a simple idea: Don’t hold the stock of companies that actively work against your values. So an environmental grantmaker might screen “big oil” out of its portfolio and a health grantmaker might avoid “big tobacco.” Other common screens filter out companies that have interests in gambling, alcohol, pornography, dealings with repressive governments or defense contractors. Because this approach focuses on what an investor does not want to hold in his/her portfolio, tools that help them filter their investments have been dubbed “negative screens.”
Critics point out that while employing negative screens to eliminate “sin stocks” may help an investor sleep better, they don’t necessarily accomplish much else. The companies that are screened out are usually very large and very profitable, and a few conscientious investors selling their stock or just declining to buy it will not affect their share price. And by screening out a whole host of potentially profitable sectors, an investor employing negative screens may be limiting their ability to earn returns on par with the market as a whole. As most investment advisers benchmark performance against broad market measures, portfolios employing negative screens are widely thought to underperform.
In latest years, investors and their advisers have taken a new approach to socially responsible investing, one that involves “positive screens.” Instead of shutting out objectionable companies, a positive screen actively seeks out companies demonstrating the kind of corporate social responsibility that philanthropic investors would like to encourage. The primary positive screens are around environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, collectively known as “ESG screening.” Rather than focus on what you don’t want companies to do, ESG screening selects companies based on the positive things they are doing.
Some latest studies challenge the widely held belief that one needs to accept lower returns in exchange for socially responsible investing (SRI). ESG-screened companies disprove the myth that SRI isn’t profitable. Some previous research has found no statistically significant difference between the performance of traditional funds and SRI funds. In fact, as The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment reported, a 2012 meta analysis by DB Climate Change Advisors of more than 100 academic studies found that incorporating environmental, social and governance data in investment analysis is “correlated with superior risk-adjusted returns at a securities level.”
Beyond being good philanthropy, ESG screening is increasingly accepted as just good business. ESG investing has become more mainstream over the past decade, fueled by rising investor interest and recognition that social and environmental impacts are creating material financial risks for companies and investors. In other words, polluting the environment to make a quick buck today is what investors might call a “short-term play.” That is, it’s not going to be an effective strategy over the long haul as governments, consumers, and investors increasingly penalize companies with poor ESG practices through loss of business, lawsuits, bad publicity, and costly clean-up.
Done well, investing in ESG-screened funds can be a natural part of a private foundation’s investment strategy that carries no more risk than traditional investing in the stock market.
When we think of a private foundation supporting a charitable cause, most of us think in terms of grants —money given away with no expectation of it ever coming back. But foundations can also make loans and provide loan guarantees in support of their mission. Such loans are defined by the IRS as program-related investments (PRIs) and are an increasingly common tool among private foundations.
PRIs come out of the foundation’s grantmaking purse and as such, they qualify toward the foundation’s 5% minimum distribution requirement. However, while grant dollars go out the door never to return, PRI dollars are generally recovered in part or in whole, and may even earn some return for the foundation in the form of interest or appreciation.
To qualify an investment as a PRI, the foundation must satisfy three requirements laid out by the IRS:
Collectively these requirements suggest that if the foundation were driven purely by financial considerations, it wouldn’t make the PRI because the loan or investment will usually have some downside that makes it unattractive to commercial investors: High risk, low return and illiquidity are common traits among PRIs, so much that one might even consider PRIs “bad investments for a good cause.” Evidently, the IRS concurs: Because PRIs fulfill a foundation’s charitable purpose, they are exempt from the normal rules that prohibit the foundation from making so-called “jeopardizing” investments.
Foundations use PRIs creatively in myriad ways. Most first experiment with them in the form of a loan to an organization they already know well, oftentimes a prior grantee. For example, they may offer their community church a very low-interest loan to finance the construction of a new facility. Or they may provide a no-interest line of credit to their favorite art museum to help smooth out the bumpy financial times between blockbuster shows. They even may co-sign a loan to allow a housing agency to access funding from a commercial bank, which, absent a default, doesn’t require them to put a dime out the door.
Traditionally, philanthropists provide away money and investors make money. The former want to create change and the latter want to pocket it. You’d think that the two goals would be incompatible, but a new hybrid of philanthropy and private equity investing blurs the lines, allowing foundations to do well by doing good.
Similar to private equity investing, foundation donors make investments in private companies or venture capital funds — the difference being that these investments go beyond mere financial returns to provide social and economic benefits. Foundations that engage in mission-related investing (MRI) use their endowment funds to invest in profit-seeking solutions aligned with their mission. These often are social, environmental and economic challenges that cannot be easily met through grants alone.
The determination as to whether these “social venture” investments are PRIs or MRIs depends on whether they exist primarily to return a financial profit or to accomplish a social good. Let’s take two examples for that foundation fighting childhood asthmas:
In our first example, the foundation becomes aware of a promising drug that’s in development. It’s only effective against a rare variant of childhood asthma, so it doesn’t have much commercial potential and is therefore unlikely to make it into production. The foundation could provide a seed money loan for the drug’s development and this “poor investment for a good cause” would qualify as a PRI and count toward its 5% minimum distribution requirement.
In our second example, the foundation becomes aware of a terrific new company that’s developing an inexpensive, electric car capable of going 500 miles before recharging. This is a very exciting investment opportunity for a whole host of reasons. From a financial standpoint, an extended-range, inexpensive, electric car has tremendous market appeal; from a mission standpoint, it’s also attractive because car emissions contribute to childhood asthma. Clearly, investing in this start-up would be compatible with the foundation’s fiscal goals and mission objectives. However, because the venture foremost is considered a good investment from a financial standpoint, it qualifies as an MRI and not a PRI.
Keep in mind that MRIs, unlike PRIs, are subject to jeopardizing investment rules and that a private foundation can be subject to excise taxes for making imprudent investments. For this reason, involvement in any of the activities outlined here and below should be based on a well-considered investment policy that includes a thoughtful asset allocation strategy among different classes of risk.
Mission-related investments (MRIs) may be made in a variety of ways. For instance, you can buy stock in a well-established company that’s aligned with your mission, you can invest in a social investment fund, and you can conduct angel investing in start-up companies that have a social mission.
1. Buying Stock in Well-Established Companies
An obvious investment choice for a foundation dedicated to environmental conservation might be a tech giant that’s developing more affordable solar panels. But what about a granola manufacturer that buys Brazil nuts, which only grow in healthy rainforests, at above-market rates in order to incentivize forest preservation?
2. Social Investment Funds
A foundation willing to take some risk with a portion of its investment capital can become an investor in one of the tiny but growing crop of “social investment funds.” Traditional venture funds raise capital from private investors and select a portfolio of young companies in which to invest. They provide not only funding to the young company, but also expertise and connections, all in exchange for an ownership stake and often, a seat on the board of directors.
Social investment funds take this same approach, but focus on finding and funding potentially profitable businesses with a social mission. Managed by professionals who charge a service for their fees, these funds seek target companies, known as “social enterprises,” that focus on providing positive social impact as well as financial returns. Examples might include technologies that provide clean water, facilitate remote access to health care, or Improve public safety. And social venture funds aren’t limited to technology start-ups. They can support fair trade suppliers, companies that provide healthy, organic school lunches, car-sharing services, and much more.
Social investment funds are often dedicated to a specific issue. For example, Good Capital’s Social Enterprise Expansion Fund (SEEF) provides growth capital to social enterprises that address the root causes of inequity in the U.S. and around the world. Another fund, Root Capital, aims to grow rural prosperity in poor, environmentally vulnerable places in Africa and Latin America.
Because the concept of social venture investing is still in a nascent stage of development, these funds often lack traditional track records and transparency. New tools have been developed to help social investors track and evaluate the social impact of their investments, such as the Global Impact Investment Ratings System (GIIRS, pronounced “gears”). Some funds (and some funders) are rigorous in defining and measuring the social impact of their portfolio companies while others seem to be satisfied with the idea that they are “supporting good work.”
3. Angel Investing
“Angel investors” are “first-in” funders who personally evaluate individual investment opportunities and use their own funds to invest directly. Where social investment funds rely on the expertise of a professional management team, angel investing might be considered the “do-it-yourself” approach to social investing.
Angel investors typically take on very high risk in early-stage companies in the hopes of a commensurately high reward if one of their companies turns out to be the next Google. For private foundations and individual philanthropists who are willing to put in the time and effort themselves to grow social enterprises, an angel approach to social investing can be attractive because it allows them to use not only their money, but also their networks and expertise to help a young social enterprise get up and running.
In some cases, angels band together to form networks or loose affiliations that share the work of doing due diligence on potential investments. Each member then decides if he or she wants to take part in the investment. A well-known social angel network, Investors Circle, is an environmentally focused, international group of angel investors founded in the early ’90s. Today, there are many such networks, including Toniic, an international group of social investment angels founded by KL Felicitas Foundation donors Charly and Lisa Kleisner. There are also communities of angels that come together on “Investor Days” around the country to hear pitches for start-up social enterprises, sponsored by entities such as the Unreasonable Group in Colorado and Impact Engine in Chicago.
For the foundation that looks closely at its current investment portfolio and finds a lack of alignment with its grantmaking objectives, there are many options to put both pools of assets to work for positive social outcomes. From relatively low-risk cash management options with community development financial institutions to high-risk angel investing in social enterprises, every philanthropist can become an impact investor. The key to success is to take an incremental approach, starting with a small portion of assets at first and then expanding as you gain experience and confidence.
(1) – As a result of the Community Reinvestment Act, commercial banks must also lend a certain amount within the communities in which they operate. These commercial banks accomplish this, among other ways, by investing in or lending to community banks, which in turn actually lend within the community.
The United States Constitution is America’s most fundamental legal document. As a compact between the people and the government, it delineates the structure of government and the rules for its operation. Today, the U.S. Constitution stands as the world's oldest national constitution still in use. It is also the shortest constitution, and therein lies its brilliance. Rather than concoct a detailed recipe covering every possible eventuality, the Founders instead provided a structure and articulated a set of stable principles that provide a timeless guide for good governance, enduring and worth preserving. It remains the object of reverence for nearly all Americans and an object of admiration by peoples around the world.
>>> Browse The Heritage Guide to the Constitution
The United States’ success as a country is due, in no small part, to the wisdom undergirding The Supreme Law of the Land: the Constitution. The profundity of this document stems from key themes within the text. These themes include “consent of the governed” that is, legitimate government depends on the consent of a free people, federalism—a measured balance of national and state governance—, and checks and balances in the form of separation of powers, republicanism, bicameralism, and independent courts. Preserving the greatness of this country requires that we remain faithful to the Constitution by interpreting it in accordance with its original public meaning.
The Heritage Guide to the Constitution is a line-by-line analysis of the Constitution from over 100 well-known legal scholars committed to an originalist jurisprudence. This project began in conversations between then-Vice President of the Heritage Foundation, Adam Meyerson, Dr. David F. Forte, and Dr. Matthew Spalding, about how to make our Constitution understandable and readily available to everyone in the country. Thanks to the prudent guidance of former Attorney General Edwin Meese III, this project was completed in 2005. It is now used by a number of Members of Congress, frequently seen in judges’ chambers, and used in classrooms, along with our teaching companion, across the country. To bring the first edition up-to-date with all that has happened since its initial publication, Heritage published the second edition in 2014, with plans for a third edition already underway. In addition to the success The Heritage Guide has seen in print, the online version at heritage.org/constitution has also reached a wide audience of over seven million users since the website’s launch.
How to use the Guide: Each clause of the Constitution has its own essay in which the commentator has two objectives. First, the author provides an originalist interpretation of that clause. Second, the author articulates the contemporary legal relevance of the clause in question, and will provide—if needed—the historical development of the current doctrine. The homepage displays the Constitution in its entirety. practicing commentary on a particular clause requires the reader to click the icon that immediately follows the clause of interest. Each commentary begins with the clause in question, followed by the commentary, the author of the commentary, and ends with a bibliography of further practicing about the clause, case law, and related commentaries within The Heritage Guide.
Why Originalism?: There are at least four reasons to interpret the Constitution from an originalist perspective. First, originalism comports with the Constitution’s nature as a compact. Respecting a contract requires one to abide by the terms enumerated in the agreement, in the manner in which both parties originally understood the contract to mean. Originalism honors the agreement within the Constitution by interpreting it the way the initial parties, namely the Founders, understood the compact. Second, originalism respects limited government by restricting the powers of the government only to those expressed in the Constitution. Third, it constrains the judiciary by preventing judges from asserting their will at the expense of what is written in the Constitution. Under this approach, judges cannot rule based on their own policy preference; they must instead rule based on what the Constitution says. Fourth, and by extension, originalism is in theory politically neutral. This jurisprudence is not result-oriented, and therefore can and should be adopted by judges regardless of their personal political leanings.
We at Heritage feel it is very important for the citizenry to have an understanding of and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States. With that goal in mind, we encourage you to visit and explore the online version of The Heritage Guide to the Constitution.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, and James Madison’s Montpelier are centers of our nation’s history, places for parents to bring their children to learn about the Presidents and the American story. This document is a quick guide to The Heritage Foundation’s detailed assessment of the three houses. Mount Vernon is the gold standard and the site where we recommend parents take their children.
View the report, panel discussion, and PDF parental guide!
Having lupus can make everyday life challenging. When your lupus is active, symptoms like joint stiffness, pain, fatigue, confusion, or depression can make simple tasks difficult — and sometimes impossible. Since these symptoms aren’t visible, the people around you may have trouble understanding how you feel.
It’s important not to ignore the limitations that come with this disease. However, there are steps you can take to stay involved with work, relationships, and the activities you care about. Start by following these strategies to help you lighten the burden of your illness and maintain a fulfilling life.
It’s important for family and friends to understand lupus so they know how they can help. But since lupus has so many different symptoms that come and go — which may range from manageable to life-threatening — it can be hard to describe.
You may want to start by explaining what lupus is not:
Then, you can talk about what lupus is:
Explain that lupus is unpredictable. Symptoms can appear, disappear, and change. Knowing this may help other people understand your ups and downs, and also the changes that you may have to make in your life.
Good communication is important for helping your family adjust to a lupus diagnosis. You’ll want to make sure you share details of your lupus symptoms and treatment with your family — keeping them informed can lessen their concerns. It’ll also help them understand why you may sometimes say “no” to activities.
While it’s important to learn as much as you can about lupus, it’s also important to take a break from focusing on your disease when you need to. Living well with lupus often involves making some changes within your family, your profession, and your social circle. But even though lupus may affect many different areas of your life, it’s important to remember that this disease does not define you. Taking time to do activities you enjoy will help you reconnect with yourself.
Many people with lupus can continue to work, although they may need to make changes in their work environment. Depending on what your lupus symptoms are like and what kind of job you have, you may be able to work with your employer to make adjustments so you can stick with your current career.
If the physical or mental demands of your job become overwhelming, you might benefit from changing jobs or switching to part-time hours. In some cases, not working at all may be the best choice for your health. You can learn about disability benefits from your company’s human resources office or from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
If you’re concerned about what will happen if you tell your employer you have lupus, remember that people with long-term health problems like lupus are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA says that employers will offer accommodations to help a person to meet the requirements for their job.
Many people who have lupus are successful at school while preparing to pursue their dreams. School at any level can be demanding, so you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared to balance tests and homework with the need to take care of your health.
Staying connected socially can help you put lupus in perspective and build a support system. Make sure you spend time doing activities you enjoy with other people, and identify family members and friends you can turn to when you need to talk to someone.
Life with lupus can be difficult at times, but it doesn’t have to stop you from doing the things that matter to you. Many people with lupus live happy, active lives — and you can, too.
Lupus can be a lot to deal with on top of the demands of middle and high school. But there’s a lot you can do to take charge of your health and manage your symptoms at school. Use these tips to help you keep your schooldays fun, productive, and healthy!
It’s a good idea to have a plan for managing your lupus symptoms at school. To do well in the classroom while keeping your lupus in check, make sure you:
“After I was diagnosed, I started using lotion with SPF 30 because the sun has been shown to make lupus worse.” -Caroline Dall, age 17
Having lupus means taking your medications on a regular schedule. It’s especially important if you’re feeling well — that means the medicines are working! If you skip doses, your lupus symptoms will get worse. New symptoms could start, too.
Keep pills organized in a container with separate compartments for each day of the week. Take them at the same time each day — you’ll find it’s much easier to remember to take them once they’re part of your daily routine. And if you have to take any meds during the school day, have your parents set up a plan with the school nurse.
“Have a routine every day, such as taking your meds in the morning before you start checking Instagram, or before you plug in your phone at night. This will make you less likely to forget, and make you feel better and have more energy at school.” -Lydia Sundberg, age 14
You don’t need to be embarrassed about having lupus. And if you feel ill, you’ll need to get help. Lupus can flare without warning, and ignoring symptoms can be dangerous. Plus, medicine side effects may need medical attention. Listen to what your body’s telling you, and if you’re feeling like something isn’t right or has changed, speak up.
Don’t ignore your mental and emotional health, either. Mental health is just as important as physical health! If you find yourself crying often, feeling hopeless or helpless, or losing interest in school and hobbies, talk to someone you trust. You’ll find that when you have a few people at school you can talk to about what’s going on, it relieves some of the pressure. And your parents and doctors need to know about anything that’s bothering you too.
Stress is a normal part of life. But stress can trigger lupus flares, so you’ll want to know how to manage your reactions to stressful situations at school.
You hold the key to keeping stress in check. Start by anticipating what might cause stress, then think about how to get control of those situations. For example, if you’re worried about finishing a project on time when you’ve been sick, take charge of your situation by asking your teacher for more time. If you need notes from a class you missed, ask a classmate. Another way to lower stress is to stay organized — use your phone to remind you about assignment deadlines, medical appointments, and when to take medications.
Knowing what you need and how to ask for it is called self-advocacy. Because lupus is a complex disease, there’s likely something you’d like to change at school that could help you. Maybe your classes are so far apart that you arrive late. Or maybe your assigned seat is in the full sun.
You can talk with your doctor and your parents about what kinds of adjustments or assistance at school might help. Your parents may decide to request that a plan be put in place at your school that tells teachers and other staff how to support you. For example, if you need to take medication during the day, the school nurse can write up an Individualized Health Care Plan. Or if you need changes to the classroom setup or a different kind of instruction, your parents can work with the school to develop a 504 plan or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
“Always have a 504/medical plan in place. If you don't know how to get one, ask a counselor or the principal at your school. This helps if you miss a few days and need to turn in work late.” -Maddie (Madisen) Streich, age 16
Having lupus can sometimes make you feel isolated and alone — especially if you miss a lot of school and social events because you’re out sick. Look for ways to stay connected with your classmates and school community.
Staying connected using your favorite social media can help keep you engaged and informed about what’s going on at school while you’re away.
“I sometimes need a little push to get to a social event or to do something fun, and having a supportive person (my mom is mine) to encourage me to stay connected has really helped me a ton.” -Sitara Lewis, age 18
Homework. Exams. Sports and music practice. Screen time. Hanging out with friends. Who has time to sleep? When you get busy, you might be tempted to sleep less. But lupus makes a lot of demands on your body, and sleep is critical if you want to avoid flares.
A good night’s sleep will also help you have the energy to excel in school, spend time with friends, and do activities you enjoy. Be honest with other people, though. If you don’t feel like going out, tell your friends the truth, and offer to have them over when you’re feeling better.
Bottom line: No matter how packed your schedule gets, keep sleep at the top of your to-do list.
Having lupus is all about learning to balance activities with rest – learning when to say, “No, not today” and “Yes, I’m on it.” The key is to organize your commitments. Find the most organized person you know and ask for tips. Keep your daily schedule on your phone or in a datebook, and make sure taking your medicines is part of your daily routine. Schedule 9 or more hours of sleep every night. Get ahead in classwork, so if you feel sick, you’re ahead of the game.
There’ll be times when you really want go on that school trip or out with friends. But if you’re stressed or dealing with more intense lupus symptoms than usual, you’re better off staying home. Your teachers and friends will understand that you need to protect your health most of all.
“Don't over-exert yourself every day — you could crash and burn and not be able to do stuff you need to do.” -Maddie Streich, age 16
Having lupus is bound to cause some changes for you. For example, the disease and medicine side effects can affect your mood, your memory, and your ability to think clearly. If you find that schoolwork seems harder, or that your concentration isn’t very good, talk to your parents. They can contact the school about providing adjustments or assistance that can help you learn.
You may also experience changes in your appearance due to lupus or medicine side effects. Some will be temporary, some may leave scars. But no matter what happens, remember: You have lupus, but lupus doesn’t define you.
“Lupus isn't your life. Yeah it's a portion and maybe even a big portion of it, but it's not who YOU are. Just always remember that you are strong and you just keep doing you!” -Maddie Streich, age 16
Never provide up your dreams and goals because of lupus — just figure out how to reach them a different way. For example, if fatigue and joint pain make it hard to play your favorite sport, switch to a different sport or take on another role for a while. Why is that important? Because staying active can Improve many symptoms of lupus. Keeping up with your favorite hobbies is also a good idea.
Not only will your skills boost your self-esteem, but you’ll also have something you love to take your mind off of lupus. And sometimes, dreams become careers. So dream big!
The LFA offers a summer fellowship program for student researchers who work under the supervision of an established lupus investigator. Learn more about the Gina Finzi Memorial Student Summer Fellowship Program.
The New York Islanders announced today that the club has partnered with the Smithtown based Guide Dog Foundation to place a dog into the training process to become a future guide dog.
A chosen puppy will begin guide dog training on Sept. 14. Fans can vote on a name for the dog HERE.
It costs over $50,000 to breed, raise, train, and place one assistance dog; however, all of the Foundations' services are provided at no charge to the individual. Funding comes from the generosity of individuals, corporations, and service and fraternal clubs.
"We are grateful to partner with the New York Islanders on this special program," said Guide Dog Foundation President & CEO John Miller. "With the help of the team, the puppy will experience a variety of unique socialization opportunities that will help the them grow up to be a confident and well-rounded guide dog for someone who is blind or visually impaired.
In addition, the Islanders will partner with the Guide Dog Foundation to produce the 2019 Pucks & Paws calendar, marking the third consecutive year the team has partnered to produce a charity calendar.
He's here and he's pawfect!
The New York Islanders are proud to welcome their new furry friend to the squad.
The Islanders newest Puppy with a Purpose is a darling eight-week-old male black Labrador Retriever. The new adorable pup will go through an extensive 14-18-month training and will someday, become a guide dog for someone who is blind or is visually impaired.
"The relationship between the Islanders and the Guide Dog Foundation is one of the best in the entire country," John Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Guide Dog Foundation said. "This really was the model for the Puppy with a Purpose Program for all of the other sports teams that we work with across the country. What better than to be here in our hometown on Long Island to continue this partnership for the third time. The partnership is great. The coaches, the team, the fans all have embraced the program and we couldn't be any happier."
To breed, raise, train and eventually find a match for the assistance dog, the total cost comes to over $50,000. All of the Guide Dog Foundation's services are provided at no charge to the individual. Funding comes from the generosity of individuals, corporations, and service and fraternal clubs.
On Monday morning, the Islanders players got to get to know the newest puppy at the fifth annual 2022 Pucks and Paws Calendar photo shoot. This year's calendar, supported by Canidae, will benefit Guide Dog and will be available on Black Friday. The new puppy will be featured in the calendar along with other future service dogs from Guide Dog Foundation.
Similar to 2019 with Tori, fans will have an opportunity to help pick out a name for the new Isles puppy. Fans can vote on his new name here. Voting will run until between Oct. 11 at noon and will be announced on Oct. 15.
Make sure to say hello to the new puppy as he will complete and attend on-site training at Islanders facilities, games and community events.
Follow the new puppy with a Purpose page, for updates on the new puppy's training, and @nyislespup on Instagram.
Learn more about Guide Dog here.
While I’m not claiming that living a foundation-free life will ensure great skin all the time, I do believe your skin will look healthier, and surprisingly fresh. Read on for the pro-approved tips and star products that will help you – from the oily and blemished to the dry and uneven – reach peak skin peachiness.
You don’t have to go into this cold turkey. “Try a step-by-step approach to let the skin recover”, Dr. Murad suggests. Try a few days per week without foundation until your skin improves and you feel confident enough to go the full seven days. Weekends, hibernation days or holidays are a great time to start if you’re self-conscious.
Look, we’re all going to have poor skin days. Thanks to stressors like an unbalanced diet, transitional weather, hangovers, unruly hormones and lack of sleep, you’ll still have flare-ups occasionally. The trick is to accept what you’ve got and work with it, not against it.
That doesn’t seem too scary, right? Whether you’re trying to forego foundation in the to summer, or you’re just kind of tired of covering up every day, I wish you luck in your voyage to a fresh, glowing, peachy visage. Now, go show ‘em some skin.
