announcing our 2014 round 2 nonprofit innovation grant winners

N O N PR O F I T

I N N O V A T I O N G R A N T SR O U N D 2 , 2 0 1 4

ENABLING LINKEDIN

EMPLOYEES TO CHAMPION

ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE

TESTING NEW, INNOVATIVE

IDEAS FOR SOCIAL IMPACT.

WE’RE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE 25

NONPROFIT INNOVATION GRANT

SELECTIONS AND THEIR EMPLOYEE

CHAMPIONS FOR ROUND 2, 2014.

T E A M K E N Y A

“ B Y I M P R O V I N G A G I R L ’ S L I F E , S H E

C A N B R E A K T H E C Y C L E O F P O V E R T Y ,

A N D T E A M K E N Y A I S G I V I N G H E R T H E

T O O L S T O D O I T . ” – N A T A S H A

G O W A N S , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Taking practical action to allow women in

Ndhiwa, Kenya, to fulfill their potential

M E N S T R U P E D I A

“ M E N S T R U A L H E A L T H A D V E R S E L Y

I M P A C T S M I L L I O N S O F L I V E S .

M E N S T R U P E D I A W I L L E N A B L E P A R E N T S

A T S C A L E T O T E A C H T H E I R D A U G H T E R S

A B O U T T H I S T O P I C I N A W A Y T H A T

W O U L D O T H E R W I S E B E T A B O O . ”

– G U N J A N J U Y A L , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Empowering parents and teachers to educate

young girls about menstruation at the right time

and in a fun and entertaining way

T H E C H O R D O M A

F O U N D A T I O N

E V E R Y L I F E M A T T E R S A N D E V E R Y

D I S E A S E D E S E R V E S A T T E N T I O N . – A L I S O N

D O R S E Y , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Improving the lives of those affected by

Chordoma and leading the search for a cure

T H E G L O B A L

N O M A D S G R O U P

T H E G L O B A L N O M A D S G R O U P C R E A T E S

U N F O R G E T T A B L E E X P E R I E N C E S F O R

T H E W O R L D ’ S Y O U T H T H A T I S

R E D E F I N I N G W H A T I T M E A N S T O B E A

G L O B A L C I T I Z E N . – J E S S I C A L A U ,

E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Fostering dialogue and understanding among youth

by creating exchange programs that promote

empathy, peace and 21st century workforce skills

S P R I N G W A T E R

M E D I A

“ T E C H N O L O G Y F O R C H I L D R E N W I T H M O T O R

D I F F I C U L T I E S U S U A L L Y F O C U S O N M I T I G A T I N G

T H E I R D I S A B I L I T Y I N A V E R Y F U N C T I O N A L W A Y .

E Y E C A N T O U C H I S P L A Y F U L , C R E A T I V E , A N D

A L L O W S D I S A B L E D C H I L D R E N T O E X P R E S S

T H E M S E L V E S L I K E A N Y O T H E R K I D . "

– L A U R E N C E B R E T - S T E R N , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Providing opportunity for social interaction and self

expression to children with severe neurological challenges

E C O - S F

“ B E F O R E V O L U N T E E R I N G , A N Y T H I N G I A T E W A S

F R O M A G R O C E R Y S T O R E O R R E S T A U R A N T . W E ’ L L

E N A B L E S T U D E N T S T O H A V E A B E T T E R

U N D E R S T A N D I N G O F H O W T H E F O O D T H E Y E A T

C O N T R I B U T E S T O T H E I R H E A L T H A N D W E L L N E S S . "

– M A R C U S W O N G , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Demonstrating sustainable living skills such as urban farming,

natural building, rain catchment and soap making to students

W A V E

H O S P I T A L I T Y

“ I ’ M P A S S I O N A T E A B O U T W A V E B E C A U S E

T H E I R M I S S I O N A L I G N S C L O S E L Y W I T H

L I N K E D I N ’ S A N D T H E I R D E E P

U N D E R S T A N D I N G O F W E S T A F R I C A N

Y O U T H . ” – L I Z L I , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Building a job-matching app for talented underserved

West African youth in high growth entry level jobs

“ G R O W I N G U P W A T C H I N G M Y C O U S I N B A T T L E

C Y S T I C F I B R O S I S , A S W E L L S E E I N G A T E E N A G E

G I R L F R I E N D D I E F R O M T H E D I S E A S E A T 2 4 ,

M O T I V A T E D M E T O A P P L Y . " – P H I L W A T S O N ,

E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

C Y S T I C F I B R O S I S

I R E L A N DCreating inspirational videos meant to

support those living with Cystic Fibrosis

B R I C O L A G E A C A D E M Y

“ E V E R Y D A Y A T B R I C O L A G E S T U D E N T S Q U E S T I O N ,

D I S C O V E R , C O L L A B O R A T E , C R E A T E , T A K E R I S K S ,

F A I L A N D I T E R A T E . W E A R E S C A L I N G T H I S

I N N O V A T I V E F O R M O F L E A R N I N G T O T H E B R O A D E R

N E W O R L E A N S C O M M U N I T Y . " – H I L L A R Y D E N S E N ,

E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Advancing educational equity by

preparing students to be innovators

who change the world

A P E X R E H A B I L I T A T I O N

C E N T R E

“ S I S T E R M A J O R I E , M Y K I N D E R G A R T E N

P R I N C I P L E , I S L E A D I N G A P R O G R A M T O

I N S T I L L A S E N S E O F B E L O N G I N G , P R I D E

A N D P U R P O S E B A C K I N T O T H E E L D E R L Y . "

– S E A N Y E O , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Providing day care rehabilitation to

the frail and disabled elderly and

enhancing their quality of life

B A Y E S I M P A C T

“ B A Y E S I M P A C T I S H E L P I N G C I V I C A N D

N O N P R O F I T O R G A N I Z A T I O N S M A K E

D A T A D R I V E N D E C I S I O N S I N A

S C A L A B L E A N D H I G H L Y I M P A C T F U L

W A Y . " – N I C K V A N W A G N E R , E M P L O Y E E

C H A M P I O N

Optimizing the placement of

ambulances throughout San Francisco

I R I S H N A T I O N A L

S I G H T L O S S A G E N C Y

“ T H E N C B I H A S H A D S U C H A H U G E

I M P A C T C H A N G I N G T H E L I V E S O F T H E

V I S U A L L Y I M P A I R E D . ”

– M I C H E L L E H Y L A N D , E M P L O Y E E

C H A M P I O N

Starting a loan program to enable more

visually impaired individuals get the

equipment they need to gain independence

G I F T O F L I F E

“ H A V I N G T H E O P P O R T U N I T Y T O S A V E A

S T R A N G E R ' S L I F E H A S H A D A N E T E R N A L

E F F E C T O N M Y O W N . " – L I S A D E A V E R &

S A M M O R O V A T I , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N S

Creating a student ambassador program

to help children and adults find bone

marrow transplants

S K A T E I S T A N

“ I T ’ S I N C R E D I B L E H O W T H E S I M P L E

S P O R T O F S K A T E B O A R D I N G C A N H A V E

S U C H A W I D E R E A C H I N G I M P A C T . "

– C H R I S J O N E S , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Building educational skateparks to

advance educational outcomes in

Afghanistan, Cambodia and South Africa

M A K I R A F O R E S T

B U S H M E A T I N I T I A T I V E

“ H U M A N , A N I M A L A N D E N V I R O N M E N T A L

H E A L T H A R E I N T E R C O N N E C T E D .

T O G E T H E R W E C A N C R E A T E C A S C A D I N G

E F F E C T S O N T H E H E A L T H O F A N E N T I R E

C O M M U N I T Y . " – D O N N A M A C D O N A L D ,

E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Improving child nutrition, human livelihood

and endemic wildlife populations

F E E D I N G M O U T H S

F I L L I N G M I N D S

“ C U L T I V A T I N G S U S T A I N A B L E F O O D

S O U R C E S I N L O C A L C O M M U N I T I E S H A S A

D I R E C T I M P A C T O N H E A L T H , E D U C A T I O N

A N D E C O N O M I C S . "

– A N D R E W S E I D L , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Ending childhood hunger by building self

sustaining food supplies for schools,

orphanages and communities around the world

T H E I M A G I N E

B U S P R O J E C T

“ I M A G I N E B U S H A S B E E N A B L E T O

S U C C E S S F U L L Y U S E A R T T O H E L P

Y O U T H T R A N S F O R M T H E M S E L V E S A N D

T H E I R C O M M U N I T I E S , C H A N G E T H E I R

P E R S P E C T I V E A N D R E A C H T H E I R F U L L

P O T E N T I A L . " – L A R R Y O G R O D N E K ,

E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Enabling incarcerated youth to successfully

re-enter their communities

I S L A N D C R E E K

O Y S T E R F O U N D A T I O N

“ T H R O U G H T H E L E N S O F L I N K E D I N ’ S

V I S I O N , I B E L I E V E T H E I C O F W I L L

P R O V I D E E M P O W E R I N G E C O N O M I C

O P P O R T U N I T I E S T O W O R K E R S A C R O S S

T H E G L O B E . " – B R A D R O S E , E M P L O Y E E

C H A M P I O N

Enabling global workers to start

sustainable tilapia farms as a solution to

the global issue of food production

F A M E A F R I C A

“ F A M E ’ S M I S S I O N A N D S O L E A G E N D A

I S T O A D V A N C E P A T I E N T - C E N T E R E D

C A R E , A N D T H E Y A I M T O

D R A M A T I C A L L Y C H A N G E T H E L I V E S O F

P E O P L E S U F F E R I N G F R O M E P I L E P S Y

I N A N A R E A W I T H A L M O S T N O

K N O W L E D G E O F T H E D I S E A S E . ” –

C H R I S P R U E T T , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Committed to creating healthier communities in

rural Tanzania

S I R U M

“ R E D I S T R I B U T I N G M E D I C A T I O N G O E S

B E Y O N D T H E C O S T S A V I N G S . I T ’ S A B O U T

G I V I N G P E O P L E I N N E E D A N D T H E I R

L O V E D O N E S M O R E Q U A L I T Y T I M E W I T H

O N E A N O T H E R . " – S E B A S T I A N L O B O ,

E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Saving lives by connecting unopened,

unexpired medication to patients in need

W E L L P L E D G E

“ I ’ M E X C I T E D A B O U T W E L L P L E D G E ’ S V I S I O N

T O I M P R O V E T H E L I V E S O F P E O P L E A N D

F A M I L I E S W I T H C H R O N I C H E A L T H

C O N D I T I O N S . ”

– R O B E R T W O Z N I A K , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Improving chronic health conditions while

driving charitable giving

O R G A N I Z A T I O N F O R

F R I E N D S H I P I N D I V E R S I T Y

“ O F G W I L L L A U N C H A P R O G R A M W I T H T H E A I M O F

S U P P O R T I N G T H E I N T E G R A T I O N O F I M M I G R A N T

C H I L D R E N I N T O E U R O P E A N C O U N T R I E S

S U P P O R T E D B Y P I C T U R E S O F R E A L L I V E S . ”

– F R A N C E S C O C O S T A N Z O , E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Building relationships amidst

diversity to combat racism and

stereotypes

R I S I N G I N T E R N A T I O N A L

“ G I V I N G S O M E O N E T H E G I F T O F

E D U C A T I O N A N D S E E I N G W H A T T H E Y

C A N A C C O M P L I S H I S O N E O F T H E M O S T

S A T I S F Y I N G E X P E R I E N C E S I ’ V E E V E R

H A D . ” – L A U R E N H I P S C H M A N , E M P L O Y E E

C H A M P I O N

Empowering women to rise out of extreme

poverty

V T S E V A

“ I H A V E J O I N E D H A N D S W I T H

T H O U S A N D S O F V O L U N T E E R S W H O H A V E

M A D E A M A T E R I A L D I F F E R E N C E I N T H E

L I V E S O F B L I N D C H I L D R E N , E D U C A T I N G

T H E R U R A L P O O R A N D P R O V I D I N G

M E D I C A L T R E A T M E N T T O T H E

U N D E R P R I V I L E G E D . ” – R A J E S H B I N D U ,

E M P L O Y E E C H A M P I O N

Volunteering together in service of the

underprivileged