Minnesota Mom Jill Youse started sending her own breast milk to Africa in 2006, soon after which she began helping other moms around the country do the same through her organization, the International Breast Milk Project (IBMP). In just the past couple of years IBMP has successfully shipped over 85,000 pounds of milk to infants in Africa, primarily babies fighting illnesses that often abate when breast milk is introduced. Youse set up a program for women who have suffered the loss of an infant through the Madison Cassady Program , so that grieving mothers who still had milk stored in their freezers didn't have to throw it all away. Also distributed in the U.S. to children born prematurely or whose mothers cannot produce milk, donations are made easy for moms. Coolers and the necessary equipment arrive shipped to their doors and are later picked up and sent to babies in need. Even FedEx has chipped in to provide transport for the mothers' milk. Recognized as one of "Earth's Mothers" by Oprah Winfrey a little over a year ago, Youse and IBMP are revolutionizing how new moms think about breastfeeding, convincing them to add a few more mouths along the way.

This past weekend I've been reading The Billionaire's Vinegar which touches on the wine collection of William Koch but it's his brother David who has been in the news most recently. David H. Koch who is said to be the wealthiest person in New York City has, according to the NY Times agreed to contribute $100 million toward the renovation of the New York State Theater. The gift will put Koch's name on the door and will also be the largest private capital donation in the Lincoln Center's history. Koch says that he has been going to the New York State Theater for 40 years (he's 68) and he was aware the theater needed modernization. As of this fall it will be known as the David H. Koch Theater making it the same big name change of a New York institution in four months for a $100 million gift. The New York Public Library will be naming its main building after the Wall Street financier Stephen A. Schwarzman in return for his donation.

Koch has an estimated net worth of $17 billion. He will donate the money over 10 years, paying the first $15 million payment this summer and then $10 million annual payment for eight years plus a final $5 million installment. The deal does specify that the theater could be renamed for a new donor after 50 years with the Koch family retaining the right of first refusal. Koch has said he believes that a naming opportunity should last for a specific amount of time so that an institution can later pursue another round of fundraising.

The Boston Beer Company has created a unique program to benefit low and moderate income microentrepreneurs seeking to make their fortune in the food and beverage industry. Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream will provide these entrepreneurs with the tools they need to help them grow and succeed. Boston Beer has partnered with Accion USA which is the country's leading not-for-profit micro-lending organization providing critical capital and other types of assistance to small businesses. Boston Beer has made an initial $250,000 commitment to establish the Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream Micro-Loan Fund at Accion to provide much needed capital for lower and moderate income microentrepreneurs whose businesses would not be approved for a bank loan. Accion USA business loans range from $500-$25,000.

Boston Beer also plans to develop and execute a series of business education and financial literacy seminars aimed at the educational needs of food and beverage entrepreneurs and offer microentrepreneurs access to the advice and expertise of Samuel Adams employees through regular events. Brewer and founder Jim Koch says he was driven to create this program because he was one of the "little guys" when he started Samuel Adams back in 1984. He's shown above handing a check to the first recipient of the program, Carlene O'Garro, a Boston baker who runs Delectable Desires, a dessert bakery and caterer.

Brad and Angelina's foundation, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, has donated over $1 million to children affected by the Iraq war both abroad and here in the U.S. With $500,000 for school supplies and education programs for refuge children in Iraq and $500,000 for American children who have either lost a parent in the Iraq war or have a parent currently serving in that country, they continue their philanthropic dedication to causes important to helping children in our world. Here in the U.S. those funds will be used to support YMCA tutoring programs under the Armed Forces YMCA Operation Hero initiative. Brad and Angelina gave over $8 million to their foundation in 2006 and it would appear that their giving in 2008 will continue on the same generous path.

Pratham USA was started in 1994 by UNICEF, with the goal to educate the children of India in the areas of reading writing and basic math. Based on the principal that children who attend school make more productive members of society and are less likely to fall into poverty, Pratham works by improving India's schools instead of replacing them or imposing new ways of life. Recently Google awarded a $2 million grant to Pratham to assist their efforts! Check out the amazing work this organization is doing here.

Paul Newman may have been known for years as an actor but certainly his Newman's Own salad dressing and philanthropic ways signify the way many know him today. Recently, Newman donated his portion of ownership in Newman's Own to support the charities connected to Newman's Own Foundation Inc. which totaled $120 million! One of the charities supported by this enormous gift is the Hole In The Wall Gang camps which take place in Africa providing impoverished children with summer programs each year. His trademark grin may be his most cherished look but I am sure the impression he leave on this world will be attributed to his big heart and significant gifts to those less fortunate.

Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy are hoping they can use their combined star power to help raise awareness this week for the Green Our Vaccines march and rally. Jenny's son Evan was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 2005, and Jenny has been trying to help him and others by raising awareness of the possible link between autism and childhood vaccinations. The actors have joined with other national autism advocacy groups to press for the elimination of toxins from children's vaccines and to change children's vaccination schedules. It's always a heated debate, with facts and studies being presented on both sides, but a growing number of parents of autistic children believe that vaccines, especially those containing the mercury-based preservatives, are to blame for bringing on their children's autistic symptoms. Learn more about this weeks fund raising efforts here, and if you want to get involved in this movement now is the time!

Could the Kavli prize someday have the same cachet as the Nobel prize? That's what industrialist Fred Kavli is hoping for. The 80-year-old multimillionaire has created what he believes will be the prize to win in the modern age. The Kavli Foundation rewards research in nanoscience, astrophysics and neuroscience, the three scientific fields he believes are most beneficial to the happiness and survival of the human race. Kavli's foundation has established research institutes at Harvard, Yale, Stanford and 12 other universities.

On Wednesday the first Kavli Prizes in Astrophysics, Nanoscience and Neuroscience were handed out to seven winners, from the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, Japan and the US. Each will receive a scroll, medal and a share of the $1,000,000 prize for each subject. The astrophysics prize was awarded jointly to Maarten Schmidt, of the California Institute of Technology, US, and Donald Lynden-Bell, of Cambridge University, UK, both of whose work underpins our understanding of quasars. The nanoscience recipients are Louis E. Brus, of Columbia University, US, and Sumio Iijima, of Meijo University in Japan, who share the nanoscience prize for their respective discoveries of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, also known as quantum dots, and carbon nanotubes. The neuroscience prize went to three scientists who collectively have deciphered the basic mechanisms that govern the development and functioning of the networks of cells in the brain and spinal cord. Pasko Rakic, of the Yale University School of Medicine, in the US, explained how the neurons in the embryonic brain arrange themselves during development into the complex, densely interconnected circuitry of the adult cerebral cortex. Thomas Jessell, of Columbia University, US, has revealed the chemical signals behind the differentiation of early progenitor cells into the complex assembly of different types of neurons that make up neuronal circuits. Sten Grillner, of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden showed how neural circuits in mammalian spinal cords generate motor commands for rhythmic movements such as locomotion. His lamprey model is seen as the first and so far only vertebrate neuronal system controlling an integrated function that is understood at a molecular and cellular level.

Kavli's company Kavlico, which developed sensors for military and civilian aircraft, the space shuttle and automobiles, was sold in 2000 for $345 million and currently his real estate holdings have an estimated value of about $300 million.

[via LA Times]

In the wake of tragedy the auction of a historically significant piece will come to the rescue. Providing huge funds for relief efforts after the earthquake that killed more than 65,000 people in China on May 12th, computer chip tycoon Robert Tsao auctioned a palm-size antique glass pot from the imperial Qing Dynasty raising over HK$65 million ($8.3 million). Half of the funds will go to earthquake relief efforts and the other half will be split between various other charities. Both Tsao and Christie's auction house have waived their commission fees as well. Quite the gesture and it is certainly much needed. Its nice to see luxury items making a difference too.

Last week's star studded charity auction and dinner event at Cannes, raked in a whopping $10 million for amfAR, a leading AIDS research organization. Founded in 1985, amfAR is dedicated to ending the global AIDS epidemic through continued innovative research. Tickets to attend the bash went for $5,000 a person and accounted for a good portion of the evenings earnings. Celebrities in attendance included Madonna who donated her purse complete with it's contents to the evenings auction...it went for a staggering $1.5 million! It's nice to see people coming together with such a successful outcome, $10 million is quite an accomplishment for one evening!

Charityfolks.com is auctioning off a chance to meet David Beckham at an LA Galaxy Game! Additional prize loot includes hotel and airfare, a meet-and-greet and photo op with David Beckham, a David Beckham autographed jersey, 2 VIP field seats to the game and a pregame tour of the stadium! The money earned from the auction benefits the Hattie B. Cooper Community Center. Located in one of Boston's poorest neighborhoods, the Cooper Community Center provides high-quality early education programs that encourage self-esteem, confidence, leadership and learning to at risk youth. Bidding is currently at $10,000 and is open until June 4th. What an amazing opportunity to help kids and attend a game in VIP style, I wonder if Posh will be there?

Lavender Trust is an charitable program that helps women dealing with breast cancer. What makes Lavender Trust different than all the other cancer care organizations, is their focus on a younger age group, they work primarily with women around the age of 30 who've been recently diagnosed. Programs are all free to the public and include a helpline, peer support and direct health care advice. Last year many celebrities generously donated dresses to an auction which raised funds to keep these worthwhile programs going. You can help support their cause by donating directly or by shopping at their fabulous online boutique, all proceeds go directly to Lavender Trust breast cancer support initiatives.

Today's Charity of the Day is co-owned by none other than Madonna herself. When Michael Berg and Madonna founded Raising Malawi (RM), their goal was to help over one million orphaned children in Malawi that suffer from deadly diseases, extreme poverty and the effects of severe drought. Raising Malawi volunteers are hard at work, fund-raising, conducting research, and raising awareness. Check out this organization's website, there is a heartwarming and educational letter that Madonna wrote about Malawi and the children that reside there.

Goods for Good has a simple goal, to redistribute excess goods that sit unused in the US, to needy children in Africa. They provide much needed school supplies, clothing, and health and hygiene products to children in crisis, while at the same time reducing waste and overstock at home. Donations are received from a wide range of companies and the sorting and shipping is done by volunteers. If your company has outdated or unused inventory (office supplies, fabric, teaching or marketing tools...) that you wish to discard in an environmentally friendly way, contact this worthwhile organization today!

Arizona real estate developer Jerry Bisgrove makes our Big Givers list with the recent announcement in the Arizona Republic that he has pledged $25 million to the Valley of the Sun United Way Foundation. For every dollar pledged to the United Way over the next five years, Bisgrove's Stardust Foundation will give 50 cents up to $25 million. The donation is the third-largest pledge to any United Way in the country. In recent years, Bisgrove has also donated more than $25 million to Science Foundation Arizona and $20 million to the Arizona Family Housing Fund. Bisgrove has also been a member of the United Way Foundation's Tocqueville Society for more than 16 years, a club for those who give over $10,000 each year. His foundation focuses on lower income families and neighborhoods and has also give to the Arizona Humane Society, the YMCA, Habitat for Humanity and the Macehualli Work Center, a day-laborer center. Bisgrove made his money in trucking but is now the chairman and CEO of Stardust Companies which includes Stardust Development, a a real estate land development company, developing approximately 3,000 lots per year.