California

The San Diego Foundation has announced the launch of its community scholarship program for the 2016-17 academic year. This year, the program awarded more than a hundred and twenty scholarships totaling more than $2.3 million. Applications, which are submitted online via a form that allows students to be considered for all available scholarships, are due by February 3.

Hawai'i

In recognition of its centennial anniversary, the Hawai'i Community Foundation will plant more than seven hundred breadfruit trees, KITV.com reports. "[The breadfruit tree] provides sustenance to so many people, and it cuts across all the ethnicities of Hawai'i, so we couldn't think of a better symbol to represent the future of Hawai'i and the desire for each other to take care of the next person," said HCF president and CEO Kelvin Taketa.

Kentucky

The Community Foundation of Louisville has announced the appointments of Ebony O'Rea as a program officer and Kate Czerwonka as a staff accountant.

Minnesota

The Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation has been established to address the needs of the local community, the White Bear Press reports. The foundation, which will represent residents of Birchwood Village, Dellwood, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake, and White Bear Township, plans to establish donor-advised funds, designated funds, scholarship programs, and agency endowments that benefit the White Bear Lake region. 

North Carolina

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina in Asheville has awarded $30,000 to the Organic Growers School in support of seven farm programs, the Mountain Xpress reports. The programs are designed to increase economic opportunities for local farmers and food entrepreneurs, address food insecurity, and facilitate healthy eating.

Ohio

The Columbus Foundation and Columbus CEO held a roundtable event with six local business leaders to discuss their approaches to corporate philanthropy. Participants included Jamie Richardson, vice president of government and shareholder relations with White Castle; Mike Agee, vice president of restaurant marketing with Bob Evans Farms; Jeremy Ball, director of corporate philanthropy and events with Big Lots; Cathy Lytle, vice president of corporate communications and investor relations with Worthington Industries; Wendy Bradshaw, director of philanthropy and events with Thirty One Gifts; and Jen Bowden, director of community investment with IGS Energy.

Oklahoma

The Bartlesville Community Foundation has announced a $2 million bequest from the estate of Ruth C. Smith and her late husband, Donald. The initial proceeds of the gift have been used to establish the D.C. and Ruth C. Smith Fund, while the investment income from the fund will support the operations of the foundation. As the rest of the estate’s assets are transferred to the foundation, BCF will use the funds to invest in charities serving the community. The foundation also will make a number of special grants to causes important to the Smith family.

Pennsylvania

The Pittsburgh Foundation has named Khalif Ali as its director of public policy and advocacy. Ali most recently was a program manager with the Sprout Fund, where he led an initiative to increase the understanding and use of digital badges as alternative forms of assessment in formal and informal learning environments.