Events

June 28-30, 2010  New York City, National Conference on Volunteering and Service
Nationally convened by the Points of Light Institute, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and locally convened by NYC Service and New Yorkers Volunteer, the annual event provides attendees with an opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired through a wide range of exciting and informative plenary sessions, workshops, special events, service projects, exhibits, specialized corporate tracks and more. The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination fund is on the host committee for the 2010 conference.

May 19, 2010  The NYC Green Cart Photography Commission Works in Progress Exhibit Opening Reception
The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund has awarded a seed grant to the Mayor's Fund for New York City for the Department of Health to support the NYC Green Cart Initiative, which provides underserved urban communities ready access to fresh fruit and vegetables via hundreds of independently owned Green Carts.

The two-year photography commission will document the historic program through the perspectives of five emerging artists selected by Aperture Foundation, a New York–based nonprofit arts organization and leading force in the field of photography. The current exhibition presents works in progress from the first year of the Aperture initiative, which will culminate in a large-scale exhibition in 2011.

Featuring the work of:
LaToya Ruby Frazier, Thomas Holton, Gabriele Stabile, Will Steacy, and Shen Wei
For more information Click Here

April 20, 2010  Nourishing Strong Communities II: FoodWorks - New York City Council Engages Around Healthy Food a Philanthropy New York members briefing, sponsored by the Elmezzi Foundation, Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, and Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund

FoodWorks New York is a new City Council effort to produce a comprehensive plan to use New York City’s food system to create jobs, improve public health, and protect the environment. The goals of FoodWorks New York are to improve the city’s food infrastructure; create new and better jobs in the food industry; keep more local food dollars in the local economy; reduce diet related diseases like obesity, heart disease and diabetes; and reduce environmental damage from the production, transport, and consumption of food. This briefing will introduce funders to FoodWorks and provide nonprofit perspectives on the plan and opportunities it presents for New Yorkers.

April 7, 2010  Hudson Institute's Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal book discussion of The Power of Social Innovation: How Civic Entrepreneurs Ignite Community Networks for Good by Stephen Goldsmith
In this new age of the social entrepreneur, too often private sector innovation, as admirable as it is, fails to translate into meaningful change in the larger public sector. There, massive expenditures of public dollars continue to fund delivery of services that have conspicuously failed to solve our most urgent social problems. In a few communities around the country, however, private and public leaders have come together to design significant change in the way we approach public problems, reflecting the best impulses of civic entrepreneurs, and restoring the role of citizens and neighborhoods in self-governance. Former mayor of Indianapolis and current chair of the Corporation for National and Community Service Stephen Goldsmith has been a pioneer in such efforts, and in The Power of Social Innovation: How Civic Entrepreneurs Ignite Community Networks for Good, he lays out his career-long experience with and research into this approach.

On Wednesday, April 7, the Bradley Center will host Mayor Goldsmith, along with a panel of experts including Paul Grogan of The Boston Foundation, the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund's Gail Nayowith, and Robert Woodson of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, to discuss the book. The Bradley Center's own William Schambra will moderate the discussion.

February 1, 2010  Inspired Philanthropy: Laurie M. Tisch Speaks about the Evolution of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund to Women in Development NY at the Yale Club

In 2007, Laurie M. Tisch shifted her focus from donor advised philanthropy and stepped up her philanthropy by establishing her own foundation. Continuing her parents' tradition of generosity and being a good neighbor she formed the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund to inspire fresh ideas and new thinking about ways to increase access and opportunity for more New Yorkers. From supporting the innovative NYC Green Carts initiative to bring fresh produce to underserved New York City neighborhoods, to underwriting the much-anticipated Illumination Lawn at a revitalized Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and providing major support for NYC Service and the NYC Civic Corps, an effort to increase volunteerism and civic engagement among New Yorkers, Ms. Tisch combines an entrepreneurial spirit with a lifetime of experience in leadership giving.

During her talk, Ms. Tisch will share her insights on the role of philanthropy in the Tisch family, her personal values and evolving philosophy of giving, how she identifies and evaluates potential projects, and she will talk about some of the Illumination Fund's most recent grants. Ms. Tisch will be introduced by philanthropic advisor, Hildy Simmons.

January 6, 2010  Nourishing Strong Communities: Access to Healthy Food as an Essential Ingredient of Community Building a Philanthropy New York members briefing, sponsored by the Elmezzi Foundation, Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, and Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund

With the rapid rise of diet-related illness and the increased demand on food pantries and feeding programs, issues of access to healthy food for all has become a growing concern both locally and nationally. Foundations are partnering with non-profits, small businesses, government, and neighborhood groups to develop programs and new tools that will increase access to affordable and healthy food, as well as achieve healthier and more sustainable communities. Through collaboration, education, and advocacy, these partners are working to establish new food supply chains and distribution channels, which are the first steps toward increasing access to healthy food and building a sustainable food system.

December 15, 2009  The Aspen Leadership Series: Conversations with Great Leaders in Memory of Preston Robert Tisch
The second in the series was held in New York City at a private club and featured Jamie Dimon, CEO and Chairman of JPMorgan Chase & Co, in conversation with Walter Issacson, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute. Click here for more information

November 12, 2009  Fountain Gallery Exhibit Opening Reception
Fountain Gallery is a not-for-profit cooperative run by and for artists living with mental illness. By exhibiting visionary art, achieving commercial success and generating public dialogue, the Gallery is making a vital contribution to the New York arts community and working to change common misconceptions about people living with severe persistent mental illness. Artwork by Fountain Gallery artists is on view at the foundation through May 2010. For more information Click Here

October 20, 2009  The Aspen Leadership Series: Conversations with Great Leaders in Memory of Preston Robert Tisch
A major new Discussion Program in New York City featured The Honorable Cory A. Booker, Mayor, Newark, New Jersey, in conversation With Richard Stengel, Managing Editor, Time Magazine for its inaguaral session. In five installments each year, the series will feature dynamic, innovative leaders from all facets of civic life—government, nonprofits, education, science, the arts, and even sports—in conversation with noted journalists and other moderators. In addition to the discussions, in the spring of 2010, The Aspen Institute will launch the new Preston Robert Tisch Award in Civic Leadership, which will recognize an individual who has made a significant positive impact on his or her community, with $25,000 to be donated to an organization of the awardee's choosing.

 

August 22, 2009  Food, Fun, and Fitness Expo in Bedford-Stuyvesant Promotes Healthy Living for Local Families
All in the name of healthy living, families from the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn were treated to an afternoon of delicious, healthy food, fitness events, and fun entertainment at the Open House Brooklyn Food and Fitness Expo, organized by the Brooklyn Food and Fitness Taskforce. The Taskforce is a coalition of community residents and organizations working in North and Central Brooklyn to improve health by enhancing opportunities for good nutrition and physical activity.

NYC Green Carts were on hand to pass out free fruits and vegetables, along with healthy, easy-to-follow recipes. The goal was to teach families how they can create healthy meals from fruits and vegetables available from the Green Carts and local community gardens.

Other activities at the Food and Fitness Expo included bike races, aerobics, guided walks, yoga and other sports activities for community residents of all ages.

July 26, 2009  The Aspen Institute & TIME Magazine Aspen Health Forum, A Healthier Bite in the Big Apple
New York City has moved aggressively to promote healthy lifestyles through efforts to increase the availability and consumption of healthy foods in underserved, high-need communities. In this session attendees learned about efforts to engineer a healthier city by increasing the availability of nutritious foods and stimulating customer demand through: NYC Green Carts (fruit and vegetable carts); Healthy Bodegas (corner stores); FRESH (a supermarket attraction and retention program); and healthier food in city schools, hospitals and institutions.
The panel included:

  • Linda Gibbs; Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, The City of New York
  • Cathy Nonas, MS,RD,DCE; Director Physical Activity and Nutrition Programs, New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
  • Ben Thomases; Food Policy Coordinator, Office of the Mayor, The City of New York
  • Laurie Tisch; President, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund
  • Moderator: Gail B. Nayowith; Executive Director, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund

July 24, 2009  The Aspen Institute & TIME Magazine Aspen Health Forum, The Big Idea: Food for a New World
The Big Idea sessions combine short, powerful talks by some of the most engaging speakers in their respective fields. Dramatic increases in both obesity and malnutrition have put a new spotlight on global nutrition. Rising fuel and food prices, coupled with the spread of western diets and lack of exercise, are changing the shape and health of the average human body. Often it seems that half the planet is in danger of stuffing itself to death while the other half is in danger of starving to death. At the root of both problems with what- and how much- we eat. Nothing's more primal than food. Can we reframe food and exercise in this new century? Or will we sit by and watch our global waistlines expand? We delve into topics such as the rise of malnutrition and obesity, the importance of eating locally, food prices, genetically engineered food, and the future of crops for extreme climates.
The panel included:

  • Adam Drewnowski, PhD; Director, Center for Obesity Research, University of Washington
  • Dan Glickman; Former Secretary of Agriculture
  • Lynda Resnick; Co-Owner and Vice Chairman, Roll International
  • Laurie Tisch; President, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund (click here to read remarks)
  • Introducer: Michelle McMurry, MD, PhD; Founding Director, Health, Biomedical Science and Society Initiative, The Aspen Institute

May 12, 2009  The Rising Power of Women in Philanthropy
Sponsored by UNICEF, J.P. Morgan and Town & Country magazine, The Rising Power of Women in Philanthropy Forum championed women philanthropists. This event addressed how women are changing the face of philanthropy. The panel included Jennifer Buffet, President of the NoVo Foundation, Laurie M. Tisch and Afshan Khan, Director, Resource Mobilization at UNICEF.

May 7, 2009  Artistic Noise Exhibit Opening Reception
Artistic Noise is an arts program for youth in the juvenile justice system in New York City. The program provides an opportunity for participants to process and document their lives using the visual arts while learning valuable survival skills. By working with youth both inside the detention facility and back in the community Artistic Noise provides continuity for youth who are often experiencing trauma and upheaval in their lives. Artwork by the young artists in on view at the foundation through November. For more information Click Here

November 19, 2008  Meet The Author: Reynold Levy, President of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Yours for the Asking: An Indispensable Guide to Fundraising and Management.
Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund hosted a discussion and reception event to promote the release of Reynold Levy, new book Yours for the Asking: An Indispensable Guide to Fundraising and Management. For more information Click Here

October 14, 2008  October 14, 2008 NYRAG Members Briefing : ServiceNation
Co-sponsored by The Atlantic Philanthropies, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund and The Rockefeller Foundation. The session began with an update on commitments made by Presidential candidates McCain and Obama who "pledged to make a new call to service the hallmark of the next Presidency" at the 9/11/2008 ServiceNation Summit, followed by a discussion of the new role of public service and opportunities for funder support, with Alan Khazei Founder and CEO of Be The Change, Inc., Gail B. Nayowith Executive Director Laurie M. Tisch Illumination and Janice Nittoli VP and Managing Director The Rockefeller Foundation who moderated the panel. For more information on NYRAG Click Here and for more information on Service Nation Click Here

September 23, 2008  NYRAG Philanthropy Dialogue: New Foundations and Living Donors
Co-sponsored with the New York Regional Association of Grantmakers was an engaging, and intimate, off-the-record roundtable discussion among the CEOs and donors/trustees of recently established family foundations.

January 23, 2008  Peter Karoff Book Party: How Philanthropy Can Create The World We Want
The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund hosted its first event, a reception in honor of Peter Karoff, founder of The Philanthropic Initiative, on the publication of his new book The World We Want: New Dimensions in Philanthropy and Social Change.

Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund also convenes and hosts meetings of grantees, government and non-profit organizations.