News & Announcements
When the Murdock Trust, our staff, or our grantees make news, we’ll post it here for easy reference.
Presidential Award Winner Lee Hood Speaks on Philanthropy
Lee Hood, national leader in science and Presidential Award winner, gives his perspective on philanthropy, the charitable deduction, and other challenges in the sector. read the interview
Meyer Memorial Trust announces Oregon Unlimited
Meyer Memorial Trust has announced Oregon Unlimited, a free and easy-to-use online platform that will serve as Oregon's town square where Oregonians can gather to raise issues, identify needs, exchange information and take action together toward shared solutions. click to learn more
Makoto Fujimura 2013 Visiting Scholar
We are pleased to announce that Makoto Fujimura will be joining us as a visiting scholar in 2013. Makoto Fujimura is an artist, writer, and speaker who is recognized worldwide as a cultural shaper. read more
National Medal of Science Awarded to Leroy Hood, MD, PhD
Dr. Lee Hood, Murdock Trust grantee, friend, and consultant on various Murdock Trust science programs was recently awarded the National Medal of Science in recognition of his visionary work in science and engineering. read more
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust approves 43 grants totaling more than $7.7 million
View the full report of the grants made at our fall grants meeting. read more >
Memorial Gifts approved for Hugh Vander Plas and Mary Louise Rasmuson at the summer 2012 grants meeting
At the August 2012 grants meeting, the Trust approved a $30,000 memorial grant to Calvin College in memory of Hugh Vander Plas, recently deceased Program director of the Trust. In addition, the Trustees awarded and named the grant made to the Southcentral Foundation in memory of Mary Louise Rasmuson, one of Alaska's outstanding philanthropists. read more >
Jim Martin named Clark College Alumnus of the Year
Jim Martin, CIO at the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust was recently awarded the Clark College's 2012 Alumnus of the Year. Martin graduated Clark College in 1968 and went from Clark to Eastern Washington University where he obtained his Bachelor's in accounting. He also holds a Certified Public Accountant credential. He has been with the Trust since 1987 and was named the 2010 Investment Officer of the Year by Institutional Investor.
M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Founder's Day 2012
We celebrated Founder's Day 2012 with many friends and colleagues inour local philanthropic and business community. Thank you to everyone who visited, and we hope that you got a chance to connect with others at the event. We are excited to share the highlights and pictures from the event. read more >
Partners in Science Program Featured
The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust's Partners in Science Program is part of an online article for Time magazines "Time Ideas" about science education and kids. What Do We Do About Poor Science Scores? Take Kids outside, Andres Rotherham>
Science magazine recently noticed that our Partners in Science program helps empower science teachers. Emingpowering Science Teachers, Science Magazine
Philanthropy Northwest receives "National Ally for Native Americans" Award
Philanthropy Northwest, as association of Northwest funders and foundations, was recently named the recipient of the 2012 Partner and Ally Award. The award recognizes those who actively support programs, organizations, and activities that partner and serve native populations.
The Murdock Trust is an active member of Philanthropy Northwest and has a significant history of leadership and support in serving in this area. Recent grants can be found at Grants Awarded. More information on Philanthropy Northwest can be found at www.philanthropynw.org.
Dr. Kent Thornburg Named Interim Director of the Bob and Charlee Moore Institute for Nutrition & Wellness
Dr. Kent Thornburg, one of the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust's Senior Fellows has been named Interim Director of the Bob and Charlee Moore Institute for Nutition & Wellness. read more >
Medical Teams International Named "Top Notch" by Charity Navigator
Charity Navigator, one of the outstanding non-profit guide groups in the United States, has included Medical Teams International on its list of "Ten Top-Notch Charities." The ten charities on this list were selected from the more than 5,000 U.S. charities evaluated by Charity Navigator. "These ten charities not only earn our highest four-star rating for their financial health," says Charity Navigator on its website, "but they also earn four stars in accountability and transparency, which indicates they adhere to good governance and other best practices and that they execute their missions in a fiscally responsible way." For more information on tools/resources such as Charity Navigator, see The Worst (and Best) Way to Pick a Charity. Read Article "Ten Top-Notch Charities" >
Partners in Science Maureen (Moe) Daschel named Outstanding Classroom Teacher in Oregon
The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust is proud to share that one our partners in the Partners in Science Program, Moe Daschel, has been named Outstanding Classroom Teacher by the Oregon Science Teachers Association. Ms. Daschel is the chair of the St. Mary’s Academy science department in Portland, Oregon. read more >
Kenneth Golden named 2011 Neal Thorpe Memorial Lecturer for Murdock College Science Research Program Annual Conference
Kenneth M. Golden is a Professor of Mathematics and Adjunct Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Utah. His scientific interests lie in sea ice, climate change, composite materials, phase transitions, and inverse problems. He has published 54 papers in mathematics, physics, geophysics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and biomechanics journals, and given over 300 invited lectures on six continents, including three presentations in the US Congress. read more>
Alaska Community Foundation Announces Thorpe Scholarship Recipients
Alaska Community Foundation recently awarded two Neal Thorpe Memorial Scholarships worth a total of $15,000 to Alaskan high school graduates seeking to be the first in their immediate family to attend college. read more >
Arctic Science Workshop Explores Impact Of Global Warming
John Castles, one of Murdock Trust Trustees recently participated in an arctic science workshop aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Icebreaker Louis S. St- Laurent. Some of the experience was captured in the following report by National Public Radio's Jackie Northam. Read Report Arctic Warming
"Quantum Computing with Atoms and Photons", By Dr. Boris Blinov
The Neal O. Thorpe Honorary Lecture at the Nineteenth Regional Conference on Undergraduate Research of the Murdock College Science Research Program, November 12-13, 2010, at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, will be Dr. Boris Blinov, who will speak on Quantum Computing with Atoms and Photons. Dr. Blinov is Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of Washington. He graduated from Moscow State University in 1995 and received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 2000, working on polarized beam storage and acceleration. As a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Michigan he explored trapped-ion quantum computing. Dr. Blinov will present his lecture at the conference banquet on November 12. Download Announcement >
Lend A Hand, Today
Our Trustee, John Castles presented a grant to Eagle Mount-Bozeman, on the Today show with Al Roker, as a part of NBC's "Lend a Hand" feature. read more >
Van Zytveld Honored With Named Fellowship
The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust recently announced the creation of the John Van Zytveld Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Endowment in partnership with Calvin College to honor Dr. Van Zytveld for his many years of service as the senior program director of the Murdock Trust. Prior to coming to the Trust, Dr. Van Zytveld was a distinguished professor of physics at Calvin College. Dr. Van Zytveld holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University and currently serves the Trust as the senior program advisor, working with science education and scientific research.
An Obama-Inspired Volunteer-Recruitment Web Site
All for Good helps you find and share ways to do good. Learn More >
