MacKenzie Scott boosts another Pittsburgh-area nonprofit with $10 million gift

Good News Notes: “Pressley Ridge, a nonprofit agency based in McCandless, announced Wednesday that it received a $10 million unrestricted gift from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. The gift is the single largest donation the organization has received in its 190-year history. “We are grateful for and humbled by Ms….

High schoolers develop an inexpensive filter to remove lead from tap water

Good News Notes: “The next generation of scientists and inventors is already finding approaches to address society’s problems. Today, a group of high school students and their instructor report a solution to the problem of lead contamination in drinking water—an inexpensive faucet attachment that removes this toxic metal. Unlike conventional filters currently on the market,…

Baton Rouge Community College receives anonymous $200K donation

Good News Notes: “Baton Rouge Community College said today it had received a $200,000 gift from an anonymous donor to use toward student support. The school said in a news release that the gift was accepted through the BRCC Foundation and will mostly be used to provide scholarships, per the donor’s request. “I would like…

Inside the “International Space Station of the sea”

Good News Notes: “Fabien Cousteau has a vision for how humans can live and work in the ocean. He imagines that long-term stays under the waves could be enabled through the construction of underwater habitats, which would look and feel like houses, as opposed to just sealed, submarine-like bubbles.  These habitats would have a galley,…

MacKenzie Scott donates $133.5M to education nonprofit

Good News Notes: “Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $133.5 million to the education nonprofit Communities In Schools, the organization announced Thursday.  Communities In Schools allocates its staff to schools, where they then work as a go-between for the school and local resources. The group aids students in addressing their needs around education and overall well-being, such…

20% of Brits Are Eating Less Meat To Actively Fight Climate Change, Survey Finds

Good News Notes: “A Censuswide survey, commissioned by environmental search engine Ecosia, has revealed new plant-based trends. Major takeaways include more than 20 percent of participants reducing meat intake in light of the climate crisis. It was revealed that 32 percent are willing to change their diets to help the environment. More than 50 percent…