Forum Promotes Opportunities to Link Life Sciences Industry with Philanthropy in Greater Boston

Forum Promotes Opportunities to Link Life Sciences Industry with Philanthropy in Greater Boston

Boston – Leaders of the life science sector convened at The Boston Foundation Tuesday evening to initiate what all insisted would be a long-term conversation aimed at educating the public and the philanthropic sector about where life sciences fit in Greater Boston’s burgeoning innovation economy and educating the life science sector on how best and most practically to participate in philanthropy and give back to their host communities.

Speakers at the public forum included Paul S. Grogan, President and CEO of The Boston Foundation, Rob Perez, Founder and Chairman of Life Science Cares, and Travis McCready, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.

Grogan hailed the forum as an opportunity to further introduce Pledge 1% to leaders in the region’s innovation economy. Pledge 1% is the San Francisco-based global nonprofit that assists businesses  in establishing charitable programs in which participants commit one percent equity to nonprofits and good causes. The Boston Foundation is the facilitator of Pledge 1% Boston.  Life Sciences Cares recently announced an alliance with Pledge 1% Boston.

“In our custodial role with Pledge 1% Boston and our general advocacy for greater unity between the philanthropic sector and the burgeoning innovation economy in Greater Boston, The Boston Foundation is thrilled to help announce this alliance,” Grogan said. “It is a tangible demonstration of the commitment on both sides to light a path to meaningful charitable giving, and at the same time is a show of good faith that the life sciences community is eager to participate.”

Perez said, “We are excited to partner with Pledge 1% Boston and the Boston Foundation to embed giving back into the DNA of life sciences companies. The mission of Life Science Cares is to put the true good that life sciences companies represent into action—not just for human health, but for human potential.”

Life Science Cares is an emerging nonprofit that engages leaders and companies in the life sciences space with giving back.  In just the last year, Life Science Cares has recruited more than 70 leaders and companies to unite their human and financial resources to end poverty in greater Boston.  The organization has attracted leaders from across the industry to its Board of Advisors, including Alnylam Pharmaceuticals CEO John Maraganore, Vertex Pharmaceuticals CEO Jeffrey Leiden, MassBio President and CEO Robert K. Coughlin, Ovascience Founder and Chairwoman Michelle Dipp, and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center’s Travis McCready. Other notable Greater Boston community leaders on Life Science Care’s Board of Advisors include Deval Patrick and Greg Shell from Bain Capital, former Millennium and Forum Pharmaceuticals CEO Deborah Dunsire and former Cubist Pharmaceuticals CEO Mike Bonney. Initial nonprofit grant partners include Citizen Schools, Bottom Line, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay.

"This gathering was an important opportunity for the life sciences ecosystem and civic leaders to join together and discuss how together we can work to improve the communities we live and work in every day," McCready said.  "Through the leadership of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, MassBio, Life Science Cares, and The Boston Foundation, we hope to extend the life sciences' civic participation from discovering cures to empowering healthy communities.  Yesterday’s discussion of collaboration opportunities that will meet community needs in Boston and throughout Massachusetts was an important start."

MassBio’s Coughlin called on peers in the life science sector to view the alliances demonstrated Tuesday as a gateway to better ways of giving back.

“We know that Massachusetts life sciences companies and their employees are driven by the mission to help people in need,” Coughlin said. “So we are thrilled to work with The Boston Foundation, Life Science Cares and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to harness that drive and make significant impact throughout Greater Boston.”

全新AARP防範詐騙手冊介紹常見行騙手法及自我保護方式

New AARP Fraud Prevention Handbook

Outlines Common Scams and How to Protect Yourself

全新AARP防範詐騙手冊介紹常見行騙手法及自我保護方式

Download the free AARP Fraud Prevention Handbook in English and Chinese at aarp.org/aapi.

下載免費AARP 防範詐騙手冊英文及中文版本，請瀏覽網站：aarp.org/aapi。

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 14, 2016 – Approximately 15 million people are victims of identity theft every year. AARP’s new free Fraud Prevention Handbook outlines how to protect yourself from common types of fraud. It uncovers the strategies that scammers use and provides resources to help you defend yourself against their tricks.

“Con artists often target immigrant communities because they are particularly vulnerable, but knowing how they work can help you spot and avoid scams,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy. “AARP launched the Fraud Watch Network to provide people with information about what makes them vulnerable and the tools they need to outsmart con artists before they strike.”

Common scams include:

• An immigration scammer might place an advertisement in the newspaper or online offering to provide legal advice, help with paperwork, or other tasks involved in the immigration process. The scammer usually asks for an upfront fee, takes the money, and disappears immediately.
• Some scammers might use a natural disaster or current event to appeal to their target’s emotions. Setting up a fake charity, they solicit generous contributions using standard methods to collect “donations.”
• Blessing scams appeal to people’s superstitious beliefs. They first appeared in China and have seen a rise in the United States in recent years. Posing as a fortune-teller, the scammer will say that he or she can sense a curse on the target or a member of the target’s family.
• Most telemarketing scams involve offering targets highly attractive deals like vacations, trial offers, loans, or subscriptions that end up having hidden fees. A scammer may pose as a charming salesperson, making small talk and claiming to work for a reputable company.

A few steps to protect yourself against scams and identity theft include:

• Never give personal information, credit card numbers, or Social Security number to telemarketers who call you on the phone. If they pressure you, they could likely be a scammer.
• Double-check references for door-to-door sales, home repair offers and other products. Verify that businesses and others who contact you are who they claim to be before you provide any personal information. If you think the request for information is legitimate, contact the company at a number you know is valid to verify the request.
• Check out a charity before donating to make sure they are legitimate at charitywatch.org or charitynavigator.org.
• Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet, and limit the number of credit cards you carry.

To download the free AARP Fraud Prevention Handbook in English and Chinese, visit aarp.org/aapi.

【華盛頓哥倫比亞特區2016年12月14日訊】每年大約有1500萬人是身份盜竊的受害者，為了杜絕各種騙案，AARP特別推出免費的全新⎡防範詐騙手冊⎦（Fraud Prevention Handbook），向民眾介紹常見的詐騙手法和自我保護方式。 此手冊揭露騙徒慣用的技倆，並提供相關資源以幫助你保護自己避免墮入他們的圈套。

“騙徒常常瞄準最為弱勢的移民社區，但只要知道他們如何行騙，便可以幫助你明辨真偽和避免受到詐騙，”AARP多元文化引領亞太裔受眾副總裁Daphne Kwok（郭為婉）說。“AARP 推出監控詐騙網絡（Fraud Watch Network），就是要向人們解釋為何他們容易受到欺騙，以及向他們提供所需要的工具，在騙徒伸出魔掌前便讓他們碰釘，知難而退。”　

常見詐騙手法包括：

• 移民騙子會在報紙或網上刊登廣告，聲稱可以提供法律諮詢、幫助處理文件、或者協助移民過程中涉及的其他事務。這些騙子通常要求受害者先付一筆費用，但拿錢後便立即消失。
• 也有騙徒利用天災或者一個特別時事以牽動目標受害人的情緒。例如設立一個假的慈善機構，然後按照一般的方法向慷慨的民眾收集「捐款」。
• 「祈福黨」則是利用人們迷信的觀念行騙。他們最初在中國出現，但近年來美國的同類騙案也上升。騙徒扮作為算命師，並告訴目標受害人本身或者家中有親人被詛咒。
• 電話詐騙大多數涉及極為吸引的好處，例如假期旅遊、試用優惠、貸款或訂閱服務等，但當中含有隱藏費用。騙子可能裝成為一個能言善道的銷售人員，並自稱在一家信譽良好的公司工作，然後透過輕聲細語令人失去防備。

保護自己免受欺詐和身份盜用的幾個步驟包括：

• 切勿將個人信息、信用卡號碼或社會安全號碼告知來電的電話推銷員。 如果他們向你施壓，他們很可能就是騙子。
• 仔細檢查上門銷售、家居維修服務和其他產品的參考資料。在你提供任何個人信息之前，驗證這些企業和與您聯繫的人實屬他們所聲稱的機構。如果你想知道對方向你索取個人信息是否正當，可以先致電一個你肯定正確的電話號碼向該公司驗證。
• 向一個慈善機構捐贈之前，先通過網站charitywatch.org或 charitynavigator.org 了解它們是否合法。
• 不要將社會安全卡放在你的錢包中，並限制所攜帶的信用卡數量。

下載免費的AARP 防範詐騙手冊英文及中文版本，請瀏覽網站：aarp.org/aapi。

Former investigator Audrey Moy shares with AARP simple tips and guidance to help others protect themselves against fraud, identity theft and scams. (Watch the video in English, Mandarin 普通話 or Cantonese 廣東話版.)

舊金山地檢處前偵查員Audrey Moy（梅綺蘭）向AARP介紹一些簡單的提示和指導，以幫助民眾保護自己免受欺詐、身份盜竊和其他各類騙局。（觀看視頻：英語、普通話或廣東話版）

TREASURER DEBORAH GOLDBERG RELEASES PROGRESS REPORT ON FINANCIAL LITERACY IN MASSACHUSETTS

TREASURER DEBORAH GOLDBERG RELEASES PROGRESS REPORT ON

FINANCIAL LITERACY IN MASSACHUSETTS

BOSTON, MA ­­ Treasurer Goldberg unveiled a one year progress report on her Office of Economic Empowerment’s financial education initiatives. The review highlighted the advancements resulting from the 2015 Financial Literacy Task Force Report. The Task Force consisted of a diverse group of policymakers, educators, bankers and advocates, and convened last year to develop an action plan for Massachusetts residents to have access to the financial skills they need to attain economic stability. The report culminated with the release of 22 recommendations aimed at empowering

Massachusetts residents with the understanding of how to plan budgeting their money, saving for retirement and understanding the impact of the economic decisions.

“I am thankful for the many partners that share our vision and commitment to expanding economic security in Massachusetts” said Treasurer Goldberg. “We will continue to innovate and expand our programs through a digital delivery of financial education and partnerships throughout the state.”

In just one year, Treasurer Goldberg’s Office of Economic Empowerment has initiated 14 of the 22 policy recommendations provided by the Task Force, including the following highlights: 

• Establishing $eedMA, a pilot program, designed to help Massachusetts Kindergarten families save for post-secondary education and training  
• Creating the Women’s Economic Empowerment Series, a free financial empowerment workshop series for women
• Relaunching of Operation Money Wise as a grant program for organizations to provide financial education and programming to the Military, Veteran, Family and Survivor Community (MVFSC). 

You can find a more detailed review of the Progress Report and recommendations HERE.

"Treasurer Goldberg has demonstrated an agenda that keeps the economic empowerment of Massachusetts citizens on the front burner,” said former Undersecretary of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Barbara Anthony, who chaired the Task Force. “It’s terrific to work with her and her partners to enhance the lives of our residents from grade schoolers to seniors and at each stage in the life cycle.”

On day one, Treasurer Goldberg created the Office of Economic Empowerment (OEE), led by a deputy treasurer with the deliberate goal of incorporating a range of economic empowerment initiatives, including financial literacy, college affordability and programming to support wage equality.

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCES TOP BORROWED TITLES OF 2016

BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY ANNOUNCES TOP BORROWED TITLES OF 2016

BOSTON – December 14, 2016 – The ten most frequently borrowed books from Boston Public Library locations in 2016 took patrons from a modern day train in England to early twentieth-century Boston and to many places in between. It's not too late to read one or more of these great titles before the end of the year. Stop by and borrow one today or reserve your copy online at www.bpl.org.

·         All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr: Set during WWII and told from the perspectives of a young French girl and German soldier, demand for this 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner carried over into 2016.

·         The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins: In this suspenseful thriller, nothing is as it appears.

·         Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney:  Greg Heffley may be wimpy, but demand for this series is not. The other books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series were also heavily borrowed in 2016.

·         Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff: The story of a seemingly-charmed marriage told from two very different perspectives.

·         Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates: In this memoir written for his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates shares his experience with racism as a black man in America and hopes for the future.

·         My Brilliant Friend Book One: Childhood, Adolescence by Elena Ferrante: Told in a vibrant and descriptive setting, the mystery surrounding the real identity of Elena Ferrante kept this story of friendship on patron's minds.

·         Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee: Set twenty years after To Kill a Mockingbird, this 'lost' early novel by Harper Lee features an adult Scout returning to Maycomb at a time of radical change.

·         Wonder by R.J. Palacio: This children's book about a boy with a facial deformity attending school for the first time was a staple on summer reading lists throughout the city in 2016.

·         The Boston Girl by Anita Diamant: The story of a young immigrant growing up in early twentieth-century Boston.

·         Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll: A dark psychological thriller about a woman who appears to have the perfect life, but has a past full of tragedy and secrets.

Governor Charlie Baker Participates in Wreath Laying Ceremony at Yad Vashem

JERUSALEM – Governor Charlie Baker participated yesterday with First Lady Lauren Baker and their son, Charlie Baker Jr., in a Wreath Laying Ceremony at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. Yad Vashem was established in 1953, as the world center for documentation, research, education and commemoration of the Holocaust.  After touring the museum, mission participants gathered in the Hall of Remembrance for a memorial ceremony. The Governor and First Lady lit a flame in remembrance and laid a wreath. At the conclusion of the tour at the Children’s Memorial, the Governor signed a memorial book.

“I was deeply moved by what I saw.  The human horror of the Holocaust must never be forgotten.  On behalf of the people of the Commonwealth, I was honored and humbled to be able to pay respects to the millions of innocent lives taken during this terrible time,”said Governor Charlie Baker. “I am confident the good people of Massachusetts will never forget the memories of those who were lost, and will honor the strength and courage of the survivors who endured unimaginable pain and cruelty. The museum, and the story it tells, stands as a constant reminder that it is up to all of us to promote tolerance, acceptance and human rights.” 

吳新興首訪泰北 台商感謝災後即時相助

僑務委員會委員長吳新興就任後首度拜訪泰北僑社，他向清萊與清邁的僑團及僑校強調，中華民國政府將提供更多、更好的服務。對於日前清邁水患後的台商重建工作，海外信保基金給予即時協助，泰北台商也向吳新興及僑委會表達感謝。

吳新興12日至14日由僑商處處長汪樹華、駐泰代表謝武樵、泰國華僑協會主席余聲清、僑務諮詢委員郭修敏、僑務委員黃正男、謝坤龍及張冠昌等人陪同，首度拜訪泰北僑社。他向堅定支持中華民國的清萊與清邁雲南會館表示，僑務政策秉持一貫性及持續性，政府與僑委會將對全球僑胞提供更多的服務，同時邀請明年會館組團訪台，增進對台灣的認識。

海外僑校長期面臨師資不足，吳新興對此特別提出建構海外僑校志工教師媒合平台的創新作為，讓台灣華語文系所畢業生、待業與退休教師人力資源，能補充僑校師資需求。吳新興13日走訪清萊建華高中、建華中華及華雲學校，與校長及教師座談時也提到，僑委會除將派遣志工教師前往泰北服務，並將邀請泰北華文教師回台培訓，提升教學專業，支持海外僑教健全發展。

吳新興14日在清邁拜訪泰北台商會，台商會理監事向吳新興表示，成員大多從事農業，而泰北9月遭逢水患，有台商因此遭受大規模損害，特地出席感謝僑委會與海外信保基金的即時協助，讓受災台商取得災後重建專案貸款信用保證，紓解資金需求，儘速重建。吳新興歡迎台商及鄉親與僑委會保持聯繫、攜手合作。

波士頓市議員林乃肯提案徵買酒稅2%

Substance abuse services resource initiative

On December 14, 2016, Councilor Linehan and co-sponsor Councilor Baker will pull docket #0157, an order for a Home Rule Petition to create a tax on the sale of alcohol on and off premise at 2% of the sale price. These funds would be directed specifically for addiction and substance abuse programs and services targeting the areas of prevention, intervention and treatment. An estimated $20,000,000 could be generated from this levy. Addiction and substance abuse services are sorely underfunded and everyday the axe falls that cuts funding even further. The crisis grows while resources shrink, therefore the Boston City Council is perched to lead in the challenge to fight addiction and its impacts on the City of Boston,

The impacts of addiction permeates throughout many services delivery efforts. Departments such as the Police, Fire, Health Commission, Schools, Courts and hospitals are all burdened by the impacts of addiction and substance abuse. One addict can activate a response from all of the above mentioned delivery systems; in Boston, the total costs related to these services is tens of millions of dollars each year. Alcohol related abuse is cause for more than 50% of the service delivery target at substance abuse which is more than all other substances combined.

The personal toll to the addicted is just one facet of addiction. Young people miss school and suffer academically with such impacts in their home. Police are burdened with breaking and entering, shoplifting, and the organized crime associated with the sale of illicit drugs and the violence associated with the abuse of alcohol. Fire and EMS respond to an ever growing load of calls for emergencies related to addiction and substance abuse including overdoses and deaths.  Hospital emergency rooms are the place where the injured and ill seek treatment. Our courts and jails are overburden with this one public policy nightmare. Additionally, if we effectively treat addiction and its impacts will be felt across the board, homeless shelters will dwindle in size and residents will become productive citizens.

This is an extremely progressive tax, that creates resources to fight addiction in the City of Boston. The cost savings clearly  outweighs the cost of the levy. It is virtually an investment in efficiency and effectiveness.

When a couple goes to dinner in Boston they might spend $125 on dinner and drinks with meals tax and gratuity included; $35 of the bill is alcohol, then add the 2% and the cost is $125.70. The extra 2% tax we pay is not as significant as the lives we can save and change. There is no sales tax specifically for alcohol in Massachusetts. The repeal of the tax in 2010 was overwhelmingly defeated in Boston (65% to 35%).  Alcohol excise tax in Massachusetts ranks 33rd in US.

The initiatives supported by this tax will include; recovery outreach workers deployed on the streets of Boston, 24/7 and  available at all times to help assist in placement of individuals needing treatment,  investment in technology to help coordinate resources, court, detox, emergency rooms, available beds,counciling etc.. Millions for housing at long term stay facilities proven successful in the fight against addiction. Gap funding for locally-certified LICSW, LADC-1 therapists, to address the shortage due to short falls in insurance restrictions, prevention programs funding where resources have dried up completely.

Eight members of the Boston delegation at the State House have signed a letter supporting this the Home Rule Petition.  In addition, the UniteHere Local 26 hotel workers union has also written a letter of support. Letters are attached.

Councilors Linehan and Baker will be available for press inquires at 10:00 AM for approximately 45 minutes in the Piemonte Room on the fifth floor of City Hall tomorrow December 14,2016 before the Council Meeting at noon.

Contact:  Jack Kelly  © 617.669.4657

波士頓華埠社區中心和邦克丘社區學院合作"一華埠" 獲45萬元資助

BCNC and BHCC Receive funding from ArtPlace America’s 2016 National Creative Placemaking Fund

BOSTON, December 13, 2016 –ArtPlace America announced that the One Chinatown project, a collaboration between Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) and Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC), will receive funding through its National Creative Placemaking Fund in 2016. Twenty-nine projects were chosen, from almost 1400 applications, to receive $11 million in funding.

ArtPlace America’s National Creative Placemaking Fund is a highly competitive national program – funding 2% of initial applications – that invests money in communities across the country in which artists, arts organizations, and arts and culture activity will help drive community development change in the sectors of agriculture and food; economic development; education and youth; environment and energy; health, housing; immigration; public safety; transportation; or workforce development.

“Creative Placemaking seeks the full and robust integration of arts, culture, and community-engaged design into the decisions that define the ebb and flow of community life. These grant recipients embody what this looks like at its most effective best,” said Rip Rapson, president and CEO of The Kresge Foundation and Chair of the ArtPlace President’s Council. “The sheer volume of applications for these grants suggests the growing updraft of creative placemaking efforts throughout the nation.”

“We are absolutely thrilled to be adding this dynamic set of projects to our portfolio this year,” says F. Javier Torres, Director of National Grantmaking. “The thoughtful and innovative strategies in this year’s projects are truly indicative of the vital role that artists and arts and culture organizations play in strengthening local policy, and the social, physical, and economic fabric of communities.”

The complete list of the 2016 projects for ArtPlace’s National Creative Placemaking Fund may be found here.

BCNC will receive a total grant of $450,000 over the next three years for “One Chinatown” – a community-based center for arts developed in partnership with Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) –  the state’s largest and most affordable community college – slated to open in January 2017.

“I am humbled to be a part of this project, because I believe it is important for this moment in history,” said Giles Li, Executive Director of BCNC. “One Chinatown represents coming together during hard times. Two disparate communities who both live in Chinatown belong here. Two different types of institutions can show the world a new kind of relationship is possible between a neighborhood and a college. We are building a space for all people – poor and rich, young and old, immigrant and native-Bostonian – that supports a vision for a united Chinatown, city, and world.”

“BHCC is proud to partner with BCNC in the creation of One Chinatown,” said BHCC President Pam Eddinger. “This initiative perfectly aligns with our goal of providing culturally-inclusive education to all students.”

One Chinatown leverages the assets of both BCNC and BHCC, as well as other community partners, to build connections between the low-income immigrant community typical of Chinatown and the growing population of urbanites, who have moved to the neighborhood in recent years. One Chinatown will engage residents of Chinatown in a public conversation about challenges and pathways to good community health and emotional well-being in an age of rapid gentrification.

Located on Parcel 24, a piece of land that was returned to the Chinatown community 50 years after it was suddenly taken away, the 5,000 square-foot One Chinatown will feature a studio theater, gallery, classrooms, and community sp

ace.