The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and its California partner Blue Shield of California Foundation (BSCF) are investing $18 million to prevent teen dating violence and abuse. With 11 sites from around the country, the Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships (BHTR) initiative will enable communities to create and evaluate comprehensive models of prevention of this serious public health issue.

With the Thanksgiving season upon us, Walmart today announced that its Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets will partner with Feeding America, the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization, to provide an estimated 90 million pounds of food annually -- the equivalent of 70 million meals -- to families in need by the end of 2009.* Donating nutritious produce, deli meat, beef, chicken, dairy and other groceries directly from its stores, Wal-Mart will become one of Feeding America's largest donors of food.

The Travelers Championship, Connecticut's PGA TOUR event, announced today that the 2008 tournament generated more than $760,000 for charity and produced millions in economic development for the region. The charitable contributions will benefit more than 120 charities throughout the state of Connecticut and represent an increase of more than 15 percent over the tournament's 2007 donation.

Children's Hospital Boston has received a $25 million grant from The Manton Foundation to establish the world's first and only center for research on orphan diseases. The Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research will provide support for eminent Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School scientists to study and develop new diagnoses and treatments of rare diseases, including genetic syndromes, immune system problems and metabolic and neuromuscular disorders.

The College Board seeks applications for the 2009 Inspiration Awards and the Bob Costas Grants for the Teaching of Writing. Applications are available now. Deadlines for both programs are Nov. 21, 2008, 5 p.m. Eastern time.

The Rural Development Institute (RDI), an international non-profit working to secure land rights for the world’s rural poor, has received a $6.7 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to expand its “micro-land ownership” program in India to help landless women and their families achieve food security and escape poverty through access to agricultural services on land as small as 1/10th of an acre.

USDA reported today that 36.2 million Americans, including 12.4 million children, are food insecure. The Study paints a stark picture of the pervasiveness of hunger in our nation. But Feeding America, the nation's leading hunger-relief organization, warns that the actual number of Americans forced to skip meals and survive without adequate nutrition is even greater today, prompting a national appeal for help in feeding hungry men, women and children.

The desire among members of "Generation Y" to help improve the world has sparked a surge in nonprofit management and leadership courses at colleges and universities, the New York Times reports.

Millions will receive Christmas Seals in the mail this month, courtesy of the American Lung Association. These decorative holiday stamps are part of an annual fundraising tradition dating back to 1907 when the Lung Association led efforts to conquer tuberculosis.

Habitat for Humanity celebrates a major milestone today as construction begins on the homebuilding organization's 300,000th house since it was founded in 1976. Habitat volunteers and homeowners are raising the walls of the house as part of the build hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Collier County.