Impact Series – Page 3 of 13

Inside Bill Gates’ multi-faceted org that wants to help save the world from climate destruction

by Lisa Stiffler on April 9, 2022April 9, 2022 at 8:49 am

It started with a November 2015 announcement by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates along with Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and more than two dozen other tech titans and billionaires.… Read More

First-of-its-kind stormwater ‘heat map’ lights up pollutants fouling waters in Washington state

by Lisa Stiffler on April 4, 2022April 4, 2022 at 8:48 am

The COVID-19 pandemic has made us familiar with the idea of a deadly threat that spreads invisibly. Polluted stormwater has a similar modus operandi. Rainfall washes toxic chemicals from roadways,… Read More

Seattle tech workers with Ukrainian roots help build website to ease donation process for aid groups

by Kurt Schlosser on March 19, 2022March 20, 2022 at 2:20 pm

The prospect of sending money to somehow help Ukraine deal with the mounting consequences of the Russian invasion can seem overwhelming. Where to donate? How to donate? Who to trust?… Read More

Team behind high-tech murder hornet trackers finds softer inspiration in dandelion seeds

by Lisa Stiffler on March 16, 2022March 16, 2022 at 9:47 am

Thanks to its feathery fluff, a dandelion seed riding the wind can cover more than half a mile. While disheartening for many gardeners, this marvel of passive travel was an… Read More

Amazon allocates $42.5M to build 318 affordable apartments near Seattle area light rail stations

by Lisa Stiffler on March 15, 2022March 15, 2022 at 10:52 am

Amazon on Tuesday announced that it has allocated $42.5 million to help pay for the construction of 318 affordable apartments near two light rail stations in the greater Seattle area.… Read More

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Tech conveniences that many take for granted finally reach people experiencing poverty

by Lisa Stiffler on March 14, 2022March 14, 2022 at 4:02 pm

COVID-19 caused society to re-envision how we shop, work and interact. But some of those changes, such as improved and expanded conveniences such as grocery shopping online and widespread use… Read More

‘It’s just astronomical’: Soaring fentanyl deaths help spur tech solutions for combating the opioid

by Lisa Stiffler on February 28, 2022February 28, 2022 at 9:59 am

Nationally, fentanyl-related overdoses are the leading cause of death for Americans age 18 to 45. The drug killed almost twice as many people in this age group compared to automobile… Read More

Native American tribes, wild cat conservation groups use tech to help study and save cougars

by Lisa Stiffler on February 21, 2022February 21, 2022 at 7:13 am

A young cougar is hardwired to leave mom and venture out to establish a new territory. But cougars born on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula have limited options. Interstate 5 runs the… Read More

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Kids are non-consenting stars of some family ‘vlogs’ — and a high schooler wants to change that

by Lisa Stiffler on February 15, 2022March 16, 2023 at 11:42 am

In the most wholesome scenarios, social media allows families to connect with friends and loved ones, sharing their kids’ milestones, as well as snapshots of daily life. Or it can… Read More

Carbon Call: Microsoft among organizations joining effort to bolster accounting of CO2 emissions

by Lisa Stiffler on February 10, 2022February 10, 2022 at 5:48 am

More than 683 companies, 136 countries and 234 cities have made pledges to reach net-zero carbon emissions. But for those goals to mean anything, all of these corporations and governments… Read More

How an early snafu nearly sank a nonprofit startup that went on to enable $51M in charitable gifts

by Lisa Stiffler on February 5, 2022February 5, 2022 at 12:27 pm

“If this was an ordinary tech startup being done just for the money,” Erik Marks said, “this would have been put in the grave in ‘08.” But TisBest isn’t, so… Read More

Amazon and Microsoft led the world in corporate purchases of clean energy in 2021

by Lisa Stiffler on February 1, 2022May 16, 2022 at 8:34 pm

Seattle-area tech giants Amazon and Microsoft were global leaders in clean energy power purchase agreements made by corporations last year. Amazon held the top spot for the second year in… Read More

Seattle Colleges and Amazon create new opportunity for computer science degrees

by Lisa Stiffler on January 29, 2022January 29, 2022 at 9:11 am

The pressing need for more computer science graduates combined with tech companies’ pledges to build more racially and ethnically diverse workforces are teeing up a new solution: Empower two-year colleges… Read More

Microsoft shares updates on its $750M affordable housing effort as homelessness crisis continues

by Lisa Stiffler on January 20, 2022January 24, 2022 at 10:57 am

Roughly 9,200 affordable housing units are being preserved or created in the greater Seattle area thanks to an initiative launched by Microsoft three years ago. An additional 19,000 households have… Read More

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Assistive tech startup led by former NASA engineer uses an AI ‘parrot’ to help people with disabilities

by Charlotte Schubert on January 19, 2022January 19, 2022 at 7:42 am

David Hojah is a former NASA engineer, but his real passion is healthcare. Growing up, he saw his family members taking care of his aunt, who had multiple sclerosis, and… Read More

Fighting food waste: We taste-tested an app that sells unsold meals and groceries at a big discount

by Lisa Stiffler on January 15, 2022January 18, 2022 at 11:14 am

I’ll admit, I definitely have food waste issues. Four nights out of five, I’m eating the last, unwanted bites of my kid’s dinner so they’re not composted. The shabby heels… Read More

Jeff Bezos’ Montessori-inspired free preschools will expand to Texas and Florida

by Lisa Stiffler on January 11, 2022January 13, 2022 at 9:23 am

With five Bezos Academy preschools up and running in Washington state, the organization announced this week that it will be opening additional schools this year in Texas and Florida. The… Read More

How climate concerns and incentives are driving solar installations on Washington roofs

by Lisa Stiffler on December 18, 2021May 16, 2022 at 8:39 pm

When Erin Bryn Fetridge and Ron Darling decided to put 20 solar panels on their roof this fall, one key motivator drove the decision. “We want to have less of… Read More

AWS vets lead new startup that aims to connect workers with nonprofits through ‘volunteerism’

by Lisa Stiffler on December 17, 2021December 16, 2021 at 10:08 pm

Since early 2020, the workplace has been turned upside down. First came COVID-19 work-from-home policies that isolated workers. Then the Great Resignation revealed widespread employee dissatisfaction. The founders of Portland,… Read More

Microsoft reports investments in banks, funds and other programs supporting Black-owned companies

by Lisa Stiffler on December 14, 2021December 14, 2021 at 10:39 am

Microsoft on Tuesday shared an update on its work to promote racial equity in the U.S. by investing in and working with Black and African American led financial institutions, suppliers… Read More

Bezos Earth Fund awards $443M in grants, focus is on climate justice, saving and restoring nature

by Lisa Stiffler on December 6, 2021May 16, 2022 at 8:41 pm

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos announced 44 grants totaling $443 million from the Bezos Earth Fund on Monday. The new pledges bring the total amount allocated to $1.39 billion since the… Read More

Study: Kids stereotype tech as being for boys and not girls – but not for the reason you might expect

by Lisa Stiffler on November 29, 2021November 29, 2021 at 11:22 am

New research from the University of Washington and the University of Houston found that gender stereotypes around computer science and engineering for kids can start in first grade and stretch… Read More

Jeff Bezos gives Obama Foundation $100M, names plaza in honor of late Congressman John Lewis

by Lisa Stiffler on November 22, 2021November 22, 2021 at 10:24 am

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is giving $100 million to the Obama Foundation, the organization that’s building the former president’s library — called the Obama Presidential Center — and that has… Read More

Nonprofits accept cryptocurrency as Bitcoin and Ether values spike – is it a fad or the next frontier?

by Lisa Stiffler on November 22, 2021November 22, 2021 at 8:45 am

As the values of Bitcoin and Ether are hovering near record highs, America’s nonprofits are in the peak months of their annual fundraising. Some charitable organizations are hoping to bring… Read More

AWS launches Skills Center in Seattle, boosts efforts to give free cloud training to 29M people

by Lisa Stiffler on November 18, 2021November 23, 2021 at 9:14 am

Amazon on Thursday is opening the doors to its first Amazon Web Services Skills Center in downtown Seattle. The 8,000-square-foot space is a sort of science center for grownups with… Read More

Bezos’ Day 1 Families Fund awards $96M in grants to 32 organizations helping homeless families

by Lisa Stiffler on November 17, 2021November 17, 2021 at 2:14 pm

Jeff Bezos’ Day 1 Families Fund on Wednesday announced the latest round of grantees who are working to help U.S. families experiencing homelessness. The fund is issuing $96.2 million to… Read More

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Microsoft, Boeing and Rubens family pledge new funds to Washington State Opportunity Scholarship

by Todd Bishop on November 9, 2021November 9, 2021 at 12:18 pm

Marking its 10th anniversary Tuesday morning, the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship said it received new funding commitments totaling $30 million from three of its original supporters, Microsoft, Boeing, and Gary… Read More

$10B Bezos Earth Fund earmarks $2B for land restoration and food production efforts

by Lisa Stiffler on November 1, 2021May 16, 2022 at 8:43 pm

As the United Nation’s COP26 climate talks in Glasgow kicked off this week, the Bezos Earth Fund on Monday announced its plans for $2 billion of the $10 billion fund:… Read More

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Armed with a paddle and a GoPro, entrepreneur aims to create ‘Street View’ of Puget Sound

by Lisa Stiffler on November 1, 2021May 16, 2022 at 8:44 pm

We’ve all indulged in a little voyeuristic spying and exploration using Google Maps’ Street View, peering at homes and other landmarks. Brian Footen is creating a similar experience for shorelines… Read More

Seattle-area maritime high school sets sail with support from tech luminaries Bezos and McCaw

by Lisa Stiffler on October 20, 2021October 20, 2021 at 4:28 pm

The Bezos Family Foundation and the McCaw family are putting some wind in the sails of the newly launched Maritime High School. The two Seattle-area tech families are donating to… Read More