The SBB Research Group Foundation named Alison Witwer as a recipient of its STEM scholarship. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Alison, a junior, studies cellular and molecular biology at Western Washington University. She completed two internships at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and assisted in the Hatch Lab, studying nuclear envelope rupture and repair. Currently, she assists in the Lee Lab at Western Washington University as an undergraduate researcher studying cell abnormalities. “Alison's ambition and drive demonstrates true potential to advance STEM research in molecular biology," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of SBB Research Group Foundation. About the SBB Research Group Foundation The SBB Research Group Foundation was established to further the philanthropic mission of SBB Research Group LLC (SBBRG), a Chicago-based investment management firm. The Foundation sponsors the SBBRG STEM Scholarship, which supports students pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). In addition to its scholarship program, the Foundation provides grants to support ambitious organizations solving unmet needs with thoughtful, long-term strategies. For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation’s STEM scholarship, please visit www.sbbscholarship.org. This story can be found on Yahoo!

The SBB Research Group Foundation recognized three Chicago-area charities as the September 2022 finalists of its monthly grant program supporting impactful nonprofits (in alphabetical order): A Safe Place (Zion) supports domestic violence and human trafficking survivors by providing comprehensive services that meet the immediate and long-term needs of victims and prevent future abuse. Soul Survivors of Chicago (Olympia Fields) offers training, workshops, and speaking engagements to help youth struggling with mental health and trauma. Stevenson Foundation (Lincolnshire) provides Stevenson community students and families with the resources and opportunities they need to reach their highest potential. The Foundation encourages any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to apply for a grant at sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. Donations are awarded to different organizations monthly. This story can be found on PR Web

Peer Plus Education and Training Advocates received a $5,000 grant from the SBB Research Group Foundation, which awards monthly grants to support impactful organizations during the pandemic. Peer Plus Education and Training Advocates provides programs to help educate communities on multitudes of health issues, connecting clinical research and underserved populations. “We are the bridge to support services and resources,” explained Founder Phyllis L. Rodgers, “We want to ensure that our community gets the information they need, and we will walk across that bridge with you if we have to.” The organization aims to dispel fears of ailments and provides support and educational resources for health and social services. Peer Plus Education and Training Advocates also offers additional services, including utilities and medication assistance, transportation services, and referrals for health-related screenings. “Our program addresses the entire person,” stated Rodgers. “We are proud to support the wide array of services provided by the Peer Plus Education and Training Advocates,” said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the foundation. The organization will use the SBB Research Group Foundation grant to support families in need of grief services, utilities, food, rental assistance, medication, transportation, and supplies. For more information about Peer Plus Education and Training Advocates, visit www.peerpluscares.org. The Foundation encourages any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to apply for a grant at sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. Donations are awarded to different organizations monthly. This story can be found on BusinessWire

The SBB Research Group Foundation named Monica Padilla a recipient of its STEM scholarship. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Monica Padilla, a sophomore, studies Public Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Padilla led an initiative to inform and educate the local community on breast cancer clinical studies, leading to a 550% increase in the enrollment of Latinas in a breast cancer research study. She also collected 300 petition signatures in support of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, an initiative that ensures underinsured and uninsured women with free mammograms and cervical exams. She currently serves as president of the Midwest Emerging Leaders Council and a legislative ambassador of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. "Monica's dedication to women's health is admirable, and we're proud to support her in her studies," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation. For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation’s STEM scholarship, please visit www.sbbscholarship.org. This story can be found on PR Web and Yahoo!

The SBB Research Group Foundation invited five prior grant recipients to share updates on their critical efforts to support the local community. The Foundation awarded additional grants to further each of the respective organization's missions (organizations listed alphabetically): Fill A Heart 4 Kids (Lake Forest) provides educational support, necessities, and a sense of community to unaccompanied at-risk homeless youth and foster children in Illinois. The initial grant provided essential school supplies to children in need. Firehouse Community Arts Center (Chicago) aims to reduce violence in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago by engaging with at-risk youth through various arts programs. The initial grant supported the organization's Workforce Development Program, through which young men undergo intensive job training to help develop and achieve long-term career goals. GiveNKind (Mundelein) sources excess goods from manufacturers and distributors and supplies them to local nonprofit organizations. The initial grant supported the organization's Resource Rescue program, which provides over 330 Illinois nonprofit partners with the resources they need to keep their operations and programs. Haven Youth & Family Services (Wilmette) supports mental health wellness in the local community by offering counseling, prevention, intervention, and therapy programs to youth and their families. The initial grant supported Safety Assessments, Individual and Group Therapy, and Community Service Opportunities. In addition, the organization used the funding to provide support services to individuals and families in Highland Park. The Bloc (Chicago) utilizes the sport of boxing to provide academic, social, and emotional support and opportunities to youth in Chicago. The initial grant supported the creation of a Food Club to provide opportunities for youth to learn how to grow and prepare food. We are thankful for the critical work that these five organizations do for the community," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the Foundation. "We are proud to support these organizations and are grateful to continue our partnerships with them." To apply for a grant from the Foundation, please visit sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. New grants are awarded each month and any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is encouraged to apply. This story can be found on Benzinga

The SBB Research Group Foundation named Lily Chen a recipient of its STEM scholarship. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Lily Chen, a sophomore, studies Mathematics and Computer Science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Chen is the founder of REV Analytics, a data solution aimed at increasing the affordability and accessibility of healthcare. She developed several applications, including an iOS app MyMedicationReminder for managing medication for the elderly, a web app for a Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) diagnosis, a COVID-19 tracker for New Jersey, and a therapy buddy app THERAPYEET. Chen also built several Internet of Things solutions for safer transportation and evacuation during crises. In addition to her many tech projects, Chen founded the Girls Who Code club and became the Director of Hacker Experience for the nation’s largest all-girls hackathon TechTogether. “We are so proud to offer a scholarship to a student who is so dedicated to using technology for such good causes," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation. For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation’s STEM scholarship, please visit www.sbbscholarship.org. This story can be found on Yahoo!

The SBB Research Group Foundation named Mandy Chen a recipient of its STEM scholarship. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Mandy Chen, a freshman, studies Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University. In high school, Chen was a leader in the Society for Women Engineers Club. She is also a member of Project Exploration, a nonprofit organization that aims to give students in underserved communities the ability to participate in free STEM programs. "Mandy is an outstanding example of the kind of student we look for when awarding this scholarship. She's shown remarkable dedication to STEM," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation. For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation’s STEM scholarship, please visit www.sbbscholarship.org. This story can be found on PR Web and Yahoo!

The SBB Research Group Foundation recognizes three Chicago-area charities as the June 2022 finalists of its monthly grant program supporting impactful nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic (in alphabetical order): Next Move (Lansing, IL) provides services that support COVID-19 response, education, healthcare equity, violence prevention, and workforce development to minorities, with a focus on Hispanic communities within Chicago, South Suburbs, and Northwest Indiana. Peer Plus Education and Training Advocates (Chicago, IL) partners with health centers, free clinics, local hospitals, and social service agencies to provide culturally sensitive programs to people from underserved populations. The organization focuses on families needing essential health, educational, and psychosocial services. The Dragonfly Foundation (Highland Park, IL) supports children with cancer and their families by partnering with local hospitals to provide support and resources during and after diagnosis and treatment. The Foundation encourages any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to apply for a grant at sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. Donations are awarded to different organizations each month. This story can be found on Benzinga

While many people are familiar with the United States Census every 10 years as mandated by the Constitution, over 100 different surveys are conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau each year. SBB Research Group summarizes vital information from Census.gov about these lesser-known—but significant—surveys in this educational series. The Census of Jails is conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and surveys over 3,000 local jails and 12 Federal Bureau of Prisons that function as jails. Temporary holding facilities and local jails in Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Vermont are excluded from the census. The survey began in 1978 and publishes reports on various topics, including correctional populations, jail inmates, and the impact of COVID on the local jail population. The most recent report is the Census of Jails, 2005-2019 Statistical Tables, which outline national, state, and local trends. The five states with the lowest incarceration rates (inmates per 100,000 state residents) were New Hampshire (103), New York (105), New Jersey (107), Maine (120), and Minnesota (121), all of which saw a decrease from 2005 to 2019. The five states with the highest rates were Louisiana (700), Kentucky (586), Mississippi (482), Tennessee (457), and Georgia (422). Whereas Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky have increased incarceration rates since 2005. A significant majority (65.5%) of the confined inmates in jails across the U.S. await trial or other legal proceedings or are otherwise unconvicted. Note: Excludes data from the Federal Bureau of Prisons detention facilities and the jail and prison systems in Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Census of Jails, 2005 and 2019 Statistical Tables. In a more comprehensive report, the Census of Jails and several other sources published Correctional Populations in the United States, 2020, the authors outline several trends across the entire correctional system (i.e., probation, parole, prison, and jail). Since 2010, there has been a steady decrease in adult individuals supervised by the correctional system — 7,089,000 in 2010 compared with 6,343,300 in 2019. Most adults (70%) under correctional supervision were paroled or on probation, and 30% were incarcerated in local jails and federal prisons. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall correctional population significantly decreased, driven by a drop in probation (-42%), prison (-33%), and local jail (-28%) populations, whereas the parole population had a slight increase of 1.7%. As a result, at the end of 2020, for the first time since 1996, the total number of adults in the correctional system dropped below 5.6 million (from 6,152,800 at the beginning of 2020 to 5,500,600 at the end of 2020). How are These Data Used? The data collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics are used by federal, state, and local governments to examine the efficiency of the correctional system. For example, within Illinois, North Carolina, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Missouri, more than 80% of each state’s inmates in jails were unconvicted. Understanding these data contributes to the development of new policies that address inefficiencies in the judicial system and predict personnel and infrastructure needs for the correctional system. Source: https://bjs.ojp.gov/data-collection/census-jails-coj

The SBB Research Group Foundation named Alissa Morgan a recipient of its STEM scholarship. The $2,500 award empowers students to create value for society by pursuing higher learning through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Alissa Morgan, a junior, studies Computer Science with a concentration in Network and Security at Colorado State University. While at Colorado State, Morgan founded and served as the team captain for Girl Power, the first all-female robotics team to win a Botball Championship. She also co-founded the Noble Community STEM Mentorship Program, which has grown to teach over 250 elementary students and train 15 mentors. "We are so proud to award this scholarship to students like Alissa, who embodies not only a passion for STEM but dedication to extending STEM education to others," said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation. For eligibility criteria and more information on the Foundation’s STEM scholarship, please visit www.sbbscholarship.org. This story can be found on PR Web