Linux Expo of Southern California (d/b/a LinuxFests) provides educational programs around Linux, Open Source and free software.

Linux Expo Of Southern California

Transformative Computer Science education for ALL.

We are a nonprofit organization committed to ensuring that all K-6 students have the opportunity to engage in a transformative Computer Science Education.


9 Dots

Further Health helps you advance amazing biomedical research that are reshaping how people live healthier for longer.

Further Health focuses on advancing the most incredible biomedical research efforts that make it possible for people to enjoy healthier lives for longer.

Your donations help our team expand public awareness and advance scientific understanding on how to prevent and reverse diseases, injuries, and disorders using next-generation treatments.

Further Health, Inc.

Dedicated to the treatment and ultimate cure of Multiple Sclerosis. All proceeds raised benefits our Center Without Walls program.

The Race to Erase MS is dedicated to the treatment and ultimate cure of MS. Funding research is the core focus of the Foundation and all funds raised support our Center Without Walls program, a selected network of the nation's top MS research centers. This nationwide collaboration of physicians and scientists are on the cutting-edge of innovative research programs, working as a team on therapeutic approaches to eradicate MS. In addition to combating MS through research in a clinical environment, we hope to increase awareness by educating the public about this mystifying disease.

Our Race to Erase MS event is the core fundraising component to support our mission and our Center Without Walls (CWW) program. The Center is a break-through success because of the vision, insight and flexibility of these extraordinary doctors. The Center's theme is simple; communication - doctors working together toward a mutual goal. The Center’s network of the top MS institutions that have established leading, innovative research programs presently include UCLA, Cedar-Sinai, UCSF, Harvard, Yale, USC, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins and Oregon Health Sciences University. Direct quotes from doctors below on the need of our program in the research community:

“For years Race to Erase MS foundation has fostered collaborative efforts and supported many research projects between the participating centers. Equally important, in my opinion, is the support from the foundation to actually train and retain a new generation of young MS experts, thus preparing the future of MS research that will lead to a cure.” - Daniel Pelletier, M.D, Professor, Neurology and Diagnostic Radiology Departments, Chief, Neuro-Immunology Division and Yale Multiple Sclerosis Center, Director, Advanced Imaging in Multiple Sclerosis (AIMS) Laboratory

“The Race to erase MS has been instrumental in supporting the Johns Hopkins MS Center’s effort to both understand the basic mechanisms underlying progressive MS and to develop new and better therapies for the disease.” “The junior faculty award has helped launch the careers of several bright young physician scientists who frequently collaborate with others in the group” – Peter Calabresi M.D., Professor of Neurology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Director of the Johns Hopkins Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Center and the Division of Neuroimmunology and Neuroinfectious

Primary Objectives of our Center Without Walls Program:
Our Center Without Walls (CWW) program has provided support that has permitted the medical community to link together multidisciplinary scientific programs and expertise across the country to advance the understanding of the cause of MS and to develop new treatments. The Center constantly strives to strengthen this revolutionary concept with new approaches to finding the brightest minds in this field. The Center’s Scientific Advisory Board, spearheaded by Dr. Jack Antel, annually reviews proposals and grants, submitted in standard NIH format. In addition to the regular use of high-technology communication tools, researchers of CWW come together to share scientific accomplishments through monthly virtual meetings, standard scientific advisory meetings and symposiums.

In research supported by the Race to Erase MS, truly revolutionary breakthroughs in genetics and immunology have been made possible at the CWW. These breakthroughs create the potential for the development of more effective drugs against multiple sclerosis and give promise for a cure in the near future.

Specific Need Addressed by our Program:
The program goal for Center Without Walls (CWW) is to award seed grants to Young Investigators at MS research institutes as well as support Pilot Projects in basic science and clinical research. Our Race to Erase MS Scientific Advisory Board is dedicated to funding the best and the brightest young researchers who are passionate about finding a cure for multiple sclerosis. Many brilliant minds are lost to private practice as funding is difficult to access as a young investigator. Through seed grants awarded by Race to Erase MS, we can help guarantee that the most cutting-edge research continues to thrive in the field of MS. The pilot grants are meant to support creative and novel research so preliminary data are acquired that can be used toward securing larger funding to confirm and expand findings. The goal of these grants is to award innovative pilot research projects in basic science and clinical research submitted by Investigators at participating MS research institutes and their collaborators. A sample testimonial below:

Young Investigator Study:
Tarun Singhal, M.B.B.S., M.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Associate Neurologist, Partners Multiple Sclerosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital
"The CWW program has meant a lot to my academic progress as it was my first extramural grant (grant from outside of my parent institutions), which enabled me to realize my lifelong vision of pursuing a career combining clinical practice with scientific investigation and being at the forefront of advancement of knowledge for improving patient care. I truly appreciate the dedication of ‘Race to Erase MS’ team towards MS research that has helped numerous young investigators like myself launch their careers and contribute towards understanding of MS and improve care for MS patients."

Evaluation Methodology:
Grants will be awarded to Young Investigators which will be selected by an open application process reviewed and approved by our Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Each grant awarded will be a 75K award per year with a two (2) year commitment. An annual report must be submitted at the end of the first year and is subjective to approval by the SAB to receive the second installment of $75K.

CWW grant recipients from the previous year will be considered first in the application process for a Young Investigator award. Each year each CWW center will be asked to submit one to two Young Investigators for consideration. Application will require a brief project proposal (2 pages including research plan and some preliminary data, references not included), short budget proposal (e.g. salary, tech, imaging - % not restricted), other support and NIH Biosketch, lay summary (half page) and a cover letter from candidate and letter of support from the site CWW PI outlining local Center support and plans. Review by the SAB will determine who will be selected to receive funding based on the perceived quality of the individual applicant and submitted research proposal. Applications are submitted yearly around December 1st for a funding period starting the following July.

Grants will be awarded to Investigators (Pilot Studies) which will be selected by an open application process reviewed and approved by our Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Application will require a brief project proposal (2 pages for research plan and preliminary data, references not included), short budget proposal (e.g. salary, tech, imaging), other support and NIH Biosketch, and lay summary (half page). Review by the SAB will determine who will be selected to receive funding based on the perceived quality of the submitted research proposal. Applications are submitted yearly around December 1st for a funding period starting the following July.
 

 


Race to Erase MS

Celebrating the power of Space to bring the world together, educating and developing the next generation of explorers.

The mission of The SpaceKind Foundation (and associated projects Yuri's Night, Cosmic Odyssey Scholarship, AstroAccess) is to use the excitement and inspiration of space as a catalyst for educating and developing the next generation of explorers. We fulfill this mission through a commitment to empowering leaders, building communities, bridging cultures, encouraging science literacy, and promoting a sustainable and peaceful future. We are also launching a massive movement to get 50 million people to stand in the path of totality for the total eclipse of the sun on Mon April 8, 2024 in a 100 mile wide band from Mazatlan, Mexico to Montreal Canada to LOOK UP. The sight of the sun completely blocked by the moon, letting the stars shine in the middle of the afternoon, is breathtaking and worth driving a few states to see. I hope you will join us! www.eclipsefest.org

The SpaceKind Foundation

The Kodi Foundation is the non-profit organization that oversees and operates the Kodi media centre project. 

The Kodi Foundation handles all financial items as well as IP and trademark related issues and enquiries. Generally it covers all of the back-office and administrative aspects of the project, as a rule of thumb it handles everything but the code.

Kodi Foundation

Enovant is a nonprofit organization focused on community development. It is based in Irvine, CA. It received its nonprofit status in 2012.

Enovant

Conservation from Ridge to Reef  --- Conservación de los Altos hasta los Arrecifes

We aim to restore and protect the endangered dry tropical forest and coastal ecosystems of Mesoamerica's Pacific Slope.

Our innovative approach protects biodiversity where people already live. By working with local communities, landowners, and partner organizations, we restore and protect the habitats that form building blocks for wildlife corridors.

We began developing our first corridor in 2005 in Nicaragua’s Paso del Istmo Biological Corridor. In 2018, we began working in El Salvador as well. By strengthening the Paso del Istmo and other corridors across a region-wide network, we will reconnect people and wildlife across western Mesoamerica — with your support.

Paso Pacifico

A unique and transformational public charter school focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

Since 2015, the public charter school Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts (OCASA) has carried out its mission to place an emphasis on the academic, social and physical development in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM). We believe high-quality, accessible, and equitable education is a human right. As the world around us evolves and advances, so must our schools, who are teaching the future leaders of our communities, states, and nation. STEAM skills are in high demand. As stated recently by the U.S. Department of Education STEM Department, to create a nation where our future leaders, neighbors, and workers can understand and solve some of the complex challenges of today and tomorrow, and to meet the demands of the dynamic and evolving workforce, building students' skills, content knowledge, and literacy in STEAM fields is essential.

About OCASA
OCASA operates under four guiding principles of teaching and learning: 
1.	Every child is unique; 
2.	We learn by doing; 
3.	A commitment to equality and diversity is vital; and
4.	A thriving community nurtures thriving students. 

We serve approximately 500 students annually across two campuses in Orange County, California: OCASA Elementary serves students K-5th grade in Laguna Niguel, and OCASA College Prep offers 6-10th grade classes (eventually to 12th grade) in San Juan Capistrano. Both OCASA campuses offer unique and innovative curriculum designed to help youth launch a STEAM-focused future. Through STEAM education, students are empowered to be curious learners who seek creative solutions to questions they can’t just search for online, leading students to develop the soft and hard skills necessary to succeed in college and in their careers. Additionally, our schools provide an environment that is welcoming of students and their families to learn in harmony favoring a multi-cultural spirit and awareness of the world we live in.

At OCASA, all classes are single-grade level. In addition, each student is assigned a mentor and a Self-Directed Learning (SDL) period to work on individual goals, group projects, and teacher-directed workshops. One-to-one mentoring is one of the important pillars of instruction at OCASA College Prep as we know how important it is for children to be truly connected with and cared for by the adults at their school. All students are paired with a mentor who acts as their advocate both inside and outside of the classroom. Mentors meet with their students one-on-one regularly to support their students in their progress towards their short-term and long-term academic and personal goals. The educational program at OCASA College Prep utilizes instructional practices that are proven to promote student learning. Teachers and administrators develop and implement an innovative educational model that addresses the needs of the whole child and emphasizes academic, personal, social, and emotional development.

OCASA Elementary and OCASA College Prep offer all required courses at each grade level including Math, English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Physical Education. In addition, we have a number of specialty classes that vary by grade level and campus such as fine arts, music, engineering, design & modeling, computer science, and Spanish. Both OCASA campuses are classroom-based, personalized learning schools. The goal is to provide adaptable instruction to each student regardless of their age or grade-level.

What OCASA Aims to Solve 
The pandemic created an unprecedented educational rupture, the ramifications of which could last a lifetime. Although schools have adapted to our new reality as rapidly as possible, without continued adaption, the cumulative learning loss among already disadvantaged students can be catastrophic, especially in mathematics: Students of color may find themselves six months to an entire year behind.  In addition to the imminent threat of unprecedented learning loss to contend with, there is also a looming potential for equally unprecedented dropout rates. Exit from public school systems is occurring to different degrees, but the biggest drop may be at the starting point in kindergarten.  The lack of a kindergarten experience can have profound developmental impacts influencing later academic performance and even long-term life outcomes.  Especially given that early STEAM interventions are key to capturing interest and nurturing STEAM identities that can lead, this trend of kindergarten departures is especially alarming.

Compounding this, despite the perennial growth of lucrative STEM professions, gaps in STEM labor force participation remain just as persistent— the World Economic Forum has detailed a troubling skills shortage that will require 50% of all employees to reskill by 2025.  Even still, low-income students, girls, and students of color overwhelmingly fall into the gap between their STEM education and a STEM workforce with increasingly vacant positions. 
Notably, research shows that racial/ethnic minority students tend to take fewer high-level STEM courses in high school compared to White students, despite showing similar levels of interest and confidence in STEM topics —nurturing a STEM Identity among groups historically underrepresented in STEM fields and professions, therefore, is critical to accessing this interest and confidence, countering stereotypes that preclude STEM identification, and confronting the systemic inequities that consistently keep BIPOC students, girls, and low-income students out of STEM fields and lucrative, available workforce pathways.

OCASA’s STEAM Education 
In the short-term, OCASA aims to remedy the educational rupture brought on by COVID-19. In the long-term, OCASA will meet the ever-changing needs of the community with an innovative, new school model that provides families with greater options for their children’s education. Students’ level of exposure to STEAM in K–12 is a critical reason why they choose to or don’t choose pursue STEAM fields during their college education. Elementary public school students spend very little time on science, and the state sets a very low passing score on its 8th-grade science test.

At OCASA, our STEAM learning involves looking at our world through a multicultural lens in STEAM, as well as a Spanish culture and language program. Each class meets two days a week, with all STEAM+ electives striving to be hands-on, with innovative lessons tied to other subject areas and our Inquiry Arc theme. Inquiry Arcs are discrete units of study that utilize inquiry to drive learning and build students’ agency. They provide broad context and room for exploration around an interdisciplinary theme, and allow students to identify patterns and connections in their learning. Students at OCASA Elementary have meaningful time for tinkering, prototyping, and building through our on-campus lab spaces, as well as resource-rich experiences in music and the arts.

The following represents the impact of OCASA’s unique educational approach:
•	Deliberate practice in the art of short-, medium-, and long-term goal setting supports students’ development.
•	Developing a student’s self-knowledge is a key building block for lifelong learning. 
•	Deep, hands-on exploration of a diverse array of subject areas, professional fields, and work-settings not only helps expose students to new experiences but also develops self- knowledge and supports an emergent sense of purpose.
•	Students with a sense of belonging in school feel socially connected, supported, and respected. They trust their teachers and their peers. They are confident that they are seen as a person of value.
•	In order to achieve their college and career goals, students need an understanding of the transition to the college and career landscape including, but not limited to, practical, financial, and logistical requirements and admission processes. 

Technology is a part of daily instruction and contributes to the application-based approach to learning. Given the world that we share, we believe that technology proficiency and judgment is critical, and that enables students to explore and propel their learning forward. 
We see our role in the ecosystem of Orange County schools as:
1.	A lab-school focused on experiential learning as well as a test bed to prototype other nontraditional educational approaches;
2.	A thought partner responsible for sharing out best practices and lessons learned, and;
3.	A collaborator working alongside other school leaders in the pursuit of providing all children with an excellent education.

About Donations
OCASA is not a private school. As a public charter school, academic instruction is funded by the State of California. However, we rely on the generosity of the individuals, foundations, businesses and corporations to fund the annual cost of our programs, scholarships, afterschool services and community outreach programs. OCASA does not charge tuition and admits all students who wish to attend unless it receives a greater number of applications than there are spaces for students, in which case it will hold a public random drawing to determine admission.

Our unique educational approach aims to prepare our diverse and underserved students for an increasingly complex and globalized world. Additionally, OCASA provides a pathway to college and a professional career for low-middle income students who may not have had the opportunity otherwise due to limited resources. Donations would allow OCASA to continue to offer its award winning STEAM curriculum to any student, regardless of income, background and residency/school district. Together, we can ensure that all youth in our community have the opportunity to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.


Orange County Academy of Sciences and Arts

Our MISSION is to put young girls in the driver’s seat of their future STEM career in design, engineering, fabrication, business.


When you support Athena Racing, you are investing in the career success of a young girl with unique talents and giving a voice to the underrepresented girls in STEM. With more than TWO MILLION jobs in STEM going unfilled each year, Athena Racing is the digital education chassis providing skills training beyond the classroom to scale up the talent pipeline of the future.

We empower the young girls who are the “nerds,” the “game-changers,” the “status quo demolishers”.

Our intensive online program gives girls a community of like-minded, design-creating, engineering-thinking, STEM-loving peers. During our online events our students experience a variety of topics, meet outstanding STEM role models, and have new experiences outside of their bubble where they will learn a multitude of skills that will benefit them throughout life.

88 cents of each dollar raised goes directly into our programming. Since our founding in 2019, we have worked with over 900 female students and more than 1500 educators with the assistance of 130 volunteers.

We are “Racing to Build the Future” at Athena Racing through Character, Courage, Confidence, and Continuity Programs that encourage critical thinking, develop needed business assets, and foster connections to peers.

It can be a very daunting task as a young girl knowing that you have the skills and the abilities, but are surrounded by old mindsets and exhaustive biases. It’s time for there to be equal representation in all industries, all work spaces, and around all conference tables.