Jan 17, 2008

BREAKING NEWS: Google.org doles out more than $26 million

Search giant funds global health threats and other causes

Daily News Staff Report

Google executives today announced the areas where it will focus its charitable giving over the next five to 10 years.

The initiatives include $26 million in funds to several institutions including a think tank in India, Clark University and a Pasadena-based company specializing in solar thermal power and five other organizations and corporations.

The Pasadena firm eSolar received $10 million, the largest portion of the money.

"e-Solar's technology has great potential to produce utility-scale power cheaper than coal," according to the prepared statement released Thursday by Google.org, the search engine's philanthropic arm.

Five million dollars is going to a group called InSTEDD, which aims to improve early detection and response capabilities for global health threats.

It creates technology for governments and others to respond and prepare for global health emergencies.

Some of the other beneficiaries include:

-$4.7 million to TechnoServe, which will in part support entrepreneurs in Ghana and Tanzania.

-$2.5 million to Global Health and Security Initiative, which prevents, detects and responds to biological threats.

-$2 million to Pratham, a non-governmental organization in India for the creation of an independent institute to conduct a nationwide annual status of education report.

-$765,000 to Bangalore-based analysis group Centre for Budget and Policy Studies, designed to help local governments facilitate better local planning in India.