Eesha Khare, an 18-year-old student at Lynbrook High School in California received the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award of $50,000. With the rapid adoption of portable electronics, Eesha recognized the crucial need for energy-efficient storage devices.

Eesha Khare triumphed over 1,600 other finalists from more than 70 countries on May 17 at the 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held in Phoenix, Ariz.

“I will be setting the world on fire,”  Eesha Khare, 18, of Saratoga, California told CBS San Francisco.

She developed a tiny device that fits inside cell phone batteries, allowing them to fully charge within 20-30 seconds. Eesha’s invention also has potential applications for car batteries.

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Joanne Gassman, Senior Vice President, BC & Yukon Division and Derral Moriyama, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Western Canada from BMO Bank of Montreal

At the members’ sneak peek event on May 15, BMO Financial Group, represented by Joanne Gassman, senior vice president, BC & Yukon Division of BMO Bank of Montreal, announced its donation of $750,000 to the Vancouver Aquarium.

As Canada’s largest aquarium, the Vancouver Aquarium has inspired and engaged over 40 million people around the globe for an amazing 57 years. The Aquarium’s extensive conservation, research and education programs have grown over the years, as have its interpretive programs and interactive gallery experiences, making the Vancouver Aquarium a leader in aquatic engagement and conservation awareness.

The current revitalization will enable the Aquarium to connect even more people to our natural world, inspiring the change needed to protect our aquatic habitats. With 34,000 square feet of additional public space, new and engaging galleries and a distinctive new entrance plaza, the Aquarium will continue to shine as Vancouver’s top cultural institution.

“This immense revitalization project requires the help of our community and, on behalf of our staff and volunteers, we warmly welcome BMO as our newest community partner in helping to conserve aquatic life,” says Dr. John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO. “In recognition of this generous gift of $750,000, the Aquarium has dedicated its latest feature, Jelly Invasion, to BMO with a stunning display called the BMO Jellyfish Bloom.”

As a non-profit society, partnerships like this are vital to the conservation, research and education efforts of the Aquarium. BMO’s generous donation enables the Aquarium to move one step closer to completing its revitalization, and further advance its conservation efforts.

“BMO Financial Group is very proud to play a major part in the Vancouver Aquarium’s revitalization,” said Joanne Gassman, senior vice president, BC & Yukon, BMO Bank of Montreal. “This is BMO’s largest cultural donation in British Columbia, which is a source of great pride for our employees. We are pleased to support a community partner, such as the Vancouver Aquarium, which plays a leadership role in conservation, research and education, both locally and globally.”

The BMO Jellyfish Bloom display is part of the Aquarium’s newest feature Jelly Invasion, which opened yesterday. Stepping into the Aquarium, visitors are greeted by thousands of stunning jellies from the lion’s mane jelly, which can grow tentacles up to 60 metres long, to the “gardener” upside-down jelly. Not only are jellies mesmerizing, they’re also fascinating animals that continue to amaze scientists. With no brain, bones, or heart, they are incredibly adept at finding food, reproducing, and protecting themselves. At Jelly Invasion, visitors also learn about jelly blooms, which are unusually large groups of jellies that can have negative impacts on surrounding environments. Like too much or too little of anything, jelly blooms can throw nature out of balance.

From Jelly Invasion to African penguins, there continues to be new and exciting reasons to visit the Aquarium especially during its revitalization. Moreover, every visitor to the Aquarium directly contributes to its conservation efforts through gallery admission, helping the non-profit Aquarium further its mission.

This transformation will build on the Aquarium’s foundation as a marine science centre and extend its reach in engaging people to the issues our oceans face today. The Aquarium thanks BMO for joining its commitment to aquatic conservation.

The Vancouver Aquarium is a non-profit society dedicated to the conservation of aquatic life www.vanaqua.org.

In 2012, BMO contributed more than $87.6 million in donations, sponsorships and events in Canada and the United States to groups, organizations and programs that help build and sustain resilient, vital and healthy communities. www.bmo.com.

@GM Foundation Pledges $500,000 to Help Victims of Texas Tornadoes

The funds will be used to help restore neighborhoods devastated by Wednesday’s storms.

“Helping Texas residents rebuild and repair their homes is a critical priority for Habitat for Humanity International in the aftermath of the recent tornadoes,” said Selim Bingol, vice president, GM Global Communications and Public Policy and Chairman of the GM Foundation. “Through the $500,000 grant from the GM Foundation and the recently donated Chevrolet Express Vans, we are helping the organization immediately provide financial and other important resources to those in need.”

Habitat for Humanity is assessing the impact on affordable housing in the affected areas and will assist with clean up, repairs and new construction efforts.

In addition to GM Foundation’s donation, Chevrolet donated 24 Chevrolet Express vans in 2012, creating the organization’s first-ever fleet of mobile response units. With their work behind them, some of the mobile response units are making their way from Superstorm Sandy-affected areas to Hood, Johnson, Montague, Parker and Wise counties to assist in recovery efforts. The vans are filled with tools and equipment from Lowe’s and Robert Bosch Tool Corporation

The GM Foundation’s support of Habitat for Humanity in 2013 also includes a $1 million grant for neighborhood revitalization efforts in 12 U.S. cities, including Arlington and Austin, Texas, where teamGM Cares volunteers will be deployed this year.

“From leadership giving and corporate gifts to much-needed vehicles and volunteers to assist with recovery efforts, Dan Akerson, the GM Foundation and Chevrolet are leading the way to help families rebuild their lives,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International. “This latest pledge will help the residents of impacted Texas communities come home again.”

In 2012, GM’s Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson and his wife, Karin, provided a $1 million personal gift to Habitat for Humanity’s “Leaders to ReBuild Detroit” initiative.

The GM Foundation’s support of Texas also includes a recent $100,000 grant to the Red Cross to aid emergency management officials with relief efforts in West, Texas. The GM Foundation also donates annually to the American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program to ensure the organization has funds to provide immediate relief when disaster strikes.

For more information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

Vince Young will graduate from Texas (USA Today Sports Images)

NFL Free agent Vince Young was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2006 NFL draft.

“This will rank No. 1 because it is what I came to school for” and ”I came here to get an education, and to win a national championship”  And now, I get to put that smile on my mom’s face,” NFL Free agent Vince Young said.

Vince Young was a two-year starter for the Longhorns before declaring for the NFL draft following the 2005 season. Vince Young worked out for NFL talent evaluators at Texas’ pro day in March, has yet to receive an offer.

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NEW YORK—

Bill Gates is once again the world’s richest person.

PHOTO CREDIT: LEE CELANO/Microsoft

The 57-year-old co-founder of Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft Corp. His fortune is valued at $72.7 billion. Carlos Slim comes in second with America Movil (AMXL) SAB, the largest mobile-phone operator in the North American Continent.

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A) chairman Warren Buffett is the world’s third-richest person with $59.7 billion.

Swedes on the List

Ingvar Kamprad,  the founder of IKEA, ranks fifth with a $55.6 billion fortune. The world’s largest furniture retailer generated more than $36 billion in revenue and $4 billion in net income in 2012.  H&M’s chairman Stefan Persson, was listed  on the  top 20 with an estimated wealth of $25.5 billion.

Source: Bloomberg.com

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Talk show host, Jimmy Kimmel invited both of the Collins twins ( Jason and Jarron ) on his show to joke around a bit and also congratulate Jason for openly admitting that he is gay. The Collins twins have played in the NBA for several seasons and seemed to be at ease with the reaction that they’ve endured from the  rest of the world.

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SWITZERLAND—

Christie’s International  set a record auction price  for a Rolex wristwatch  owned by Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida in this spring’s Geneva auction season.

The 1942 split-second Rolex chronograph, described by Christie’s as the “most exclusive” model ever made by the Swiss brand, sold in Geneva for $1.16 million, including the buyer’s premium, the auction house said.  Actress Gina Lollobrigida views a Geneva exhibition of her jewels, many of which she wore at landmark occasions in her career. The collection will be auctioned by Sotheby’s to fund an international hospital for stem cell  treatment.

 Source: Sotheby’s via Bloomberg.

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