Foundation Gives $375 Million for Family Planning
The Packard Foundation announced Thursday that it is giving $375 million to family planning programs in developing countries, the largest private donation ever given to promote birth control.
With the global population nearing 6 billion, foundation directors said there is a critical need to improve family planning and reproductive health services.
“We have an urgent, unmet need for quality family planning in developing countries, where 80% of people live,” Executive Director Cole Wilbur said.
Ethiopia, India, Mexico, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sudan were chosen to receive the aid.
Under the five-year program, the foundation will begin awarding grants worth about $75 million per year.
The David and Lucille Packard Foundation was created in 1964 by David Packard, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard Co., and his wife, Lucille, to aid national and international nonprofit organizations involved in environment, population, science and humanities-related programs.
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