Columbia, Md. – September 15, 2026 -- The Foundation Fighting Blindness has renamed its venture philanthropy arm, formerly the Retinal Degeneration Fund (RD Fund), to the Gund Vision Fund, honoring more than 50 years of support from Gordon Gund and the Gund family.

Fund has deployed $100 million into 20 companies since 2018

Since launching in 2018, the vehicle has managed more than $140 million in strategic capital and deployed over $100 million directly into a portfolio of 20 companies. It has syndicated with more than $1.5 billion in institutional capital from over 60 co-investors, positioning it as one of the most active venture philanthropy models in the retinal disease space.

Cupertino, Calif. – September 15, 2026 -- Seventy-nine percent of U.S. adults do not believe physical security in the country's buildings has significantly improved since the September 11 attacks, according to a new YouGov survey commissioned by Alcatraz AI. The poll, described as the first national survey measuring public trust in badge- and credential-based access systems 25 years after 9/11, found 76% of respondents believe office buildings never received security investment comparable to aviation.

Boise, Idaho – September 15, 2026 -- SWEAR, a digital content authenticity firm, has launched the Community Video Integrity Project, a program that lets municipalities and law enforcement agencies cryptographically verify surveillance footage from the moment it is recorded.

53% of Americans cannot reliably distinguish AI-generated video from authentic footage, Pew Research found in 2025

That erosion of trust is pushing public agencies to move beyond simply presenting video evidence toward proving its authenticity, particularly for investigations, courtroom use, and public accountability.

Charlotte, N.C. – September 15, 2026 -- Approximately 205 participants attended Carolina Complete Health Community Baby Showers held Sept. 2 across six North Carolina communities, connecting expectant and new parents with maternal and infant health resources.

Six cities hosted events with 17 community partners

Families gathered at Carolina Complete Health Community Connections Centers in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Lumberton and Raleigh. The events included participation from 17 community partners, expanding access to local services for prenatal care, breastfeeding, newborn care, nutrition and food assistance.

San Jose, Calif. – September 15, 2026 -- Arasan Chip Systems will test its full I3C IP portfolio at the MIPI I3C Interoperability Session in Taipei on October 19-20, 2026, alongside other industry vendors validating compliance with the sensor-control standard.

Arasan brings three I3C IP variants and software stack to Taipei testing

The company will run interoperability tests on its I3C Host IP, I3C Dual Mode IP -- which supports both host and device functions -- and I3C Device IP. Arasan will also validate its licensable proprietary I3C software stack during the session, held alongside the MIPI Member Meeting.

Old Town, Maine – September 15, 2026 -- The Wild Blueberry Association of North America (WBANA) has released a free consumer-education toolkit designed to simplify scientific terminology around plant compounds for reporters, educators, parents and caregivers ahead of the back-to-school season.

WBANA responds to rising consumer confusion over bioactive compound terminology

Colleen Craig, who leads WBANA's Health Research Committee, said the trade group observed a surge in consumer publications using bioactive compound terms when discussing wild blueberries, generating increased customer questions about phytonutrients such as anthocyanins and antioxidants. The toolkit, titled 'The ABCs of Phytonutrients: A Back-to-School Guide to Wild Blueberry Plant Power,' is positioned as a first-step communications resource for the industry.

Shenzhen – September 15, 2026 -- XtraMaker has surpassed $500,000 in Kickstarter pledges for its M1 Series desktop DTF printer, with the campaign set to close on September 13 at 8:45 AM PDT.

Super Early Bird pricing offers up to 54% off before tiers sell out

Backers who order before the deadline lock in discounted rates and qualify for exclusive final-countdown giveaways tied to the closing hours of the campaign.

M1 Series positions itself as the industry's first desktop DTF printer

The system prints designs onto PET film and transfers them onto fabric via hot-melt adhesive and heat pressing, targeting T-shirts, shoes and canvas bags. It combines printing, powdering, curing and air purification into a single compact unit, and includes G7-certified color accuracy, automatic white-ink circulation and built-in power backup.

Birmingham, Ala. – September 15, 2026 -- Tom Beckbe, the Birmingham-based outdoor apparel maker, has secured a minority investment from Cox Outdoors, the newest division of Cox Enterprises.

Cox Enterprises Backs Family-Run Outdoor Brand

Cox Outdoors was created to partner with leading outdoor consumer brands, targeting conservation initiatives and long-term generational growth rather than short-term returns. Alex Taylor, chairman and CEO of Cox Enterprises, said the partnership reflects shared family values and a conservation ethic between the two companies.

Founders Retain Control, Team and Operations

Tom Beckbe was founded in 2015 by Radcliff and Mary Menge and will continue to be independently run by its founders with the same team and values. Radcliff Menge, co-founder, said the Cox partnership will allow the company to deepen its focus on product quality, customer service and conservation support.

Colorado Springs – September 15, 2026 -- Children's Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs will be renamed Children's Hospital Colorado, Golisano Children's Hospital, Colorado Springs, effective immediately, following a $40 million gift from entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Golisano.

Gift marks largest philanthropic donation in Children's Colorado history

The $40 million contribution, dedicated exclusively to the Colorado Springs facility, accompanies the hospital's induction into the Golisano Children's Alliance, a national initiative launched in 2025 that coordinates strategic funding across member children's hospitals to expand pediatric services and strengthen collaboration.

Sheridan, Wyo. – September 15, 2026 -- The global AI in virtual medical assistant market is set to expand from $2.6 billion in 2026 to $12.3 billion by 2031, a compound annual growth rate of 36.5%, according to a new study by Wissen Research.

EHR-integrated systems dominate the market with 42-48% share

EHR/EMR-integrated systems led the market by offering type in 2025, accounting for an estimated 42-48% of global revenue, as healthcare providers favor solutions embedded directly into existing clinical workflows over standalone applications.