Tech Rich Guys Give it Back

BusinessWeek has published a list of the 50 most generous philanthropists of 2003. With investments of nearly $23 billion into global health and education causes, there’s little surprise that Bill and Melinda Gates topped the list. The article revealed, however, that during this year the Gateses gave away over half their family’s wealth. Cynics of course will grumble that for them, $23 billion is chicken feed. Perhaps, but that chicken feed is significantly greater than the combined sum donated by the other 49 philanthropic families. I’ve written recently about the Gates Foundation and so that’s not what this article is about.

It's more that 16 of the 50 largest family fortunes being redistributed to seemingly worthy causes was amassed by technology community players. About one-third of the 50 largest philanthropists are from the tech sector. Many of the names like Gordon Moore (#2) and Michael Dell (#6) are people who amassed enormous wealth by perceiving, developing and distributing technologies that have changed the world. Now they get to change it again by giving some of it back. BusinessWeek observes tech sector philanthropists are more hands-on than previous moguls who traditionally let their fortunes gather gather dust until they did the same. The new philanthropists, BusinessWeek says, would rather manage their bequests as they managed companies, demanding ROI, thus redefining the nature of non-profit fund management. All this seems to me to be a good thing.

In addition to the Gateses, the 15 tech philanthropists are:

Gordon and Betty Moore, $7 billion to conservation and education; Dr. Moore, an Intel co-founder is father of Moore’s Law; Michael and Susan Dell, this year donated $1.25 billion to children’s health; Patrick McGovern, founder of IDG and his wife Lore, $351 million to brain research; Jeff Skoll, ex-president of eBay, $347 million to social services; Paul Allen, Microsoft co-founder, Vulcan Ventures co-founder and Portland Trailblazers owner, $317 million to art and culture; Bill Coleman BEA systems co-founder and wife Claudia, $252 million to cognitive disabilities; Irwin Jacobs, Qualcomm co-founder and his wife Joan, $226 million to the arts and education; Pierre Omidyar founder of eBay and wife Pam, $214 million to building communities; David Duffield, Peoplesoft co-founder and his wife Cheryl, $152 million to animals, humane societies and education; Henry Samueli, Broadcom chairman & founder, $150 million to the arts; Jim Barksdale, Netscape co-founder and his wife Sally, $110 million to Mississippi education and literacy; Philip Berber, CyberCorp.com and his wife Donna, $102 million for Ethiopian anti poverty programs; and Jim Clark, Netscape co-founder whose $95 million for biomedical engineering earned him the 50th spot on the list.

If any are looking for new areas in need, I’d like to discuss subsidizing needy bloggers.

Comments

[Dianna]

I'm disabled completely as a result of a car accident some years ago. I'm on SSI, and I wanted to know if there were any funding or charities to get help with some back taxes I owe from when my accident first happened, so I don't lose my house. I'm keeping my current taxes up. I'm not even sure where to look.I'd appreciate anything you help me with.
Thanks,Dianna

[Mary Krenn]

I was wondering if you could tell me where one can get some help paying off bills that I am not able to pay. We filed bankrubtcy four years ago and now we are in the same boat once again. It is not because we love going into debt or we choose to go into debt. We make less money then what it cost to live. Trust me we do not live in a rich neighborhood nor do we have exspencive things. We have all we can just to get by. Our medical bills are now in collection. And we were forced to use credit cards. Not for fun things, Example: The tires were ready to blow on our vechile we charged two tires. But the sad part is we needed the tires so my husband could get to work. And we have no way to pay it off so what was 150.00 for tires now has turned into 499.00 due to late fees and intrest. We have three kids and we have to feed them. My husabands check covers mortgage, public sevice ect. We are always 170.00 short just to make the basic bills that does not include meds or medical bill or the credit cards we schould have never used to get by. I just want a fresh start. Even if there was a place to help us fig out how we can pay everything off and the collection people would get off our backs. But I do not want to have to feel bad about where we are at. I already am frustrated and do not need to be judge by anyone. I would be happy to know how to manage what we have to pay for without being put down. Trust me if the collectors would get a clue I really do not think that people just choose not to pay there bills.Nor do we choose to be poor. I know if I had the money everyone would get there money. We just do not have enough money to go around.Like I said we are 170.00 shot just to pay the basic bills and we still have to have gas in the van and food on the table and that means we have to dip into the bill money. So every month we are always going further behind. And lots of bills that never see a penny paid on them.I do not mean to sound so negative I know this is my families problem but We need help. If anyone can tell me where to find help that would be so great. Thanks for taking the time to read this. And I look forward to any advise anyone can give us. Please no negative advice. I really need to hear some positive advise. thanks again.
Mary

[shel]

I'm very sorry to hear about your personal situation, but I really haven't a clue how to help you. I wrote about philantropists, but financially, I'm not doing much better than you are these days. There may be a consumer credit bureau in your state and supposedly they are supposed to help in these areas, but I have no personal knowledge on how good--or bad--they are.

[Mary Krenn]

Thanks for your idea. I will look iinto it.
God Bless.
Mary

[obi, jude]

Please can you send the address of Bill Gates Foundation to me.Send to my e.mail address.

[Kevin Touchette]

Hello I am with a church that just started out a year ago and we are trying to spread love to all the communties around us and we don't have alot of money and we need a large passenger van or small bus to bring happiness to the less fortunate and was wondering if you could help in any way in getting the van or bus with a donation. Thank you and GOD bless you..Happy Holidays

[chigozie]

Are there philantropists who sponsor art students who has quest for post graduate education but can't afford it?

[michelle hayes]

Can someone direct me to a philantropist or a website that will help a person get out of debt one time only? I lost my job and haven't been able to find employment in almost a year, even though I've put in more applications that I can count. I'm desperate and will take any help I can get.

[p .j]

I need somebody who is financially sound to see me through my university education

[p .j]

I need somebody to sponsor my university education

[MARIA LOAIZA]

HI, I'M MARIA AND I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT IF THERE ARE ANY ORGANIZATIONS OR PHILANTROPISTS THAT HELPS FAMILIES WHO ARE IN NEED OF HELP. I AM A BREAST CANCER PATIENT FOR FIVE YEARS AND NOW MY CANCER HAS METASTASIZE ON MY BONES. I AM ON DISABILITY AND MY HUSBAND IS JUST A WORKER ON A RESTAURANT. WHAT WE BOTH HAVE IS NOT ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GET A HOME. ALL I WANTED IS TO GIVE MY THREE BEAUTIFUL KIDS, A NICE HOME TO COME HOME TO. WE HAD LIVED IN A HOUSE ON THE SECOND FLOOR BUT NOW MY KIDS ARE GETTING OLDER THEY NEED THEIR OWN SPACE. LIFE HAD BEEN SO TOUGH, I CAN BARELY AFFORD MY MEDICINES AND HOSPITALIZATION.....WE HAVE NO SAVINGS AND I JUST NEEDED FOR A DOWN PAYMENT. A DOWN PAYMENT THAT I WANT TO PAY BACK SINCE BANKS WILL NOT LEND US ANY MONEY. MY ONLY DREAM IS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE MY KIDS A HOME TO CALL OUR OWN. MY KIDS ARE VERY LOVING AND THEY DESERVE A NICE HOME TO LIVE IN. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN HELP ME OR GIVE ME ADDRESSES SO I CAN WRITE TO THE PROPER PEOPLE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MARIA LOAIZA

[ndumbe]

hello am ignatius ndumbe, i student,i wish to see someone with a good mind help us that me and my girlfriend; we got a son who is just 5months old, and she is a student like me; we were all force to drop our study to see how we can see him grow, but it is really hard on us particularly now she is to start school back in march and i need to hustle to seee how i can bring some funds.please in GOD's name we are begging for any God fearing philantropist to help us, by supporting us with what ever he got and we will be very happy and the GOOD GOD will reward him in ten folds.thanks for being there and stay blessed.

[Esther Anjorin]

my name is esther.i have zeal for education but financially handicap.could you pls in the name of God help me with someone who can finance my academics.i have been jobless for a year now and am in debt.pls find me a helper.thanks

[Esther Anjorin]

My name is esther.i have zeal for education but financially handicap.could you pls in the name of God help me with someone who can finance my academics.i have been jobless for a year now and am in debt.pls find me a helper.thanks

[CHRIS HEITING]

WHY DON'T THE RICH GIVE MONEY TO THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED IT? NOT TO ORGANIZATIONS, TO PEOPLE! THE IMPACT WOULD BE 100 TIMES GREATER!

[Susanne]

I am asking help with a van
are SUV for my handicapp son Michael Shawn Davis. My
Son has lost his right eye
and while someone was keeping him he got a chemical burn in his left eye.Michael is downsyndrome
and has many medical problems. I have daughters 19,18,and16.They cannot go to college for I do not have the money. WE have the one car and it runs hot,no
airconditioning,and no room
for my son weighs 285lbs.I
would greatly appreciate any
transporation you could help with.

GOD BLESS
Susanne, Michael,Brittney
Cherish,and Susette

[Sandra Remines]

I am a manager of a apartment complex in South Boston VA. I am trying to find out if their is a program out their that can help people in need of a car that has been donated to a family to help them get to work. So they can have transporation to help take care of their needs. I greatly appreciate any help someone out their can give me.

[irma flores]

I need financial help,too. maybe just one time but I'm embarrassed to ask but I'm tired of always being so poor.

[Shirley]

My husband has been out of work for two years and some months he is sick, and everything is on me , and it is very hard. Because I work in retauil and they don't give you the hours, and I am behind in my bills. And I apreciate if you can tell me if there is some body will help me out to get on my feet. PLease help me out soon. Thank You Shirley

[rhonda ciovacco]

can you help tell me where i can find help with a wheelchair van,i cant walk.i had a stroke.and RA/ive tried everwhere iam on ssi disability.
pax christi,rhonda

[corrine/harrell]

can some one help me pay my bills/

[corrine/harrell]

I had a stroke and can not walk good at all . my son is not doing good needs my help and i cant help him or myself. i need help with bills and acar. thank you.

[MIGADE DAVID]

HOW CAN FIND SOME ONE TO SPONSOR MY EDUCATION,BECAUSE MY AND DAD DIED IA CAR ACCIDENT SO THE ONLY SUPPORT I GET FROM MY RELATIVES IS FOOD WITH MY TWO LITTLE SISTERS.I NEED HELP

[LINDA]

Im asking for help for my mother.she is 79 yrs young. she has been a wonderfull person she has raised 5 going on 6 generations. she is always thier for everyone and she has used her home to house alot of people. but now her house is in bad shape and she hasent the money to repair it , its so bad that she needs a new house.but she never complains i would love to see her have something nice before she goes to be with the lord.can anyone make this dream come true.

[terry]

my husband is a wonderfull husband he is a good provider but all of us need a little help every now and then terry has always settled for less and was always happy to have the things he has . he has been needing a good little pick up truck to get back and forth to work can any one help him to have something nice to let him know some one cares.