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.
I AM MARRIED WITH 3 CHILDREN. I NEED TO LEAVE MY HUSBAND. HIS DRINKING HAS GOTTEN OUT OF CONTROL. I CAN'T RAISE MY CHILDREN IN THIS ENVIRONMENT. I NEED SOME FINANCIAL HELP TO MAKE THIS MOVE POSSIBLE.
Posted by: DIANA | Nov 03, 2008 at 06:49 PM
I AM MARRIED WITH 3 CHILDREN. I NEED TO LEAVE MY HUSBANT. HIS DRINKING HAS GOTTEN COMPLETELY OUT OF HAND. I MUST GET MY CHILDREN OUT OF THIS ENVIRONMENT. I HAVE BEEN A HOUSEWIFE FOR 15 YEARS. GETTING A DECENT JOB TO SUPPORT THE CHILDREN & I IS GOING TO BE TOUGH. I NEED TO CATCH UP ON MY SKILLS. I AM ASKING FOR FINANCIAL HELP TO ALLOW ME TO MAKE THIS MOVE
Posted by: DIANA | Nov 03, 2008 at 07:01 PM
Please,I need somebody that can help me financially.I'm a poor Nigerian.My email address is andybaba01@gmail.com
Posted by: Ekundayo Andrew Oluwaseyi | Nov 28, 2008 at 10:49 PM
am muweesi charles in uganda east africa kindly looking for some one to sponser my education since my poor mother in the village has failed yet i was admitted at makerere unversity to do a bachelors degree with education matGod bless you. assist me and i contnue with my education God will reward you cmuweesi@yahoo.com am praying to get a sponser
Posted by: muweesi charles | Dec 04, 2008 at 11:24 PM
am mirembe betty 18years female by sex in iam in senior 5 but looking for someone to sponser my education so that i continue up to universty level cpike45@yahoo.co.uk.mayGod bless you
Posted by: mirembe betty | Dec 04, 2008 at 11:29 PM
hello
may the peace and the love of God continue to shine on you as you read my details, i am nurudeen a 20 years old boy from nigeria my parent are no more i have tried all my possible best to get myself up to the university stage where i am today now i need a financial support somebody who can help me in my education career so that i can also be sucessful in life my main aim is to become a great medical surgeon i promise to abide by all the rules and law given to me and i am willing to go anywhere with the person who is willing to help me in my education, because to me in these life education is the best i'm from nigeria may the love of God guide through out this new year
Posted by: nurudeen lasisi | Dec 27, 2008 at 05:05 AM
I am a senior citizen that is trying to survive on thirteen hundred and fifty dollars a month. We have been living on our savings account which is almost depleated. That is why I am writing this email to someone who will fine it in their hearts to give us some finanical help before we lose our home of twenty eight years. My husband has been disbled since 1994 He had a terrible truck accident that crushed his back and one foot. I myself have a illness called Fibromyalgia it is a disease that attacks my muscles, tendons and nerves though my whole body I am in pain 24/7. I am not able to work. For the last two years I have had no health insurance so if I were to have a flair up and my body attacks my vital organs I will not be able to go to any hospital or see a doctor. I have to take thirteen medication a month that I pay for myself. All our years of hard work and saving money are almost depleted and I have no where to turn or no one. My daughter has help us with many of the repairs on our 1993 van. The van needs so many more repairs we cannot do at this time. Now My daughter has her own family and she can no longer help us. That is why I am begging for help from some kind person that has much more then I do. Please help before I lose my home. All these statment are the God's honest truth. I cannot believe that at age 63 if I do not receive help I will be homeless. Please anyone and any amount will help us save our home. God Bless
Posted by: Grace Cruz | Jan 29, 2009 at 01:43 PM
i am a disabled nurse that is 56 years old. i am unable to work and my become homeless soon. is there anybodyout there that caqn help me financially? e-mail me at jogresh1952@yahoo.com
Posted by: joann gresh | Feb 22, 2009 at 06:26 AM
I WANT TO BE PART OF UR FAMILY ,IAM ANEEDY ,HOW DO I GET TO KNOW YOU
Posted by: KENNEDY BOADU | Oct 24, 2009 at 04:16 PM
Dear sir/Ma
I am Chima Iwuchukwu .My condition is very sympathetic.I am finding it difficult to pay my school fees which is equivalent to 250 dollars my parent are not there to help me i have tried to feed my self only I can write books and raise money but there is no sponsor I need help to be able to patch up my life please anyone help me!if you help me I would always be grateful.I WOULD NOT MIND IF I AM ADOPTED.
Posted by: iwuchukwu chima | Nov 30, 2009 at 02:47 PM
hi im fourty-seven with two boys and im on a 600$ income and need help on my rent its a 1,000. my po box number is 119 chadbourn NC 28431 and my home number is (910)654-0238 i stay in a little town called chadbourn with little jobs please help us thank you. and please thanks for takeing out the time to listen to me. thanks again...
Posted by: martha davis | Feb 04, 2010 at 01:05 PM
its good it can help me to make me stublished my name is ahsan from bangladesh.it want to make my self a big used car dealer and a transport business also and when i will be stublished i make working line for efficent people who want works and i want to do it on behalf of this organization my account number -18253947001[standard charterd bank,bangladesh]account name:al-mahmud mustafa kazi ahsan ullah
Posted by: kazi ahsan ullah | Feb 22, 2010 at 08:44 PM
Hi, I am looking for a little bit of funding towards ivf as am unable to get any and really do not feel i will ever have children without this
Posted by: shelly | Mar 05, 2010 at 01:53 AM
I am a 51 yr. old black male drug and alcohol free but am in desperate need of financial help.If anyone will lend a hand or ackowledge this plee I'll be glad to give you my life story or the short version.God bless all and thank you
Posted by: Orzel Whiting | Apr 22, 2010 at 10:49 PM
my name is Frank whein the founder of whein org.we opperate an NGO organisation in west africa nigeria,our organisation is aimed the less previlaged children in our society we basicaly provide basic education as far as we can carry.cos we have limited funds with the help of our sister org.world mission (WM)in the US and my wife beeing a Canadian with health industry,we manage to rise little funds and help but few kids,as u all know we have a huge amount of less privelaged kids in this country so we can be able to reach a lot of them if we can have some assistace from you all,we be glad to hear from you then we can now forword to you the entire documents and all you need to know about our organisation,GOG BLESS YOU
Posted by: franky whein | May 02, 2010 at 09:06 PM
Can anyone who is financially able, please purchase a wheelchiar accesible van for my mom. We live in Southern CA and are reaching out to anyone who is willing to help. Mom is paraplegic after having a benign brain tumor removed. She is vital and strong except for the complete loss of her ability to walk. This is beyond devastating. Van rentals are too costly for us to continue any longer. She does not transfer and must travel in the wheelchair. She desperatley needs quality of life outings...someone who is able...please, please help us. Kindly email if you can help. Thank you!
adkinsjb@aol.com
Posted by: Belinda Johnson-Adkins | May 19, 2010 at 06:24 PM
Oh boy, I am so worn out and feel like there is no one who cares out there, including the Lord, sorry to say, that I am writing this, but already know that I might be wasting my hopes and expectations. God, I need help so bad. I am alone in this world, that is what it feels like, and no prayers, so far, have succeeded in helping me get out of this financial rut and depression that I have been in for close to two years now. Please, if there is someone out there who really cares and would like to ease someone's burdens in a huge way, please reach out to me and help me. I am $18,000.00 US in debt, I live in Trinidad, there is no program over here for people unemployed etc. My biggest dream is to at least be debt-free. Please, stop the phone calls, stop the letters, stop the threats all pointed towards me. Help me to sleep again at nights, help me to finally stop worrying, finally stop being fearful, finally stop feeling like a lost cause and feeling like there is no reason to live anymore because I have given up hope in everyone and everything. Please help me. Please.
Posted by: Arlene | Jun 17, 2010 at 08:50 AM
Dear Brother,
We are running a school in rural area in Lahore Pakistan
children are very poor their parents are hand to mouth and cannot pay
their school fee which is cost of 12 US$ each student per month and they
cannot afford it so please pray for our school and help us and convey our
message about education to poor studets.
May God bless you abundantly,
Your's sincerely,
Anthony Peter
H/no 664 Colony shedan shah annand road upper mall Lahore
e-mail. stpeterchurch_sps@hotmail.com
anthonypeter77@hotmail.com
Posted by: Anthony peter | Jul 23, 2010 at 05:49 AM