J.K. Rowling’s story is one filled with strife and struggle and ending with stunning success. She’s someone we look to for inspiration when it comes to overcoming hardships and proving that hard work really does pay off. She is best known for authoring the renowned Harry Potter series, which propelled her from poverty into fame […]
Tag: philanthropy
Endangered Species Day
Forty years ago, the Endangered Species Act was introduced as a way to protect species on the verge of extinction. This year marks the eighth year that Endangered Species Day will be celebrated in the U.S. It was started by the U.S. Senate and is celebrated on the third Friday in May every year. To […]
Hunger in America Growing
According to Feeding America, the United States has many more hungry citizens than it used to. The nonprofit organization is now feeding about 50% more people than it did in 2006, and though more people have stepped up to help, there are still far too many hungry families in the nation. Today, about 1 in […]
One business executive who is doing big things in the philanthropy world is Thomas Uger, co-head of KKR’s Media and Communications industry team in North America. Uger received his B.A. from the prestigious Dartmouth College, and since then he’s kept himself active in the philanthropy scene. The Dutchess Land Conservancy has a mission to protect […]
Nearly four months after Superstorm Sandy hit the east coast, one major charity is having its operations and motives questioned. The Sandy Relief Foundation raised about $1 million in the wake of the storm, but according to an investigation by the Asbury Park Press, few of those funds have been released. It’s also not a […]
Last week, Bill Gates and Carlos Slim Helu joined forces to support the opening of the new International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. The two men are among the wealthiest people in the world, and though they came together on this occasion they have opposing viewpoints when it comes to philanthropy as a whole. […]
Most people know Olivia Newton-John for her voice and her role opposite John Travolta in Grease. But since her Hollywood days, Olivia has connected with some of the more important things in life—like staying alive. A breast cancer survivor, Olivia Newton-John has spent much of her time in recent years supporting the cause. “I am […]
Nikolas Toocheck is one astounding 9-year-old boy. He’s only in the fourth grade, yet Nikolas has competed in over 100 events and ran his first full marathon in Delaware on December 1, 2012. His next stop: Antarctica, of course! What would push a 9-year-old boy to become such an intense distance runner? He was first […]
Most people don’t exactly relate private equity and charity to each other—but maybe they should. Private equity and venture philanthropy share a fair number of similarities, including the need for efficiency, the acquisition of portfolios, and good exit timing. The Impetus Trust and the Private Equity Foundation are two organizations that have figured this out […]
Today is the best excuse you’ll get to eat pancakes for the entire next year. It’s National Pancake Day, and IHOP is serving up free short stacks of buttermilk goodness all day long. People love free stuff, but what’s in it for IHOP? For the past eight years, IHOP has participated in National Pancake Day, […]