The generosity of the past needs to be remembered today, especially
when the most generous of today are scorned for not paying as much
as some politicians demand they should.
Thankfully, this divisive criticism has not kept those who have given
the most continue to give the most, even to a government which violates
its responsibility of being good stewards of taxes paid, whether the money
the most continue to give the most, even to a government which violates
its responsibility of being good stewards of taxes paid, whether the money
comes from minimum wage earners or billionaires.
Most of us know of the generosity of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet but few
know the names of the people that can be found on the front of major
hospitals, universities and museums in most cities spread from coast
to coast.
Rather than criticizing these philanthropists even as the enormous
amounts they pay in taxes already fund over 90% of our government,
they should be applauded for doing the good they do, providing all
Americans the benefitsof their generosity.
amounts they pay in taxes already fund over 90% of our government,
they should be applauded for doing the good they do, providing all
Americans the benefitsof their generosity.
History reminds us of Andrew Mellon, a leader in American philanthropy
who funded cherished institutions such as the National Gallery of Art.
Even today the Mellon Foundation continues the philanthropy of its
founder, eighty years after his passing.
There was also JP Morgan who funded the New York Museum of Natural
History and Metropolitan Museum of Art.
These vital resources allow the poorest of the poor to benefit from the
generosity of America's wealthiest!
But, philanthropy did not die when Mellon, Morgan and Rockefeller died,
it still continues today!
These vital resources allow the poorest of the poor to benefit from the
generosity of America's wealthiest!
But, philanthropy did not die when Mellon, Morgan and Rockefeller died,
it still continues today!
Here is a snapshot of giving in the first twenty years of this century.
Top university donations:
Bill and Melinda Gates: Gate scholarship program. $1 billion over decades
Ted Stanley: the Broad Institute, $650 million since 2006
Gordon and Betty Moore: California Institute of Technology, $600 million
Florence and Herbert Irving: Columbia & New York Presbyterian, $600 million bequest
Note: There are many more, including Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, Univ.
of Oregon and Johns Hopkins.
of Oregon and Johns Hopkins.
Top hospital donations:
Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation: New York Presbyterian
Hospital, $75 million
Hospital, $75 million
Bernie Marcus (Home Depot): Marcus Heart and Vascular Center,
community hospital, $75 million
community hospital, $75 million
Kingsley and Kenyon Gillespie: Stamford CT Hospital Foundation,
$50 million.
$50 million.
Ernest Tschann: US Davis (California) Health System, $38 million.
Brian and Aileen Roberts: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, $25 million
Note: there are dozens more with donations $5 million of greater.
Top Arts donations:
Paul Alan, numerous gifts, totaling over $370 million
Arthur and Margaret Glasgow: Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, $70 million
Phillip and Patricia Frost: Miami Science Museum, $35 million
Jorge Perez: Miami Art Museum, $30 million
Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest: art complex at Columbia University,
$30 million
$30 million
David Rubinstein: Kennedy Center, $12 million
We are Blessed to live in the most generous nation in history. We should
tune out divisive rhetoric of self-serving politicians and "tune in" to the
self-less acts the wealthiest provide for all Americans.
tune out divisive rhetoric of self-serving politicians and "tune in" to the
self-less acts the wealthiest provide for all Americans.
.
Feedback appreciated. Feel free to enter in comments section below, or email, ajbruno14@gmail.com "Point of View" blog http://ajbruno14.blogspot.com/
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