Ashley US History: Philanthropy in American History

Philanthropy is the desire to promote welfare to others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes. Many people wonder, how is philanthropy different than charity? Charity is the kindly or sympathetic disposition to aid the needy as a result of deep feeling or understanding of their misery or suffering. Charity and philanthropy over lap in many ways, yet they are still vaguely different. Charity is giving, Philanthropy is doing.

This year in US history, I studied Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. I did not know they were both invested in so much philanthropy. I researched the relationship with the two “richest men” at the time and became familiar with the competition between the two brilliant men. Andrew Carnegie retired in 1901 at age 66 as the world richest man. As a child, his neighbor, Colonel James Anderson, allowed any working boys to use his personal library with no charge. As a result, after retiring at age 66, in 1901 as the world’s richest man, Carnegie wanted to become a Philanthropist. In 1902, he founded Carnegie Institution to fund scientific research and established a pension fund for teachers with 10 million dollar donation. Carnegie built more than 2,000 public libraries. He gave 125 million dollars to Carnegie Corporation to aid schools. World Peace was something else Carnegie strongly supported. He established the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. By 1911, Carnegie had given away 90% of his fortune.

Just like Andrew Carnegie, Rockefeller invested his time in becoming a philanthropist. Rockefeller began giving when anti-trust forces closed on his standard oil company. He began by creating the University of Chicago. Carnegie and Rockefeller began to almost “compete” against each other. It became a philanthropic rivalry. Several people question, would these men have had such a philanthropic rivalry if the newspapers had not been reporting it?” I believe the rival between the two was based on there title, “the richest men in the world.” Who could give more, and who would give more? I believe Carnegie is more of a true philanthropist, because he grew up around philanthropy, which made him invest his time into it. His Carnegie Foundation continues to endow.

Today, the number one philanthropist is Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, and his wife, Priscilla Chan. The couple gave 18 million shares of Facebook, valued 992.2 million to Silicon Valley Community Foundation. In 2010, Zuckerberg gave 100 million to establish Startup: Education. Another familiar philanthropist today is America’s richest man, Bill Gates. Gates is using millions to effect major social change around the globe. Since 2000, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have given away 30 billion. The foundation is working to eliminate polio in three countries. In September, the foundation pledges 50 million to fight Ebola in West Africa. Gates announced in November the foundation would spend 500 million to fight malaria.

“Philanthropy means far more than simply having a large bank account, it means using your resources’-whatever they may be-the make the world a better place by tackling its problems at their roots.” (Jon Zella-Richard Shineman Foundation) Just like Gates, Zuckerberg, Carnegie, and Rockefeller, if I had billions of dollars, I would become a philanthropist. I would open a facility to help families cope with Dementia and Alzheimer’s, because I was beside my grandfather as he battled with dementia the past ten years. After letting go of my granddad on December 27, 2014 I want to help families going through the same thing my family and I went through. My facility would also serve as a research center. Also, councilors will be there to help cope with the stages of dementia, including death.

Philanthropy in American History sources:

Americas top 50

Charity vs. Philanthropy

Charity vs. Philanthropy- Whats the difference?

Andrew Carnegie- Philanthropist

Mark Zuckerburg number one philanthropist