We have all heard of some millionaires and billionaires using the wealth they have amassed for good, but who are some of the most generous philanthropists? In this following post, we’ll cover a number of individuals involved in the world of philanthropy and the work they are carrying out with donations and charity organizations. Keep reading if you want to learn more.
Philanthropy Explained
So, what is philanthropy? A philanthropist is usually a person who has built a highly successful business empire for themselves and is in possession of a large fortune. They then use their wealth to support charitable projects or even found their own charities and organizations to support those in need.
Philanthropists aim to be involved in long-term projects and financial aid to improve the lives of many people, rather than just in times of crisis. Some philanthropists choose to focus on certain issues and funding, whereas others may choose to spread their donations and work across many different projects and areas of the world.
Warren Buffet
Warren Buffet is an American businessman and investor, who has achieved an estimated fortune of around $118 billion through incredibly astute investment choices. Despite being one of the richest men on the planet, Buffet is known for being frugal and economical with his money and is highly involved in philanthropy.
Alongside Bill Gates, in 2009 he founded The Giving Pledge. In this pledge, Buffet and Gates agreed to give away 99% of their wealth to charitable causes. Since then, other famous billionaires such as Mark Zuckerberg have also been added to the list of those pledging to give away half or more of their fortune to charity.
He is also a big believer in better access for Americans to healthcare, as well as fairer taxing for the rich stating he supports inheritance tax.
Beny And Agnes Steinmetz
Beny Steinmetz and his wife Agnes are the founders of the Agnes and Beny Steinmetz Foundation, founded in 2007 aiming to improve the lives of disadvantaged Israeli children and young people.
The foundation focuses on improving access to education, welfare services, and healthcare in order to improve the quality of life of these children and young people. Their work has helped to improve the lives of Israeli children from early childhood through to becoming young adults across many communities.
The foundation doesn’t just donate money, but actively seeks to make advancements and improvements in the education system and professional approach to childcare, teaching methods, and further education accessibility.
This increased access to higher education is supported through grants made by the foundation to young people seeking to study at college but lacking the means to do so. The foundation is also involved in developing schemes and initiatives to help support young people at risk, by introducing them to better access to sports, art, education, and learning opportunities.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is a host, TV producer, and actress, worth approximately 3.5 billion dollars. She is known for using her wealth for philanthropic donations for a range of causes. She has also set up her own foundations, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation, The Oprah Winfrey Operating Foundation, and The Angel Network. The foundation’s work is heavily involved in causes such as community outreach and education, aiming to improve access for children from less privileged backgrounds.
The foundations support grassroots foundations to help reach children and young people from at-risk backgrounds to help them access education and keep them off the streets. Winfrey also supports organizations aiming to provide food, shelter, and support to those from poor backgrounds that may be struggling to pay rent or access food and nourishment. During the recent pandemic, Winfrey also pledged to donate millions towards the efforts to combat Coronavirus and those affected by it.
J.K Rowling
J.K Rowling is a highly successful and wealthy author of the Harry Potter series of books and later films. Having come from difficult beginnings herself as a single parent, she is particularly passionate about supporting organizations that support single parents. She is the honorary president and ambassador of the charity gingerbread, which provides advice and support to struggling single parents.
She also supports 13 other foundations as well the ones she has set up herself. Having previously been a billionaire and one of the richest people in the world, J.K Rowling lost her title as a billionaire due to giving away large sums of money to charitable organizations. While she is known for having some controversial views, she is also known for being very generous with her money and supporting those in need.
Serena Williams
Serena Williams is a professional American tennis player and generous philanthropist. She has made many grants and scholarships to high school students wishing to pursue higher education but unable to access it otherwise.
She is particularly passionate about supporting young people from minority backgrounds, as they are statistically more likely to struggle to access opportunities for education. This focus on equal rights and opportunities carries through her philanthropic work, with some of her other charitable work focusing on domestic violence.
In 2011, Williams became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, which is focused on providing better education and learning opportunities to impoverished African children.