Philanthropy
Philanthropy is the process of willingly donating funds to a particular charity or organization. This can be a one time donation but the majority of the time it involves an ongoing donation over a set period of time. Most people select the charity or organization they will be donating funds to based on the amount of money that is actually going to be used for the programs and what the objectives are.
Finding out about the various philanthropy programs you can donate to can be found by doing research over the internet. There are various directories and websites that provide you with all the information you could ever want. The American Institute of Philanthropy also provides excellent information on an International level. The various types of programs available include education, humanitarian, research, technology, literacy, and the arts.
The generosity of philanthropists is well recognized in our society. We all know there are many disadvantaged people in our society that can benefit from such donations. The goal is for society as a whole to be able to benefit from such programs. Philanthropists are often very rich individuals or corporations.
Some of the most famous philanthropists include John Rockefeller who was the founder of the oil industry. He was criticized for monopolizing the oil industry and difficult business practices but he generously gave more than $200 million dollars for various programs before his death in 1937. Bill Gates is the richest person in the world and he donates millions of dollars each year through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Even rock stars have jumped on board to help out with various projects. Bono from the band U2 has donated millions of dollars to take care of third world debts and he continues to speak in efforts to get others to donate to the cause as well. Rock star Jon Bon Jovi of the ban Bon Jovi donated $1 million to the Oprah Winfrey Angels foundation to help build homes in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity after Hurricane Katrina.
Philanthropy efforts are very important regardless of the dollar amount involved or if they come from normal people or high profile businesses and people. Without philanthropy so many people in need would have no resources to turn to. These efforts are what allows the United States to be a very great place to live.
