Google wants to change the world, and in keeping with that desire, they have now funded a philanthropic foundation with 1% of Google's equity (over the next 20 years) and 1% of Google's profits. Check out Google.org.
Steve Gibson, whose license plate is MENTOR, is a successful business
man who spends most of his time and resources giving back. He has
backed some of the most successful startup companies in Utah. He
teaches entrepreneurship at BYU. And he and his wife founded my
favorite philanthopic organization, the Academy for Creating Enterprise, which trains entrepreneurs in the Philippines. He has faith in people and tries to help them succeed. He is one of my heroes.
Last week I blogged about how individuals and communities can solve problems faster and better than government agencies can:
I just learned that Kuwait has offered $500 million in donations
for Katrina disaster relief, following Qatar's pledge of $100 million.
This is the best news I have seen so far, an amazing gesture from US
allies in the Middle East (including the nation we we liberated from
Iraq in 1991.) Other countries are also offering assistance. There is
good in the world. This is a story that all our media should be
reporting.
It's hard to think about anything these days but the thousands of
people who perished in the hurricane and floods and the 1.5 million
people who have been displaced whose lives are permanently disrupted.
Today I've been inspired by reading an article written 99 years ago in
the aftermath of the great San Francisco earthquake and fire. This was
the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States up until
that time.
Please read this and pass it along, if you think it can give us some hope and a new perspective.
This weeked government rescue efforts and private charity have kicked
into high gear. It seems we have turned the corner in providing relief
for the 1.5 million displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina. Donations
to the Red Cross and to church-based relief efforts are in the
millions. I saw first hand yesterday how generous people are here in
Utah.
The Associated Press reported 15 minutes ago that the levee has been repaired and flood waters are starting to recede.
An outstanding conference on families and economic self-reliance is underway at BYU today and tomorrow. There will be many discussions from practitioners about microcredit programs, microenterprise, microfranchising (a new term to me) and more.
In the past year I've been asked to help with fundraising for a local college, a private school, and a non-profit media company that is developing inspirational video footage of modern heroes to inspire young men and boys to become great. I have learned two things: non-profit fundraising is very difficult and I don't enjoy it at all. I don't mind asking people to invest money in a business opportunity that may deliver a positive return on investment; but asking people for donations to a cause is extremely difficult for me.
I am deeply saddened by the devastation and loss of life from the earthquake and tsunami which struck southeast Asia on Sunday morning. The New York Times reports the death toll is more than 23,000 with one third being children. It is hard to think about anything else today. I just learned that a close friend left a Thailand resort with his wife and children just two days before it was wiped out by the tidal waves.
