Charity begins at home: Ways of cultivating sympathy

Charity is one of the noblest of virtues and is not easy to practice for anybody who has no innate compassion for giving. It is hard to be indulgent with others unless one is able to cultivate this virtue at home. This latest Alex von Furstenberg blog update introduces three ways of cultivating generosity and compassion at home.

• Teaching children to give - A giving attitude is a lesson that should be taught at a young age. Encouraging children to gather their allowance money for Salvation Army buckets, baking cookies for hospitals and nursing homes, and donating old toys, among others, can help them grow to become great philanthropists someday.

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• Turning birthdays into a day of giving - Shari Nakakura, a mother of two, makes it a point that on occasions like birthdays, her family picks out a charity for their guests to give donations to.

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• Examining the difficulty for the working poor - Injecting the virtue of charitable giving at home is possible by looking into the lives of the disadvantaged. Parents can also enumerate the things that the family must spend money on every week so they can prioritize their needs over their wants. With their extra money, they can plan how they can give to others.

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The home is the center of society where goodness develops. From the home, that goodness can radiate to neighbors, communities, and the world.

Find out more about Alex von Furstenberg and his philanthropy by following this Twitter account.

Making the holiday season a little brighter for others

“If we have the opportunity to be generous with our hearts, ourselves, we have no idea of the depth and breadth of love's reach.” -- Margaret Cho

Giving back seems to be popular nowadays, and it’s a great thing to do all year round. However, the spirit of Christmas perks up the generous side in many people. The holidays give them a moment to think that this is not a joyous time for all people and that this is the best time to give back to the community. For families that want to make a difference this season, here are some ways to give back to the community:

Choosing a charity

Those who are not sure where to give this year can pick up from seasoned philanthropists who have been generous to a fault, such as the likes of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch (a prominent Australian philanthropist), Bill Clinton (founder and head of the Clinton Global Initiative), and Alex Von Furstenberg (a supporter of various non-profit organizations in the country).

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Travel philanthropy

Travel philanthropy has attracted many tourists, especially with various calamities that occurred in different countries. People invest time and money to help less-advantaged nations.

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Helping others in simple ways

Insignificant they may seem, small acts of generosity can go a long way for others. This may be in the form of sending a package to a soldier, visiting hospital patients, donating clothes, or joining a group that does outreach projects for the community.

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Giving reminds the people how blessed they are and that they can help in more ways than one. In helping others, the possibilities are endless.

Learn more about Alex von Furstenberg’s philanthropy from this Twitter account.

Corporate philanthropy: The benefits of giving back

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There are many companies that sponsor charitable causes, but what drives them to do so? Does sponsoring charitable causes really benefit companies as well?

Investing in philanthropic efforts may sound like a waste of company budget, but many businessmen, such as Alex von Furstenberg, believe that it is a worthwhile cause and that getting involved in charity work does not only make employees feel better, but also allows the company to build personal connections with them.

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These personal connections are important in building employee loyalty and productivity. By being involved in philanthropy, the company shows that it cares about other people. This is especially important in larger companies, where most employees are more likely to feel that they are just looked upon as workers instead of as actual human beings—these are the people who earn a lot and like their job but dislike the way their company treats them.

Business philanthropy can also be beneficial to a company’s bottom line. Customers are more likely to buy from a company that supports a charitable organization, increasing brand loyalty. Helping out a cause also enhances a company’s credibility and image, and promotes and educates the public about its products and services, creating product awareness and visibility, therefore increasing sales.

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Visit the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation website for more details.

Literacy Partners: Educating adults

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The life of an industrialist-philanthropist, like Alex von Furstenberg, always revolves around helping others, especially when it comes to education. Part of Mr. von Furstenberg’s advocacy is increasing adult literacy through the Literacy Partners, a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering high quality, community-based literacy programs in New York City. Its main goal is to help adults reach their maximum potential as individuals, parents, and citizens.


Going beyond teaching people how to read
 

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Many people think that illiteracy means not knowing how to read. Literacy Partners changes this perception by not just teaching adults the basics of reading but also providing them a holistic approach service to attain a combined basic literacy, health and financial literacy, and job readiness. Included in its roster of services are the following:

1. Prepares students for their General Education Development or GED

2. Teaches English to non-English speaking students

3. Provides programs for financial and health literacy

4. Gives a comprehensive and individualized guided education

5. Awards each student with all the support services needed in order to succeed in life

There are over two million New Yorkers who are functionally illiterate. Literacy Partners strives not just to educate but also to empower these people to achieve more in life. The organization effectively addresses the root cause of issues to help generate a surge of effects boosting health, the economy, and society as a whole.

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Follow this Twitter account to learn more.

The prince with a heart for charity

Children who love to read usually look up to the princes and princesses they read about in their storybooks. These fictional characters usually exhibit unearthly beauty, bravery, and kindness, and usually get to live happily ever after. Although they are just products of fiction, some of these fairy-tale characters exist in real life.

Alex von Furstenberg is one such prince.

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The son of fashion magnate Dianne von Furstenberg and Prince Egon von Furstenberg of Austria, Alex was born into a world where everything a boy can ask for is within reach. He lived in comfort in New York and went to the best schools, but being a prince with a huge heart, Alex knew that he wanted something more. Where most rich royalty would squander their money on extravagant parties and flamboyant estates, Alex would use his to help out charitable causes—a trademark of his inherent kindness.

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With the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, Alex became involved in a number of charitable causes, including environmental advocacy, human rights, disease research, education, and community reform. One of the largest donations he and the organization gave was to the American Tall Ship Institute, a non-profit organization located in Oxnard, CA that offers free education to children 9 to 18 years old.

Alex’ generosity and dedication to helping others show that princes and princesses with kind hearts don’t only exist in fairy tales but also in real life.

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For more information, visit the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation website.

Paying it forward: Taking your first steps in charity work

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Shoppers and consumers these days are much smarter and demand more than just products and services from your company. It is no longer enough to just have the best products and services in the market—you also have to help improve the community and society at large.

One of the ways to create a positive impact on the society is by involving your company in charitable causes. But a lot of companies don’t know where to start. Philanthropists and businessmen like Alex von Furstenberg stress that wanting to start is the first step. The second step is choosing a local charity.
 

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Choosing a local charity is actually easy. The most important thing to remember in selecting a charity is that it should be in-line with what your company sells and believes in, as causes that mean the most to you and your employees will inspire you to do more. For example, if your company sells food, it is advisable to support an organization that helps feed the homeless and indigent people because it will highlight the fact that your company places utmost importance in helping end world hunger one step at a time.

Your company can also provide goods or services for free, donate a percentage of the sale of your products, ask employees to serve as volunteers, or sponsor an event that raises funds for charity.

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All in all, helping a cause or a charitable organization is not difficult; all it takes is the desire to take the first step.


For more information, visit the Diller-Von Furstenberg Foundation website.

The benefits of having a generous heart

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Many individuals have set their focus on the vision of helping others, even if it takes giving a part of what they earn. But no matter how small or big their generosity is, it still enables them to make a difference in the world at large. Some may not be millionaires, but it doesn’t mean they cannot be philanthropic. Here are some fine things that a little help can do:

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• Sense of well-being. - Utilizing the proceeds of success to help others makes people feel good about themselves. It also creates a ripple effect by inspiring people to do good to others as well.

• Lasting effect. – Whether philanthropists are famous or not, giving leaves an impact that will be remembered one way or another.

• Tax efficiency. – Giving to charitable causes may take a part of one’s earnings, but it is tax efficient.

• Benefits on children. – Disadvantaged children are given a fresh start and an opportunity to lead better lives.

• Cohesion. - Through philanthropy, giving integrates many communities and strengthens unity among people.

• Improving communities. - Offering assistance to charitable organizations makes communities better since it sustains them with services and goods, which are given to those who are not able to get the basic needs for themselves.

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Philanthropy encourages individuals and organizations to be thankful for what has been handed to them. It makes them realize that luck and fortune should not be taken for granted.


Mr. Alex von Furstenberg is a business maven who helps various charitable organizations. Follow this Twitter account for more information.

Strategy for good: The parallel benefits of strategic philanthropy

Young businessmen and philanthropists like Alex von Furstenberg venture into the type of practice that combines their companies’ marketing goals with their desire to sustain community well-being. This is called strategic philanthropy.

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According to growth strategist Paul Lemberg, strategic philanthropy is a move that connects companies with not-for-profit organizations. This is a way for industrialists to work for both the common good within the community while achieving parallel benefits. Listed below are some of the valuable benefits of strategic philanthropy:

• Exposure - Companies can go from being “just like everything else” to making something that creates a difference.

• Values - This is the perfect way for companies to demonstrate their philanthropic values and show that they are sincere in helping others and not just there for the profit.

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• Unity - Through strategic philanthropy, giving is integrated across places and strengthens unity among people.

• Impact - With this kind of positioning, it creates a win-win situation for both the companies’ bottom line and their respective communities.

• Maximum work - Companies have a clear picture of where to focus their resources on to deliver goodness in the communities.

• Sales - Consumers and clients love to do business with philanthropists because they know that philanthropists genuinely care about the community.

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“What can my business do to help the community?” More and more entrepreneurs ask this question to get that parallel benefit as well.

More information is available on this Twitter page.

Alex von Furstenberg supports human rights

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Putting a stamp of solidarity with holocaust victims and survivors, Alex von Furstenberg, through The Diller–von Furstenberg Family Foundation, consistently gives support to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) located in Washington, D.C. Dubbed as the “living memorial to the Holocaust,” USHMM aims to “provide a powerful lesson in the fragility of freedom, the myth of progress, and the need for vigilance in preserving democratic values.” Furstenberg’s support to USHMM marks his admirable recognition of the need to promote the global crusade against hatred and the necessity to advance the cause of human rights.

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A brilliant businessman from the aristocratic Furstenberg family, he directs his philanthropic works to actions that seek the cultivation of human uprightness and the protection of human rights and dignity. Alex von Furstenberg’s precocious engagement with human rights causes, as proven by his support to USHMM and other organizations like the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Human Rights Campaign, Human Rights Watch, International Women’s Media Foundation, International Rescue Committee, Oxfam America, People for the American Way, Somaly Mam, and Vital Voices, is known throughout the philanthropic circles and speaks volume about his character: a man who values the sanctity of freedom.

Although consistently put forward through The Diller–von Furstenberg Family Foundation, Furstenberg’s pro-human rights philanthropic actions will always be an involvement never devoid of empathy and authentic sense of solidarity.

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More information about Alex von Furstenberg is available at this Twitter page.

Alex von Furstenberg: Philanthropy at work

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Young industrialist Alex von Furstenberg is venturing on the type of goodness that Henry David Thoreau once agreed to be the only “investment that never fails.” Consistently keeping philanthropy at work, he recognizes the side of life where reaching out to people gives new meaning to success and puts forth a symbol of genuine corporate charity that honestly seeks to empower people and affect positive social changes.

As a long-time supporter of various noble causes, Furstenberg displays an example of a man who values the betterment of people as the road to social progress. Philanthropy is more than charity; it’s more than giving aid. What drives real philanthropy, as Alex von Furstenberg has shown throughout the years as director and secretary of The Diller–von Furstenberg Family Foundation, is the desire to see people find their potential to grow, witness communities discover their strengths and improve, and break the barriers of social apathy, intolerance, and mediocrity on both sides of any reality.

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What drowns hopes of poor people is neither the state of being disadvantaged nor the lack of opportunities. What puts people further down into the most abject condition is the inability to rise above situations and confront challenges. For Furstenberg, philanthropy works when it doesn’t totally give a crutch, but helps people realize that they have to create one out of something they have.
 

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For more updates on Alex von Furstenberg, follow this Twitter page.

Young industrialist Alex von Furstenberg supports good causes

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Philanthropist Alex von Furstenberg shows that the right business decisions should not always mean a cold predisposition to profits. What matters most, like what the brilliant and beloved tycoons of the past have learned and modeled, is the propensity to good things that uplift the poor—the downtrodden majority at the bottom of the social heap.

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Like good capitalists in any imaginable perfect world, giant firms and businesses are expected to indulge in social missions and to take responsibility for what happens in the world beneath their pinnacles of success. Successful people who have reached the apex of their dreams through sheer hard work are always worthy of praise, but few have that courage to look outside their glass windows and take their feet back to the muddy earth like Alex von Furstenberg has done many times over. A brilliant industrialist, von Furstenberg, the founder and current Ranger Global Advisors Chief Investment Officer, has never been remiss of that duty to give back to the community and to support the credible organizations that reach out to people in need.

There can be any wedge between business and noble causes. In this modern era of capitalism that thrives at the backdrop of abject poverty and deterioration of humanitarian values, people like von Furstenberg are beacons of hope—simply reinforcing goodness that lies at the very core of corporate actions and goals.

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For more information on Alex von Furstenberg, follow this Twitter page.

Alex von Furstenberg: Philanthropy as a form of giving back

If you were worth millions of dollars, what would you do?

a) Invest assets in bonds and securities?
b) Buy luxury properties?
c) Count money all day?

Alex von Furstenberg however, has a better option: generously give back a portion of your wealth to the less fortunate.

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There are a myriad of reasons why people engage in philanthropy. Others do so out of appreciation; others, out of religious devotion; while others, out of competition.


However, true philanthropy is ultimately defined by a single purpose: altruism—a genuine universal love for humanity, which in effect resounds the donor’s sense of making the world a better place. Altruism is the most profound of all volitions. It is a love that is spawned by a previously received love, being passed on to inspire others to do the same.

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Alex von Furstenberg supports over 60 charitable institutions that are involved in community-building, education, arts, environment, and health.

In this sense, altruistic people are always trying to give back to whoever has most deeply motivated them in the past; only this time, it is their moment to impart whatever temporal possessions they have to benefit those in need.


They might have been reduced of their riches, but they have been made wealthier by love.


A quote by best-selling author Brian Tracy sums it up accurately: “Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others.”

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For more information on the philanthropic endeavors of Alex von Furstenberg, visit his website at www.alexvonfurstenberg.com.

Alex von Furstenberg: Saving the arts through philanthropy

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Art lovers, like business maven Alex von Furstenberg, realize that doing philanthropy for the arts has a way of preserving a nation’s heritage, culture, and history. This is the reason why Mr. von Furstenberg supports the following non-profit organizations on various art forms:

• Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
• CAA Education Foundation (Playwrights)
• The Museum of Television and Radio
• Danielandsomesuperfriends
• Roundabout Theatre Company
• PEN American Center
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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While many are skeptical about the motives of American art philanthropy in saving the arts, it has somehow helped support the blood flow of art preservation organizations. Art philanthropy is crucial because it has paved the way for struggling American artists, dancers, singers, and writers have the world recognize the valuable talents they have.

Alex von Furstenberg is actively involved in a variety of philanthropic endeavors. He is the Director and Secretary of The Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation and serves on the board of Friends of the High Line, a private non-profit partner of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.

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South West Surrey culture secretary Jeremy Hunt once said, "If you said to me what is the one thing I could do . . . that would make a real difference to the arts, I would say it would be to help foster an American-style culture of philanthropy to the arts and culture here in the UK."


Aside from his financial support for art organizations, Alex von Furstenberg has made several other contributions to non-profit projects that support the environment. Know more of his philanthropic efforts from this website.

Alex von Furstenberg on valuing women's "Vital Voices"

Alex von Furstenberg’s supported charities are nothing short of eclectic. He backs more than 60 organizations, under the umbrella of different niches. Among these, one organization caters to one of the most neglected groups in society: women. 

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“Vital Voices” is an international non-profit organization that collaborates with women from different countries in the areas of economic empowerment, women’s political participation, and human rights. The organization centers in on women empowerment—pushing them to get past the established societal borders that have constricted them through the years.

In its website, Vital Voices states that it aims to “identify, invest in, and bring visibility to extraordinary women around the world by unleashing their leadership potential to transform lives and accelerate peace and prosperity in their communities.”

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Through Alex von Furstenberg and other philanthropists’ fiscal support, Vital Voices is able to realize its following mission statements:

• Be at the frontiers among other international coalitions in aggressively combating human trafficking and other forms of injustices against women and girls 
• Be catalysts in enabling women to become change agents in their respective state governments, promoters of social justice, and advocates of democracy and the rule of law 
• Be hardline in equipping women with the necessary skills to become self-sustaining, autonomous, and valuable entities in the society

Past generations have greatly downplayed the potentials and contributions of women in building a sustainable community. Fortunately, more people are recognizing their inherent worth. After all, women are among the ‘vital voices’ of today.

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Access more information regarding Alex von Furstenberg’s advocacies by visiting his website.

Alex von Furstenberg: The characteristics of successful entrepreneurs

Alex von Furstenberg is the chief investment officer and founder of Ranger Global Advisors. He is known for having diverse business ventures that have all been considered a success. 

Find out the qualities of successful entrepreneurs like Mr. von Furstenberg by reading this blog.

 

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Regardless of the industry, success is believed to be the fruit of a specific set of characteristics that achievers possess. Entrepreneurs who aspire to be successful must practice the following techniques, matched with a winning attitude:  

Do things that they enjoy.  As the famous idiom says, “you reap what you sow,” entrepreneurs should remember that whatever they invest into would lead to the business’ success or failure. Alex von Furstenberg and other successful business magnates believe that the formula to success has been and will always be “wanting and loving what they do.”  

Plan everything.  Planning is a vital component in every business – big or small. Without laying out a good plan and strategies on how to go through the business, entrepreneurs will clearly find themselves in the brink of failure.

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Become a shameless self-promoter.  This is important especially for start-up businesses that need to get their names out there. Self-promotion is easier nowadays through the use of the Internet, which serves as a free-for-all advertising platform for entrepreneurs to leverage on.  

Build a credible team.  Entrepreneurs should regard the power of teamwork as an important aspect in establishing business success. This is possible by building a team with members who can work together on the same page, toward the same goal.  

Read, learn, invest.  One of the keys to reach business success is to continue learning. Entrepreneurs, even those who are already successful like Alex von Furstenberg, should continue to aspire being educated. They should, as Entrepreneur.com shares, invest in themselves by considering education as a never-ending process.

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For more about Alex von Furstenberg’s impressive journey as a businessman, visit this blog.

Alex von Furstenberg: Clothing the naked heart

Alex von Furstenberg is a fiscal supporter of over 60 different charities, each with a different approach in tackling the task of making the world a better place. One of the charities he is actively backing is Naked Heart Foundation, a child-centric philanthropic organization.

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Play has been viewed by prominent psychologists as endemic to the human species. Jean Piaget and Sigmund Freud have stressed the importance of play in the development of a child’s interpersonal, critical, and focusing abilities—all which are needed to survive the harsh adult reality that await them.




Sadly, not all children get the chance to run around and play to their hearts’ content. This can result to a deep psychological scar to the child, and this is the very concern that Naked Heart Foundation—one of Alex von Furstenberg’s beneficiaries—seeks to address.

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The foundation was founded by model and actress Natalia Vodianova after a visit to her homeland Russia with her son. She saw the deplorable lack of suitable playgrounds that resulted to the children’s rather sedentary lifestyles. Vodianova also claims to have been affected by the infamous 2004 Beslan school siege where about 700 children were hostaged and more than 300 were killed.




Since its inception in 2005, Naked Heart Foundation has built more than 30 play parks and playgrounds, providing due opportunities for children to exercise their right to play and enjoy a worry-free life—unbound by any restrictions.

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Learn more about Alex von Furstenberg by visiting his website.

Of fashion and philanthropy: Alex von Furstenberg and the DVF Studio

Alex von Furstenberg is a partner and director of Diane von Furstenberg Studio, LP. He also serves on the board of directors of the company alongside Diane von Furstenberg, Barry Diller, Tatiana von Furstenberg, Paula Sutter, and Hamilton South. Together, they use the business of fashion as a means to lessen the suffering brought about by poverty, illiteracy, and illnesses all over the world.

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Some of the organizations that the company supports are:

Vital Voices Global Partnership -- It identifies and provides opportunities for extraordinary women around the world by honing their leadership skills so that they may help their respective communities prosper.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital -- The institution is among the world's leading centers in terms of research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other children’s diseases.

Alex von Furstenberg also serves on the board of directors of Friends of the High Line.

Teach For America -- This comprises recent college graduates of varying academic majors and career interests who are willing to make a two-year-long commitment to teach in urban and rural public schools. These outstanding individuals aim to expand educational opportunities and eliminate educational inequity among the youth.

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Diane von Furstenberg, one of the prominent names in the fashion world, founded the global luxury lifestyle brand DVF in 1972. Headquartered in New York City, DVF has been known worldwide for its iconic wrap dress and signature prints. With its 45 freestanding shops and availability in 70 countries, DVF has expanded its collection to bags, shoes, eyewear, fragrance, and jewelry, among others.

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Alex von Furstenberg supports numerous organizations that help alleviate poverty and advance the lives of the less fortunate. Learn more about his philanthropic efforts from this website.