Philanthropy: It's not all about the money

People who view philanthropy as a financial baggage or a last option for a wealth strategy could see this as a strain on their pockets. But for those inclined to charitable giving, philanthropy could mean more than an optional responsibility reserved for excess wealth and unwanted assets. However, by developing a systematic strategy that is integrated with personal and wealth transfer goals, giving could lead to a purposeful endeavor that is not focused on the idea of giving money.

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This is what philanthropy means for The Naples Trust Company. It is committed to using philanthropy not just as a means of donating money but as a way to solve problems in the society. For the past decade, the company has dedicated over $1 million to nonprofit organizations to make a difference in its community.

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Similarly, The Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation, headed by Alex von Furstenberg, addresses generosity as a gratifying feat. The organization is guided by the shared values, concerns, and passions of its members. Its main vision is to improve people’s lives and strengthen communities. Community building, education, human rights, arts, health, and the environment are the primary sectors that receive the foundation’s support.

In philanthropic acts, money can never be ignored when measuring its depth, but the effect always comes in boundless possibilities.

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Businessman Alex von Furstenberg is actively involved in a variety of philanthropic work. Among the organizations he supports are the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, Literacy Partners, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America. This Twitter page provides more updates about him and his contributions to help others in need.

Building better cities

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It is commonly perceived that there is a wide gap between the rich and poor and that they do not share the same aspirations. But this notion is a far cry from what philanthropists do for the less fortunate. For the few who are blessed, their wealth provides the best avenue to create difference in society and help others who were born unlucky. Blessed as they are, the likes of the Rockefellers and the von Furstenbergs are reaching out their hands to those who need help.

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For the fortunate few, most funnel their wealth and money on improving education, health, communities, and the arts. The Rockefellers, the oil magnates, have been in the field of philanthropy since the 18th century. While oil magnate John Davison Rockefeller, who revolutionized modern philanthropy, has already passed away, his family’s efforts are continually felt through the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

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The von Furstenbergs are also noted for their philanthropy. Alex von Furstenberg, the director and secretary of The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, is one of the fortunate few who share their blessings with others. While he is of royal blood, he has made a name for himself in the field of finance and continues to support various organizations, including Friends of the Highline, City-meals on Wheels, and The Fortune Society.  

Know more about philanthropy here.

Forty-six million meals, sixteen thousand recipients, one mission

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Enfeebled by old age, crippled by recurrent mini-strokes, and disheartened by seclusion, 79-year-old New Yorker “Cono”* can barely move and leave his apartment. But even so, he asserts his preference for remaining at home, “For the rest of my life, I never want to see another ambulance or hospital,” he says. “I want to stay here, sitting on the porch; that’s my hangout 24 hours a day.”

Because of his infirmities, Cono has also been incapacitated from supporting himself nutritionally. Fortunately, Citymeals-on-Wheels has never missed out on providing him his daily fill, thus enabling him to stay within the comfort of his home for his remaining days.

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Now in its 31st year of operation, Citymeals-on-Wheels is a nonprofit organization that finances the preparation and delivery of meals to homebound and geriatric New Yorkers. It provides approximately 2.5 million free meals every year to Cono and 16,000 others.

Citymeals-on-Wheels thrives on the donations of philanthropists such as Martha Stewart, Alex von Furstenberg, and Lynda Resnick. Through their generous support, extraordinary people like Cono receive help every single day. More than the food being provided is the sense of hope that comes along with it—a priceless windfall to a noble mission.

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And with that, Cono, even in the eventide of his fleeting existence, will never go hungry or lonely ever again.

Alex von Furstenberg is a philanthropist who is currently affiliated with over 60 charitable institutions. More information on his supported organization may be accessed at his official website.

* true identity is concealed to protect subject’s privacy

Curing the illiteracy syndrome ... One. Word. At. A. Time.

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As of this writing, millions of people in America can’t even read this sentence to save their lives.

Such is the demon of literacy that it deprives so much for so little. Without the minimum required literacy skills, fluid navigation through society and upward social movement are close to impossible. The statistics, however, is staggering. There are approximately 93 million American adults with basic or below-basic literacy. Of these, 30 million are functionally illiterate and about 63 million below the 5th grade literacy level cannot even understand a basic newspaper. As if these aren’t enough drawbacks, it is also worth noting that the low literacy level is costing the government about $200 billion each year—a cumbersome price to pay for a completely remediable situation.

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Amidst these depressing realities, one fact raises hopes:

Every dollar spent on adult illiteracy yields $7.14 in societal returns — whether through increased revenues or decreased expenditures.

With these premise, many philanthropists have opted to invest on building the country’s literacy. Many individuals, such as John Wood and Alex von Furstenberg, and corporations, like JP Morgan Chase and Bloomberg, have tried contributing to the pitch in efforts to finally put an end to illiteracy.

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The fight against illiteracy is not just a case of being able to rise past the “no read, no write” status, but of breaking free from the bondage of ignorance and being able to live life to the fullest.

Business maven Alex von Furstenberg is a philanthropist who backs over 60 charitable institutions. Learn more about his philanthropic endeavors by logging on to AlexVonFurstenberg.com.

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.