Celebrity 'hyper-agents' transform philanthropy

From firehouses to prisons to hospitals, local neighbors pooled their resources to create such institutions. In more recent generations, foundations and nongovernmental and church organizations took on the main philanthropic role. But now, as the nation matures in an age of globalization and Americans have more resources, that individualistic spirit is again asserting itself, producing a new kind of philanthropy.

Over the weekend, the Sheraton Hotel and Towers was packed with living examples: people such as Dr. Bruce Charash, a prominent New York cardiologist who started his own foundation called Apple P.I.E. It "translates science into English" so middle-school teachers can better understand what they're teaching. He came because of "the sense of optimism here."

And it's not just manifest in the spirit and ideas. Clinton, in his role as "hyper agent," has required that each participant make a pledge to address one problem over the next year. If they fail, they won't be invited back next year.

Dr. Charash's pledge: to create a new foundation called "Doc to Dock," which will allow the American medical community to donate extra resources directly to colleagues in developing nations, as well as set up an internet forum for collegial advice.

"We can get cardiologists to donate stethoscopes one year - 10,000 or 20,000 of them - the next year we can get orthopedic surgeons to donate plaster and splinting materials," he says. "Clearly, there's been a great suspicion when donating to other nations, particularly, as to how much goes to the needy. This conference can find a better way to give direct access because there are some structural problems with [current] fundraising mechanisms."

The commitments made here were as diverse as the almost 1,000 participants from around the world. Some involved tens of millions of dollars, like the decision of the former head of Cel-Tel Africa, Mohamed Ibrahim, to give $100 million of his own to create the African Enterprise Private Investment Fund that will help nurture small- and medium-size businesses in Africa. Other pledges were more personal but no less compelling.

Retired United Nations staffer Muriel Glasgow, who now owns a public relations and marketing firm, wants to create an "adopt a family" program.

"Many agencies help individual children, but children come with a group, they have family, and there are many families in poverty in developing countries," says Ms. Glasgow. "When you put people-to-people with people-for-people, things change."

That sense of confidence and determination to make the world a better place was on display all weekend. For many it was a refreshing renewal, as well as a reminder of how much work needs to be done.

"On the one side, the stakes have never been higher, but on the other, very positive side, the possibilities have never been greater," says José Maria Figueres, the former president of Costa Rica. "To see so many different people coming together in a much more action-driven agenda is a terrific way to do things."

Page: 1 | 2