In the spring, Russia is waiting for a major and very significant event: the awarding of nominees for the International Philanthropist-2014 Award. For the eighth time, the prize will be awarded to people with disabilities who have overcome their ailment and have achieved great success in various fields. This award brought together artists, doctors, officials, and entrepreneurs trying to help people with disabilities. Different people of Russia united under the sign of this project to help talented people with disabilities boldly step into the future.
Russian philanthropist - who is it?
Unfortunately, today not everyone remembers the meaning of this term. Dictionaries explain that a philanthropist is a person who gives part of his earned money or part of his fortune to those who cannot provide for themselves. The most ancient form of philanthropy was alms, which the faithful gave to the poor, asking near monasteries or temples. Today, charity is not limited to charity: the concept has become much broader. Contemporary philanthropist - who is it? This is a person who is capable of supporting those who need it with his actions or deeds. Unfortunately, Russia takes 127th place out of 145 in the international list of philanthropist-oligarchs. The ubiquitous statistics have found that every year the 15 richest Russians donate as much to charity as Bill and Miranda Gates. Only the General Director of Norilsk Nickel V. Potanin adheres to the oath, which Gates and Buffett once gave. He promised (and while fulfilling his promise) to give more than half of his wealth to good deeds. Fortunately, Potanin is not the only one who supports those in need.
The most famous philanthropists of Russia
So who is a philanthropist? Every person today understands the meaning of the word in his own way. So, for example, R. Abramovich spends a fortune on maintaining a football team, considering it philanthropy. Suleiman Kerimov transfers funds for operations to seriously ill children. Sometimes he supports schools. Victor Vekselberg donates a share of his fortune to return to Russia its cultural values. Each of them and other wealthy people independently decides what or whom he will support. I. Prokhorova, the wife of a famous oligarch, complained that some only help when V. Putin or the Government insistently ask for it. What else is meant by the term “philanthropist”? The meaning of the word is contrasted with the concept of "misanthrope" and implies disinterested concern for improving the life of mankind as a whole, selfless philanthropy in the broadest sense. So, the well-known philanthropist V. Yevtushenkov has been engaged in charity work in several areas for a very long time.
Vladimir Evtushenkov and his contribution to charity
V. Yevtushenkov is perhaps the most famous philanthropist in Russia. Who is it? This is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of AFK Sistema. He created his own foundation supporting science, education, and sports. The fund is trying to preserve the cultural heritage of the country, improve social life. Foundation staff also understand the term “philanthropist” in their own way. The meaning of the word is not limited to them solely by financial donations, although the fund transfers a million rubles annually to only one Russian Museum. Employees in every possible way support young scientists, athletes, creating conditions for them to develop talent, helping them to advance, become famous. It was V. Yevtushenkov and his Foundation that helped open several virtual branches of the Russian Museum in the country. One of V. Yevtushenkov’s associates was asked: “Philanthropist - who is this?” He gave a wise and unequivocal answer. According to his definition, a philanthropist is a person who wants to improve the existence of others.
What do other Russian philanthropists do?
The media annually make up the top Russian entrepreneurs donating significant amounts to charity. The rating, unlike dictionaries, does not help to understand what “philanthropist” means, but it clearly shows the size of charity. The last two or three years it was headed by R. Abramovich. From his fortune ($ 12.5 billion), he spent 310 million on charity. The founder of USM Holdings Alisher Usmanov was not far behind him. He is only half a billion dollars “poorer” Abramovich, but this did not stop him from spending 247 million to support sports, art and science. It is interesting that in the past of the philanthropist there are many dark moments: he was sentenced to 8 years, but was later released ahead of schedule. The case was recognized as fabricated.
A few lines below the ranking is A. Mordashov, General Director of Severgroup CJSC. Over the past three years, he has donated 103 million of 9.5 billion. The fifty-eight-year-old vice president of Lukoil and the owner of Spartak, having a "small" fortune of 5.2 billion, spent 31 million for the benefit of society. In total, the list includes 15 entrepreneurial philanthropists.
Gift vow
So who is a philanthropist? A person who considers charity a call of the soul or an obligation? Different people have different answers to this question. Americans, accustomed to doing the show of everything, came up with the “Oath of Giving”. That's how Bill Gates and Warren Buffett called their philanthropic campaign, launched in 2010. The movement, according to its founders, is designed to move all the wealthy and significant people of the planet to give up most of their wealth in favor of those in need. By the beginning of 2013, the movement was supported by 105 of the richest surnames in the world, and the minimum expected donation is $ 125 billion.
It is interesting that the same Russian V. Yevtushenkov and many of his associates do not make any oaths and promises, but annually provide tangible help to science, sports, and spend money on solving social problems. Abroad, not everyone supports the “Oath of Gift”. So, the former socialite, financial genius, philanthropist Liliane Betancourt refused to join the movement, leaving her decision without comment. At the same time, it has its own Fund with a capital of about 150 million €, half of which is spent annually on supporting scientific research and education.
Women philanthropists
Liliane Betancourt is not alone. There are many women who are called by the understandable word “philanthropist”. Who is it? Here are the most famous, those who top the list of the richest ladies in the world.
- Iris Fontbona is perhaps the most modest philanthropist in the world. Who is it? Widow of a Latin American multibillionaire. Donating a lot of money to charity, she often remains nameless. Only once she flashed a 27-hour marathon in Chilean air, during which they raised money for children with serious and incurable diseases. Having gone on stage for just a second, Iris announced that she was giving away $ 3 million.
- Jacqueline Mars, a woman who knows exactly what a philanthropist is. Her support includes talented students, a society of doctors, an opera, a sports library, etc. For the needs of these people and organizations, the Jacqueline Foundation has transferred more than $ 10 million.
- Gina Reinhart. Journalists accused the “Ore Queen” of Australia of greed. However, it turned out that she regularly supported organizations fighting for women's rights, but she did it incognito.
Philanthropy: Pros and Cons
Philanthropy, like any social phenomenon, the concept is ambiguous. Undoubtedly, charitable foundations all over the world use their gigantic power for the development of science and healthcare, culture and education.
The social assistance programs that Carnegie and Rockefeller founded as well were of great benefit. Thanks to these programs, a prosperous life has been recognized as a fundamental human right. The movement of philanthropists helped save many lives, and provided invaluable assistance to many social spheres.
But not everything is so simple. In the USA, the work of foundations was not much different from state policy, the main goal of which is considered to be "universal prosperity." Constantly providing assistance to the poor, politicians and philanthropists changed the situation so that several generations of people grew up in the USA who became actually dependents. Accustomed to charity, they do not want to work. These people lost their independence, became dependent on constant social assistance. Many of them are unwilling to work, unable to independently change their position.
Such charity also negatively affected migrants. They simultaneously received social and educational assistance. Educational programs eventually led to the erosion of ethnic values, the loss of national identity of national minorities. Nevertheless, it is social charitable programs that are able to solve problems and problems for which the state does not have enough money and time. And this is the main power and benefit of philanthropy. Nevertheless, participants in such movements are called philanthropists, that is, people who give back part of the acquired to those who need help.