Philanthropy

1. Philanthropy means the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes. It is associated with charity, libraries, scientific research, museums, and supporting public efforts. 


2. Andrew Carnegie was a philanthropist. He gave away over $350 million dollars to projects and such in his lifetime. As seen in the book he wrote in 1889, The Gospel of Wealth, Carnegie believed that the rich have a moral obligation to give away their fortunes. Carnegie did this by spending over $56 million on public libraries, building 2,509 of them throughout the English speaking world. 

3. Both John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie were wealthy men, but Carnegie was the man who always believed in giving back to the community. He believed that there were two stages in a wealthy mans life. 1- Becoming wealthy , and 2- Giving your wealth back to the community to better it. Rockefeller on the other hand, while he did give back, began to give back when anti-trust forces closed in on his Standard Oil Company. Both of these men, however, gave greatly back to the community.  

4. Andrew Carnegie's foundation is involved in a lot today. It has many branches: Carnegie Mellon University, Carnegie Institution for Science, Carnegie UK Trust, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Dunfermline Trust, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Carnegie Council, Carnegie Hero Fund Trust, Carnegie Foundation Peace Palace, and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and all of his other libraries around the world.  

5. Some of today's top philanthropists are considered to be Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates, Michael Bloomberg, the Walton Family, and George Soros. Bill and Melinda Gates currently own the nation's largest private philanthropic foundation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation was founded in 2000 and its endowment is currently at $50.7 billion. They support global health, international development, and U.S. education. 

6. If I was a philanthropist, I would use my money to give back to the community through worldwide education. I believe that no matter what background you come from, you should be given the same opportunities to earn an education.  

Bill and Melinda Gates 

Sources: 
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/carnegie/aa_carnegie_phil_1.html   
https://www.uh.edu/engines/epi177.htm  
https://www.carnegie.org/interactives/foundersstory/#!/  
https://www.forbes.com/top-givers/#547fb63666ff