This is an ongoing list of corporations, companies, or individuals who have voluntarily handed over an extraordinary amount of their profit or wealth or wisdom to other people.

~

The people and companies listed below have become caretakers who nourish earth and its people. It is a first and necessary step to move earth towards joining the Community of Worlds. Small companies will be included here also, but I am less likely to hear of their more modest gifts. Eventually, I believe it will require a complete overhaul of the motives we use during normal, financial practices today. One day, earth will become a world where people share their excess, and the practice of generosity becomes universal. This is the earth predicted for the future, begun now by these brave individuals. May 21, 2006.

I admit to neglecting this page. I only add names when they jump out at me from the news.

George Soros

I just read a recent article about George Soros who often contributes to liberal causes. He has agreed to spend $500 million to help refugees around the world. This help is greatly needed. Refugee numbers have increased to more than 21 million and the countries with the most refugees are the least able to provide for such vast numbers of people. Our president is trying to start a sponsorship program for refugees. I hope he is successful. (October 10, 2016)

Also, George Soros will be investing $220 million in efforts to achieve racial equality in America, a huge financial undertaking that will support several Black-led racial justice groups for years to come. (July 20, 2020)

Howard G Buffett

I haven’t added an entry to this group of names for a number of years but I couldn’t help but add another Buffet to the list. Howard G. Buffet is a farmer who plans to feed the world. How wonderful an idea and he is putting it into practice. I read about his efforts in The Atlantic, May 2016 edition. His concentration is Africa where he spends up to 200 days a year doing work for his foundation. Warren Buffet must be proud of the good morals he instilled in his three children. They all give in their own way. (5/30/16)

Warren Buffett

I haven’t written in the space for years. My own fault, but I couldn’t pass this one up. Mr. Buffett made a statement that has everyone talking. He said, “I pay less taxes than my secretary.” Talk about a subject ripe for debate! And thanks to Mr. Buffett people are now actually debating the subject instead of just standing firm and stubborn. Hopefully his honest approach may prove fruitful by bringing common sense into the halls of congress. Thank you Warren Buffett. (8-27-11)

American Honda Motor Company, Inc.

Honda just donated a five year, $1-million gift to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The Detroit Orchestra has the most extensive music education programs in the US that includes nine student training ensembles. Now the DSO will have instruments for more students to use and can teach even younger people. Honda has been donating funds to the DSO for many years. ( the Detroit Free Press, 1/9/08) I have known children who have no activities after school because they are too poor. This will help musically inclined children get instruments for practice.

The Ford Foundation & John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

The Ford Foundation is giving $8 million to and the Knight Foundation is giving $4 million to help small businesses and developers in the City of Detroit. It is hoped that the grants will encourage new construction. The money is for Detroit businesses only? Truly jobs are needed here in the city. Thank you.

The Skillman Foundation

I have read and heard about this foundation for many years and the great things they do for people. They gave a total of one million dollars to Detroit schools that improved their academic grade. Their “primary goals are to improve children’s homes, schools and neighborhoods…” The foundation was begun by Rose Skillman. I wasn’t sure if I should add foundations to this financial page. The angels told me specifically that I should do so.

Robert Thompson & Wife

He tried to give Detroit Schools a 200 Million hand out. He was refused because he insisted on charter schools that promised to graduate 90% of students. (can any school besides Birmingham graduate 90% of its students)? Now he has joined with the Silkman Foundation to try once more to give Detroit children that added boost. As he says that the only way out of poverty is an education. Thank you Mr. Thompson. Most of us agree with you.

I finally thought to add the wives. I am sure every wife is a big part of their husband’s generosity.

David Bing, CEO of the Bing Group

David Bing is doing a lot for the City of Detroit. He is building a new library in southwest Detroit, and last I read, he promises to do for the whole city, what Mr. Penske has promised to do for the downtown district—clean it up. (of riff raff too?)

Oprah Winfrey

Her give a-way-s have been celebrated for years. (I heard that, on a whim, she flew her whole television audience to Disney World one day). Her web site Oprah's Angel Network on the internet gives everyone on the web a chance to read about or donate to a large selection of worthy causes. Fame has given Oprah the real tools, (tools I suspect she always dreamt of) to help thousands of people around the world.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Bill Gates is world renown for the generosity he has shown many people. Recently, he took on the major job of providing billions of dollars for world health, poverty, education and increasing technology. (Actually, I did a double take when the angels told me he should be included on the list. Not because he isn’t generous, but because I have always thought he charged too much for the Office software, Word and Excel).

(The angels have promised to point me towards other generous leaders in the near future.)

Warren Buffett

I just read that Warren Buffet, the second richest man in the world, is giving 44 billion to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A quote from Warren in the Dallas Morning News says, “I am not an enthusiast for dynastic wealth, particularly when 6 billion others have much poorer hands than we do in life.”

Note—This is only a list, so doesn’t include a lot of information. If you want to learn more, check out the person or group’s name on the internet.

Wal-Mart Watch

Wal-Mart Watch spends 5 million annually to push anti Wal-Mart laws in many states. Andy Stern says of his purpose: “My goal is to get Wal-Mart leadership out there to say we need a national health-care system that works for every one. (The Atlantic June 2006)

Brad Pitt and Angline Jolie

Brad and Angline are deliberately pulling paparazzi to Africa because they might just as well photograph a place that needs the worlds attention. Also, they sold the first photo of their daughter Shiloh for 4 million and will give the proceeds to charity. (Yes, the angels agreed this could be included on the list).

Doctor Ingida Asfaw

Doctor Ingida Asfaw, a heart surgeon, recently won a $50,000 Volvo for Life award. He used his award to begin the first health clinic for the group he began, Ethiopian North American Health Professionals Associations six years ago. Groups of the 600 members travel to Ethiopia about three times a year and stay for two weeks at a time. Dr. Asfaw practices at Detroit Medical Center Hospitals. His list of achievements is too long to print here. (FP 6/30/06)

Joe’s Trailers

Doug Vandenberg, who heads Joe’s Trailers gave Camp Casey, a therapeutic horse camp for children battling cancer, a new Interstate, water-proof trailer, worth $1,600.00. Camp Casey travels to equine farms around the state for day long workshops. Now the group can haul their equipment beyond their home turf in Lansing. (FP 7/11/06) (I wasn’t sure if this type of gift fit on the page, but the angels said it did, so I include it here).

Andiamo Group

Joe Vicari who owns this group of 10 metro Italian restaurants has raised funds for Capuchin Soup Kitchen. This year, he is serving it too, and has pulled his great chiefs and staff to volunteer at the kitchen. As quoted in the Free Press, “Vicari has hit upon the karmic beauty of giving—it transforms the giver as well as the receiver.” The capuchin kitchen serves 2,200 meals a day to people who don’t make enough so they run out by the end of the month as well as people who are unable to work for various mental and emotional reasons. He asked his staff to join in the Capuchin Kitchen so they would get a life altering experience, I am sure they will.

Call'em Out

I don't know if the group fits this page because they have been gathering petitions to recall the council members and mayor of Detroit. It took three weeks to gather up $500.00, enough money to buy a spot on the radio to announce the effort. The reason I consider the money a donation for charity is because many people in Detroit can not pay the excessive tax bill, it will be an act of charity to recall the council and mayor. All the money the group collects is used for this purpose. (I am told that when citizens in Livonia started a recall petition, they gathered up $20,000 on the first day. This fact points out the difficulties the Call’em Out group must overcome to stop injustice in their city.) Article by Desiree Cooper, 8/29/06.

George Soros

I just read on the web in Yahoo News that George Soros pledged $50 million to help the United Nations fight extreme poverty in Africa. There is a project called Millennium Villages which will provide bed nets and fertilizers, school lunches, and treatment.

(The angels told me they pointed me to this news item on the web because I hadn’t found anything in the newspaper lately, and they had promised to keep the news coming). (Reuters Limited 9/13/06)

Fisher and Peter Commings

The couple just donated $5 million to the Cranbrook Educational Community. Fisher Commings graduated from Cranbrook in 1973 and believed in the school’s value so much she moved back to Michigan so her children could go there. Her gift will help build a new middle school for girls called Cranbrook Kingswood School.

(I wasn’t going to put the gift here because I always considered Cranbrook wealthy enough. I tend towards snobbery in the other direction sometimes. I apologize. Besides, the angels told me it belongs here). (9/15/06)

Richard Branson

I just read in the newspaper that Mr. Branson is a British billionaire, who controls Virgin Group Ltd, is contributing $3 billion over the next ten years to fight global warming. Mr. Branson’s contribution will be fighting what might be the greatest problem the earth will ever face.

The Clinton Global Initiative

This is a group I never heard of before, but it too has just raised a large sum of money to fight global warming, $5.7 billion. This is a group of business, government, and nonprofit leaders who address poverty, health, and climate change. It warms my heart to know they care so much.

Detroit Renaissance

The corporate leadership of Detroit Renaissance, Doug Rothwell, President, intends to donate $300,000 each year to the City of Detroit for the purpose of attracting new business. This will be matched with grants from local foundations and other money which will swell the donation to $1,000,000 a year. “The money will help the Detroit Economic-Growth corporation, [President, George Jackson], a quasi-public arm of city government, target retailers for downtown storefronts to big industrial users who may seek factory space within the city.”

(All the references on these pages comes from the Detroit Free Press Newspaper unless stated otherwise).