The New Philanthropists

Who are the new philanthropists? And how is their philanthropy 'new'? In this remarkable and inspiring book, the eminent management writer Charles Handy and his wife Elizabeth, a portrait photographer, have collaborated to portray a new generation of practical philanthropists, men and women who have made their own fortunes and decided to move on from financial success to try to help those in need. They are doing so not simply by giving their money away to charities and agencies but by helping actively, working on the spot with the very people who need their aid, ensuring that the initiatives are sustainable in the longer term. As in their acclaimed "The New Alchemists", the Handys have both interviewed and photographed their subjects in order to tell their inspiring stories; from the Sydney restaurateur Jeff Gambin, who personally helps to cook hot and cold menus for homeless people; to Niall Mellon, a young Irish property developer who is replacing the shacks with breeze-block homes in a South African township; and Sara Davenport, who sold her art gallery and set up the breast-cancer care centre, the Haven Trust to offer integrated and holistic treatment and support. The new philanthropists are employing their own entrepreneurial and managerial skills to make their financial contributions work directly, reaching the people they want to help face to face. Mellon started his South African building project with a million Euros of seed money, but he also takes an airbus of volunteers from his native Ireland to work alongside the locals in constructing their new homes.