Yesterday, the Mile High United Way board of trustees presented the 2008 Philanthropy Roundtable in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention festivities in Denver.  The dynamic discussion, held in the Boettcher Concert Hall, engaged accomplished individuals with a particular interest in the subject of philanthropy as a driving, personal force for change in the nation and world today.

Panelists included:
• Moderator: Walter Isaacson, CEO, Aspen Institute
• Diana Aviv, President & CEO, Independent Sector
• Dr. Lawrence Brilliant, Executive Director, Google.org
• Eli Broad, Founder, The Broad Foundations
• Caz Matthews, President, WellPoint Foundation
• Tim Marquez, CEO, Venoco, Inc.
• Mary Robinson, Former President, Ireland
• Rick Schaden, Founder, Consumer Capital Partners
• Ted Turner, Chairman of the Board, UN Foundation
• Jane Wales, Co-Founder, Global Philanthropy Forum
• Ambassador Andrew Young, Chairman, Goodworks International

Wealthy private citizens are increasingly seizing the reins and unilaterally attacking local and global issues via direct, engaged philanthropy. Similarly-motivated, corporations are increasingly challenging their clients and their employees to engage in coordinated, widely-publicized philanthropic campaigns.

The interchange between participants electrified the audience with a diversity of passions from climate change and the arts to education and human rights.

Ted Turner knew he needed to give back when he found himself a “little richer” than he had ever dreamed.

“Two billion people live on less than $2 a day,” he said.  “I had to do something.”

Rick Schaden said he woke up one morning in his late 30’s and it hit him: what have I done for my community?

“People want to give, they just need some help with the how part,” said Schaden.

Mary Robinson, the first female president of Ireland and human rights activist praised the US as a catalyst for change.  “The US makes it easy for philanthropists to give through the tax structure,” she said.

The keyword in nearly every panelist’s vocabulary:  collaboration. The panel agreed on how the three US sectors: government, business and nonprofit can use different lenses to examine complex social problems.  Essentially, all three sectors need to leverage each other to create long-term solutions. 

Many panelists also expressed their appreciation for young people as a force of good in our country.

“Young people don’t just go into business anymore; they have a strong social conscience and want to give back right away, “said Larry Brilliant.  “I believe our species has improved.”