Charles Handy article on the possibility of collective philanthropic giving through the company that one works for. Handy begins the article discussing how the Getty Center sits atop a hillside in a part of Los Angeles, and how it seems destined to be the cultural heart of Los Angeles. He proceeds to observe that contemporary societies build art complexes to the glory of man’s creations, as opposed to the past, when they were built for the glory of God, observing that the Getty was financed from the legacy of one man alone and is thought to be the most expensive edifice ever built in the United States. He then notes that if a man and a society is remembered in the end for how they spent their money, rather than how they earned it, then J Paul Getty will be remembered as one of the cathedral builders for the new millennium, which, Handy argues, is one of the ultimate justifications for capitalism--it has the potential to leave a society better than it was before. Using the examples of Getty, George Soros, and Ted Turner, Handy goes on to note that philanthropy can redeem the more ugly side of capitalism, making it a more positive influence in the world. He concludes that, individually, people cannot hope to be philanthropic capitalists of any significance, but collectively, people could, suggesting that the companies we work for and jointly own as shareholders could do it on our behalf. According to Handy, this could be directly accomplished by companies asking their shareholders whether they would like to increase their corporate giving or have the plans offered to employees also offered to shareholders.
Handy, Charles B Management today series Getty Center (Los Angeles, Calif.) Getty, J. Paul (Jean Paul), 1892-1976 Meier, Richard, 1934- Capitalism Los Angeles (Calif.) Soros, George Turner, Ted, 1938- CNN & company (Television program) United Nations Gilbert, Dennis Handy, Elizabeth Arcaid Images (Firm) Philanthropy and society Philanthropists Shareholders
Source
Charles Handy article on the possibility of collective philanthropic giving through the company that one works for, 1997; Charles Handy Papers; Box 20, Folder 12; 1 page
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