Charitably Speaking

 

The range of businessmen's avocations ("Where Does The Money Go?" November 1983) certainly confirms, as you say, that "America's successful entrepreneurs are as imaginative out of the office as they are in it." What I find very disturbing, however, is that philanthropy -- in terms of both money and creative time -- is conspicuously absent from the hobbies of those "successful entrepreneurs." Only 1 of the 15 cases presented -- Arty Elgart, a.k.a. Mr. Stork -- describes time and money spent in truly helping others.

Most of the successful and wealthy people that I know donate six-figure-plus sums annually to worthy causes, such as private colleges and universities, the American Cancer Society, United Jewish Appeal, etc. These same people also chair local organizations, run telethons, sit on boards, and dedicate much of their creative and organizational skills -- not only their money -- to these charities.

Spending $125,000 to conduct a symphony or $100,000 to refurbish a railroad car is certainly unique. But, donating equal sums to help develop schools or cure cancer seems to me to warrant equal consideration.

Perhaps you could title that story "The Munificent Obsessions of Successful Entrepreneurs."