Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Muhammad Yunus, Jet Li and Victor Pinchuk discussed challenges and prospects of global philanthropy in times of crisis

During the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation hosted the 2nd Davos Philanthropic Roundtable. The event gathered founders and leaders of the foremost philanthropic institutions of the world.

Among the Roundtable participants was a former Prime Minister of the Great Britain (1997-2007) Tony Blair, 42nd President of the USA Bill Clinton, founder of Microsoft Corporation and the largest charity foundation Bill Gates, British businessman and philanthropist Richard Branson, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus and Jet Li, an actor and philanthropist.

The main topic of the discussion was destiny of the philanthropic activities in the period of crisis: what impact the global economic crisis will have on philanthropy, how the charity crisis will reflect on society and whether philanthropy will be able to fill main social needs and requirements of people in times when the assets of the charity foundations decrease and the number of people needing a helping hand increase.

The leaders of the top philanthropic organisations of the world have concluded that philanthropy, even in hard times of crisis, will remain a significant factor of society life. But it should look for new forms and methods and actively introduce business approaches.

"What we experience right now in this room - is a moment of truth for philanthropy and philanthropists, - highlighted in his opening speech the Roundtable organiser, public figure and businessman Victor Pinchuk. - Ideas are more important than money. It is bad when there is no money left. But it's much worse when there are no more ideas, because the most important thing is what we have in our minds and hearts."

The global economic crisis does not mean crisis of philanthropy, as noted by Tony Blair. "Our main task in this difficult time is to prove that philanthropy exists and it will continue to help people and society" - he highlighted. In Tony Blair's opinion, crisis - is the time to review and adjust methods of charity activity, and employ systematic business approach in this field. "Charity must transform into a true entrepreneurship. It is important to have people like Muhammad Yunus, Richard Branson and Victor Pinchuk, who, whilst being philanthropists, do not quit their businesses, but implement business tactics in their charity activity."

Bill Clinton stated that today's philanthropy has to work on solving complex social and environmental problems in the circumstances when "there is little money available". According to Clinton, any charity foundation in this situation should follow three vital guidelines - clear priorities definition, mandatory concentration on healthcare and philanthropy expansion projects, and also engagement of more and more people in this field of activities. "It is important that we stop asking how much money will be provided and start questioning what to do and how to proceed" - stated Clinton.

Jet Li outlined the importance of engaging in charity as many people as possible. "In fact, it is not necessarily to give a lot for charity. It's crucial that everyone gives and so that the act of donating for charity becomes an integral part of a human's life - becomes a common practice", emphasised the actor.

Muhammad Yunus, the "founding father of micro-credits", also supported the aforementioned judgement. In his view, in the period of crisis philanthropy should seek out new forms. "Having invested resources only once, a new form of activity should allow building a model that will expand, generate finance and at the same time have a significant social effect", underlined Yunus, stressing on the importance of entrepreneurship in critical time.

Photos from the Davos Philanthropic Roundtable are available on the Victor Pinchuk Foundation website at http://pinchukfund.org/ru/media/photo-gallery/2009/979.html.

Detailed information from the Davos Philanthropic Roundtable will be available on the Victor Pinchuk Foundation website (pinchukfund.org) in due course.

Background:

A philanthropic meeting point organised by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation in Davos during Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, Davos Philanthropic Roundtable is aimed at developing philanthropy in Ukraine and increasing effectiveness of social projects. Main theme of the Second Davos Philanthropic Roundtable, entitled "From Philanthrocapitalism to Philanthrocrisis", was the impact of the economic crisis on philanthropy and perspectives of philanthropy development.

The key speakers at the event were the dignitaries who have significantly contributed to the development of a new model of philanthropy: 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton; former
Prime-Minister Of Great Britain Tony Blair; businessman and philanthropist Richard Branson; Laureate of 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Muhammad Yunus; actor and founder of the One Foundation Jet Li, founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates and also Victor Pinchuk, the Roundtable organiser, public leader and businessman. Matthew Bishop, Chief Business Editor of The Economist and co-author of the book "Philanthrocapitalism: How the Rich Can Save the World" was a moderator of the discussion.

Davos Ukrainian Lunch, organised by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation since 2005, will take place on 30 January 2009 in Davos. The objective of the conference is to promote Ukraine among Western elites and help better understand political and investment climate of the country. This year's Lunch "Crisis: In & Out" is to focus on such issues as the impact of the economic crisis on Ukraine and the whole world, as well as feasible strategies for crisis tackling.

The key speakers at the Davos Ukrainian Lunch include Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine on European and International Integration Hryhory Nemyrya; Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Ex-speaker of Parliament of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk; financier, investor and philanthropist George Soros; famous columnist of The New York Times newspaper Thomas Friedman.
The former European Commissioner for External Relations, Chancellor of the University of Oxford and Co-chairman of the International Crisis Group Chris Pattern will moderate the discussion.

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation (pinchukfund.org)

Established in 2006 by a businessman and philanthropist Victor Pinchuk, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation is one of the largest Ukrainian private philanthropic organisations. The Foundation develops and implements social projects aimed at modernising Ukraine and fostering a new generation of Ukrainian leaders.

The Foundation's priority fields of activities are health care, education, culture, human rights, Ukraine's global integration and local communities' development.

Among the largest projects of the Foundation are: the "Cradles of Hope" programme for opening neonatal health care centres throughout Ukraine, student scholarship programme "Zavtra.UA", the PinchukArtCentre contemporary art institution, international network YES (Yalta European Strategy) to support Ukraine's aspirations for European integration.

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation is a member of European Fund Centre and Ukrainian Grant makers Forum and partner of the Yalta European Strategy (YES). The Foundation cooperates with Clinton's Global Initiative and other non-governmental organisations.

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