Do It Yourself

Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus is working with John Ratzenberger to build interest in the skilled trades.

By Jonathan V. Last

From Philanthropy magazine, Spring 2011

Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot, is working with the Center for America and John Ratzenberger to build interest in the skilled trades. For Marcus, doing it yourself is an essential part of being an American. It means being able to take control of your own life, shaping your own destiny, daring to accomplish more than you imagine possible.

Building Men

How Henry Rowan and Gerry Lenfest secured the foundation of the Williamson Free School, America’s premier trade school for deserving young men.

By Christopher Levenick

From Philanthropy magazine, Spring 2011

Learn how Henry Rowan and Gerry Lenfest secured the foundation of the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, a tuition-free trade school for under-privileged young men. Williamson has been teaching craftsmanship and character for over a century, and thanks to Rowan and Lenfest, it has been able to continue its mission, even in the aftermath of a devastating recession.

Expanding Entrepreneurship

Two donor-led programs are reaching out to overlooked populations: recently wounded combat veterans and Detroit-based entrepreneurs.

By Matthew Bishop and Michael Green

From Philanthropy magazine, Spring 2011

Martin Whitman and Dan Gilbert are expanding entrepreneurship to previously overlooked populations: recently wounded combat veterans and Detroit-based entrepreneurs. Their programs--Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities and Bizdom U--prepare participants to start and scale successful businesses by offering the training and mentorship that promising entrepreneurs need.

Interview with Andrew Grove

The Angry Philanthropist

From Philanthropy magazine, Spring 2011

Andrew Grove is angry with philanthropy, and he thinks other donors should be angrier too. The former CEO of Intel uses his anger to fuel his giving, and he recently spoke with ‘Philanthropy’ about his work in vocational education, American philanthropy—and other things that make him angry.