Prince William Takes After His Mother on Charitable Pursuits

He is the world’s most beloved crown prince and was, until recently, the most eligible bachelor alive. With his charming good looks and bashful smile, Prince William Arthur Philip Louis, is one of the most sought-after personalities followed by the international media. His high-profile life is well-documented; everyone saw him as the young boy who trotted behind his well-loved mother, the dashing teen overcome with grief with her passing, and the blissful husband to Catherine Middleton.

Aside from being one of Britain’s royals, Prince William is also a compassionate human being.  Taking after her mother, the Duke of Cambridge has supported various organizations ever since he was a young lad.
The prince is Royal Patron to Tusk Trust, an organization that protects the wildlife in Africa, supports communities and promotes education. He became patron of this charity in 2005 and has been supporting its ultimate aim of securing a peaceful coexistence for Africa’s wildlife and its people since. Back then, his commitments to Tusk Trust was fitted around his military training schedule. Today, Prince William has introduced his bride into the organization and together they have been active benefactors to the charity.

The prince also founded a charitable organization with his younger brother Prince Harry in 2009. It was reported that the royal brothers used the money left to them by their mother to fund causes for underprivileged children and wounded servicemen. Although their charity will not be in a position to make grants for a few more years, the royals have pledged their life-long commitment.

Other organizations the prince has supported include Child Bereavement Charity, Diana Awards, Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, Help for Heroes, Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, National AIDS Trust, Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Wedding Charity Fund, Sentebale, Skill Force, Teenage Cancer Trust, and The Countryside Foundation For Education.

Polaris Project Leads the Fight Against Human Trafficking

“Slavery still exists. Be a part of the movement to end it.” Such bold and challenging statements will greet you on the Polaris Project’s website. Although this grassroots organization is relatively new, having been established in 2002, it has been successful in creating comprehensive approach to combat human trafficking and modern-day slavery. In fact, the organization prides itself for donating 90% of their funding to programs. Their commitments have landed them a spot Marie Claire’s top 10 best charities.

The founders of the Polaris Project are Katherine Chon and Derek Ellerman, who were seniors at Brown University when they founded this organization. Their concern about human trafficking began when they discovered that this inhumane act was happening in their neighborhood. When the issue became personal, Chon and Ellerman founded Polaris Project to combat trafficking in America and abroad.

The organization applies what they learn from human trafficking survivors to create long-term solutions. They are striving for systematic change – and do so by lobbying for stronger federal and state laws. The Polaris Project also operates the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline 1.888.3737.888. Victims or concerned people located all over the world can call this number anytime to get immediate help and guidance.

Aside from operating this emergency hotline, the Polaris Project also conducts public outreach and communications; it also provides training and technical assistance to local, national and international audiences. In addition, another project involves running strategic campaigns that will appy pressure on criminal trafficking networks and their support structures.

The Polaris Project is noted for its ability to remain on top of human trafficking situations especially in the United States. In 2009, they shed light on how runaways use sex for survival – how young teens, placed in a situation of despair and ignorance, voluntarily traffic their bodies to survive. Reported by the New York Times, this story raised the awareness of parents and local communities, which led to immediate and ongoing action to save the runaways.

A Wish to See Michelle Kwan

The world of figure skating would never be the same without Michelle Kwan. As a graceful dancer, she has taken on the world by storm with her flawless signature spiral.

photo via Kevin Rushforth

Kwan can be considered as the most decorated figure skater in American history. She has competed at the highest level for over a decade. She is known for artistry and consistency on the ice, captivating viewers with such display of effortless grace and fluidity. Throughout the years, Kwan was able to maintain her status as one of the most popular figure skaters and female athletes of all time – two titles that not many can claim.

Kwan’s unprecedented popularity grew even more when she decided to do philanthropic acts towards others. She used her numerous million-dollar commercial deals, appearances and endorsements to set the wheels in motion. Wielding her resources, Kwan was able to find the perfect young woman to help and make a simple wish come true: Leah Smith.

Just over two years ago, Kwan and Leah Smith, a pediatric heart-transplant survivor, skated together for the first time. Smith was a self-confessed staunch supporter of Kwan, and one of her biggest wishes was to meet and skate with the popular figure skater. Without hesitation, Kwan prepared a memorable event for the both of them, one ice skater to another.

When they met, Kwan and Smith immediately clicked. Both women lived and breathed figure skating, and Kwan was more than willing to teach a few tricks and techniques to her number one fan. Smith, on the other hand, was ecstatic. Who knew that a girl like her, who was probably too weak to become a professional figure skater, would get a rare opportunity such as this? That day left both skaters something to treasure and remember for a long time.

To this day, Kwan continues to inspire other girls to pursue their dreams with acts of charity and generosity.

UnionBank's Community Commitment

UnionBank is one of the leading companies in the financial services industry. A full-service commercial bank, the company provides an array of financial services to private individuals and small to large-scale companies. These services include private banking, investment and financial management, trust services, insurance services and global custody services.

But aside from investing in customers, companies and employees, UnionBank also invests in communities. This Fortune 500 Company has long been implementing a commitment to the community as part of their corporate social responsibility. As part of their 10-year community commitment, Union Bank has allotted at least two percent of their annual after-tax net profit for charity work.

During the first six years of their pledge, Union Bank has donated an estimated sum of $72 million. Their increasing support to non-profits organizations was first recorded in 1995, when Union Bank nearly tripled their charitable contribution. Five years later, the bank’s charitable investment totaled $10.1 million in grants and investments to finance chosen NGOs.

Union Bank’s charitable commitment is achieved through grants and investments made by the Union Bank Foundation. The bank initiates contributions and sponsorships, but there is also a way for people and organizations to apply for a charitable request. Union Bank Foundation’s online application makes it easy for anyone to submit a sponsorship or grant request; all they need to do is to sign up and choose the most appropriate application that best corresponds to their charitable request.

Some of the recipients of Union Banks’s foundation grants are the American Red Cross, Arts in Education Aid Council, Inc., California Housing Partnership Corporation, Chicana Latina Foundation, and Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing. Corporate contributions were distributed to the American Cancer Society, Asian Pacific Fund, Voices for Children, and many more.

As an industry leader, Union Bank is continuously helping the rest of the community achieve their goals through charity.

The KeyBank Foundation

Being the 19th largest bank in the United States based on total deposits, and the 24th based on total assets, KeyBank was only formed in 1994, and has become one of the major players in the finance services industry. They now have over 17,000 employees handling diverse client base – spanning from retail, small business, corporate, and investment clients. Out of that 17,000, a small yet significant group makes the company’s role of extending to the rest of the community.  The KeyBank Foundation, through its civic programs, volunteerism support organizations and corporate contributions, fosters economic self-sufficiency in the society wherein it operates.

The KeyBank Foundation is viewed as one of the most effective corporate, non-profit charitable foundations in the United States. Funded by KeyCorp, the organization was first named in 1969 as Society Foundation. They became known as Key Foundation in 1996 and KeyBank Foundation thirteen years later in 2009.

The KeyBank Foundation has pledged their help to the community by being a corporate neighbor. They take an active role in the advancement of economic self-sufficiency through funding priorities.  By giving financial support, the KeyBank Foundation helps communities and individuals prosper.

They offer three funding priorities, namely Financial Education to foster effective financial management and understanding; Workforce Development to train people and give them better access or placement to job opportunities; and Diversity to promote inclusive environments  and improve the access of individuals coming from different backgrounds.

The KeyBank Foundation provides support through grants, sponsorships, matching gifts, community leadership gifts, and volunteers. As much as they would like to support all worthwhile endeavors, the company has to set limits. Grants are not made available to individuals, fraternal organizations, athletic teams, advertisements, and organizations outside the United States.

In 2009 and 2010, the KeyBank Foundation’s total contributions reached $18.1 million. A projected increase in funding for community development can be expected in the years to come.

The Global Philanthropy of JP Morgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase is one of the oldest financial institutions in the United States. Their history dates back over 200 years, but they have managed to break old traditions to provide clients with modern services. Today, the company is the leading global financial services firm with assets worth $2.2 trillion. They operate in more than 60 countries, serving millions of consumers, small businesses and many of the world's most prominent clients from different sectors. 

With all these achievements under their belt, JPMorgan Chase is undeniably a leader in financial services for consumers, small business and commercial banking.

But like any other successful company, JPMorgan Chase recognizes their responsibility to the society that helped them reach the top of their game. As they become one of the world's most influential global financial institutions, their philanthropy has also evolved. 

The company’s goal is to become a catalyst for positive and sustainable change within less privileged communities across the globe. Last year alone, JPMorgan Chase donated $150 million worth of grants and sponsorships to thousands of non-profit organizations across more than 25 countries. In a smaller scale, the company also supports the interests of their employees through the Matching Gift and volunteer programs.

The firm’s charitable programs are focused on three areas. They are: community development, education, arts, and culture. JPMorgan Chase is working with the best community-based partners to provide support to families in poverty-stricken neighborhoods, giving them long-term solutions to alleviate the quality of their lives. Disadvantaged children can also benefit from high-quality educational opportunities initiated by the company. Teachers are also taught to deepen their knowledge and become more effective educators for the youth. Last but not the least, the company considers arts and culture an integral part in the education of the youth. As such, JPMorgan Chase builds the capacity of community-based arts institutions for local cultural and economic revival.

Morgan Stanley's Commitment to Help Underprivileged Kids

Since its inception in 1935, Morgan Stanley has given a completely new meaning and purpose to financial services. The firm is considered a pioneer in creating new platforms and providing sound advice to clients about strategic transactions. They have paved the way to global expansion in finance and capital markets, and provided opportunities for small and large scale investors.

But their commitment lies not only in the financial services industry, but also to social responsibility. The Morgan Stanley International Foundation (MSIF) is committed to making positive impacts in communities in several continents, including Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Their community affairs programs involve employee volunteer engagement, children’s health, education, employee charity support and funding.

In the employee volunteer engagement program, Morgan Stanley encourages employees to share their time and expertise in community outreach programs. These outreach programs could either be mentoring disadvantaged students or participating in a charity board.

Morgan Stanley also realizes the need for financial support in the children’s healthcare sector. In partnership with several charitable institutions, the company focuses on supporting young people up to 18 years of age by giving them access to quality healthcare.

The Morgan Stanley International Foundation also supports programs that are predominantly based in schools to ensure a child’s academic achievement and employability skills. There are many state-funded schools that have received the help of MSIF, and countless children from ages four to 21 have received proper education through them.

The company also supports the personally selected charities of their employees. Through the Employee Volunteer Incentive Program (EVIP), MSIF provides assistance to a wide range of charities and organizations where employees volunteer their commitment.

Morgan Stanley has reached out to underprivileged kids in Singapore a few years ago, which is an example of their commitment to uplifting children’s rights and welfare. The company also holds a record in charity donation with a £10m contribution to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for children in the United Kingdom.