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NYT: Jobs family more charitable than previously believed
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NewsPoster
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May 24, 2013, 12:41 PM
 
A report in The New York Times on Steve Jobs' widow and anonymous charitable giving in Silicon Valley has revealed that Steve Jobs was more involved in philanthropic causes than previously believed. Mostly through the efforts of his wife, Laureen Powell-Jobs, Jobs funneled money through her charitable LLC in order to give money to causes selectively and anonymously. Powell-Jobs is well-known for her involvement in various causes.

Powell-Jobs has a long history of contributing to and leading educational organizations, and has recently been more publicly involved in immigration policy -- particularly the DREAM Act -- as well as nutrition and conservation. In the NYT piece, she described her and Jobs' approach to charitable giving as being "really careful about amplifying the great work of others in every way that we can, and we don't like attaching our names to things."

She revealed that she and Jobs had been actively involved in selected giving for more than 20 years, ironically discrediting earlier reporting in the same newspaper, which in 2011 painted a picture of Steve Jobs as an uncaring billionaire who never contributed to causes, in spite of Jobs' direct involvement and approval of US frontman Bono's (product) RED initiative fighting AIDs in Africa. Later, current CEO Tim Cook detailed both past and present charitable efforts Apple has made over the years, ranging from donating computers to the 9/11 families to a Cook-initiated program (from just before Jobs' death) where Apple would match charitable contributions by employees to a wide variety of supported charities.

Bono additionally noted that Apple has been the largest contributor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, giving tens of millions towards HIV testing and related services. Jobs was also behind a $50 million donation to Stanford hospitals, where he sought treatment for his pancreatic cancer, and likely gave other money to the college due to his close relationship to the institution.

Jobs clearly wanted to keep his contributions private, and even refused to discuss the subject with his biographer. He also didn't participate in Bill Gates' "Giving Pledge," which encourages super-rich individuals to donate their fortunes to charity. Since his death, Powell-Jobs has taken a more public role in advocating for causes -- serving on the White House Council for Community Solutions, taking a position on the governing board of Stanford, and still serving as president of the education-promotion organization College Track, which encourages inner-city and minority youth to complete college.
     
sadsister1957
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May 24, 2013, 02:44 PM
 
What is sad is that Steve and Laurene has a nephew who lived with them for a brief time in the early 90's but did not help with his education or finances after Laurene talked Steve into kicking him out of the house after only two weeks from moving here from L.A. The kid needed help that his mother couldn't give at that time and begged for Steve and Laurene's help for the teenager to get him started again in the bay area. He ended up on the streets until the mother could take him back to their home. Sad. The mother and son struggled for years and years.
     
Spheric Harlot
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May 24, 2013, 02:46 PM
 
Originally Posted by sadsister1957 View Post
What is sad is that Steve and Laurene has a nephew who lived with them for a brief time in the early 90's but did not help with his education or finances after Laurene talked Steve into kicking him out of the house after only two weeks from moving here from L.A. The kid needed help that his mother couldn't give at that time and begged for Steve and Laurene's help for the teenager to get him started again in the bay area. He ended up on the streets until the mother could take him back to their home. Sad. The mother and son struggled for years and years.
Okay, I'll bite:

What?
     
hayesk
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May 24, 2013, 03:21 PM
 
sadsister1957, you're going to need a citation to expect anyone to believe that.
     
DiabloConQueso
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May 24, 2013, 04:21 PM
 
Some people donate to a cause and then bask in the recognition of being a donor.

Some people simply donate to a cause.

It's sad that if you don't stand up and say, "Hey, HEY! LOOK WHAT I DID!" that people assume that you've done nothing.
     
TheGreatButcher
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May 24, 2013, 05:39 PM
 
Charity is not about a public pissing contest into who can give away more. Unfortunately, the media generally gets more reading on sensational and anecdotal stories, hence their version of Steve the non-charitable bad guy could never be as cool as Bill Gates the philanthropist.
     
Arty50
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May 24, 2013, 07:47 PM
 
I recently attended one of the College Track graduation ceremonies, and you can't find a finer organization.
"My friend, there are two kinds of people in this world:
those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig."

-Clint in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"
     
Shaddim
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May 28, 2013, 03:10 AM
 
Originally Posted by sadsister1957 View Post
What is sad is that Steve and Laurene has a nephew who lived with them for a brief time in the early 90's but did not help with his education or finances after Laurene talked Steve into kicking him out of the house after only two weeks from moving here from L.A. The kid needed help that his mother couldn't give at that time and begged for Steve and Laurene's help for the teenager to get him started again in the bay area. He ended up on the streets until the mother could take him back to their home. Sad. The mother and son struggled for years and years.
I've not found evidence to support any of this. Furthermore, it appears that you created this account simply to spread misinformation regarding this one story. If true, that's pathetic.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
     
Doc HM
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May 28, 2013, 03:33 AM
 
Originally Posted by NewsPoster View Post
US frontman Bono's
I suspect they mean U2 frontman Bono, but Irish would have done, or more accurately Irish but "based firmly in luxembourg in order to avoid more tax than Product RED could dream of raising in charitable donations" would also cover it.
This space for Hire! Reasonable rates. Reach an audience of literally dozens!
     
   
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