Billionaire Aids Charity That Aided Him

Sergey Brin, the Russian-born co-founder of Google, has donated $1-million to the Jewish organization most responsible for his childhood immigration to the United States. The gift to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society was the largest of several Mr. Brin gave to groups that assisted his family’s move from the Soviet Union 30 years ago, when he was 6. The aid society helped the Brins apply for visas, paid for transport, and gave them money as they moved from Russia to Paris to Maryland. “I would have never had the kinds of opportunities I’ve had here in the Soviet Union, or even in Russia today,” said Mr. Brin, who in recent months has publicly discussed giving away more of his estimated $16-billion fortune. “I would like to see anyone be able to achieve their dreams, and that’s what this organization does.”

Full-text post by Stephanie Strom is available via The New York Times, 10/24/09.

Schmidt ’76 donates $25 million for technology fund

Google’s chief executive, Eric Schmidt, has committed $25-million to establish a technology-innovation fund at his alma mater, Princeton University. The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Transformative Technology Fund will primarily provide support to professors to research new technologies or acquire innovative equipment that could have a major impact on the development of a particular field.

Full-text post by Andrew Sartorius is available via The Daily Princetonian, 10/14/09.

Rise of the Super-Rich Hits a Sobering Wall

The rich, as a group, are no longer getting richer. Over the last two years, they have become poorer. And many may not return to their old levels of wealth and income anytime soon.

Full-text article by David Leonhardt and Geraldine Fabrikant is available via The New York Times, 8.20.09.

Google Chief for Charity Steps Down on Revamp

Larry Brilliant, the high-profile leader of Google's philanthropic arm plans to step down and indicated that the organization may narrow its focus. He will become Google.org's chief philanthropy evangelist, a role that he said would involve identifying "big ideas" and potential partners. Megan Smith will take over from Brilliant while keeping her current role at Google of vice president of new business development.

Full-text blog post by Verne Kopytoff is available via SFGate.com, 2.23.09.

Philanthropy Google’s Way: Not the Usual

The founders of Google have set up a philanthropy, giving it seed money of about $1 billion and a mandate to tackle poverty, disease and global warming.

But unlike most charities, this one will be for-profit, allowing it to fund start-up companies, form partnerships with venture capitalists and even lobby Congress. It will also pay taxes.

Full-text article by Katie Hafner is available via the New York Times, 9.14.08.

Google for Nonproft Groups

The Internet search company Google has opened a “new portal” for nonprofit groups that explains how to adopt various Google applications for charitable work.

Full-text article by Sam Kean is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 3.19.08. [Subscription required.]

Google and Nonprofit Hospital Seek New Approach to Online Health

Google has formed a pilot program with the nonprofit academic medical center Cleveland Clinic to help patients gain more control over their online medical data, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Under the pilot program, Google officials say that patients in the Cleveland Clinic system will be able to gain access to their medical records at any time through a Google online health profile and can securely share medical information as needed.

Full-text article by Christopher Lawton is available via The Wall Street Journal, 2.21.08.

Soros, Omidyar, and Google Collaborate to Finance Enterprises in India

The Soros Economic Development Fund, the Omidyar Network, and Google.org have announced that they are teaming up in a $17-million venture to finance small and medium-size enterprises in India, reports Reuters.

Full-text article by Rina Chandran and John Mair is available via Reuters, 2.20.08.