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June 2007

Social Responsibility and Strategic Philanthropy Networks Team Up for Impact

The YPO Social Responsibility Network and Strategic Philanthropy Network had their kick-off meeting in San Francisco from 15-17 May 2007. The event was titled, “Integrating Philanthropy and Corporate Strategy: Maximize Both Business and Community Impact.” It was attended by YPOers and WPOers who wanted to learn how Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Strategic Philanthropy could be integrated into their businesses and to connect with other YPO/WPO members engaged in this space.

Following introductions, Robert Haas, chairman of Levi Strauss & Co., gave a brief history of LS & Co. and talked about the role of CSR and Community Investment (CI) in LS & Co.’s ongoing business success. Bob explained why CSR and CI were a priority for LS & Co. and how they supported the company’s success. Bob also talked about his own journey as a leader, how he learned to lead with values, and how he had to deal with tough market conditions and still maintain Levi’s commitment to CSR and CI.

The next session brought together individual YPO/WPO members to talk about why they were engaged in the Social Responsibility and Strategic Philanthropy Networks, and what challenges and successes they have experienced leading with values and delivering strong social, environmental and ethical performance.

The meeting continued over dinner, with YPO/WPO members joined by guests Aron Cramer, president of Business for Social Responsibility, and Stephen Jordan of the Business Civic Leadership Center of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Day Two of the joint meeting started with a panel discussion on the role of senior executives in driving CSR. The panel featured Stephen Jordan and Steve Rochlin, head of AccountAbility North America.

Attendees also participated in an interactive Q&A session on managing CSR, while maintaining focus on business targets, with executives from IBM and LS & Co. This was followed by an interactive exercise led by Rochlin. The exercise helped participants form and enhance a high-level CSR strategy for their businesses.  Participants also discussed direction and strategy for the Social Responsibility and Strategic Philanthropy Networks and formulated plans for their future activities.

For more information about the Social Responsibility Network, please contact Mark Van Ness (Southern California) at mark@svn.com. For more information about the Strategic Philanthropy Network, please contact Doug Mellinger (Fairchester) at dmellinger@foundationsource.com.

Economic Development Network:  Microfinance Forum Attendees Energized in Dominican Republic

From 21-25 May 2007, approximately 20 members of the Microfinance Action Forum joined forces with Opportunity International for their annual meeting to learn what has helped the poorest areas in the world. Drew Smith (YPO Alumni) was day chair for the event, coordinating with the Forum and Opportunity International to deliver great value from the Dominican Republic meeting.

“We wanted to expand our knowledge base and get exposure to unique aspects of microfinance,” said Smith. “For example, Opportunity International has set up legal banks in Africa and elsewhere. This is a major strategic shift. It is going from a non-profit to for-profit, focused on serving the poorest of the working poor.” Smith added that this change has given Africans and other impoverished people access to loans, savings vehicles, insurance and the ability to leverage contributed dollars by up to seven to one.

These were precisely the insights and experiences that the Microfinance Forum members were looking for, including ways that Opportunity International has pioneered and reinvented services to give poor people more means for becoming self-sufficient. They heard from some of the greatest minds in microfinance and got an insider’s look at Opportunity International’s major shift in strategy.

The Forum members also went out into the poor regions of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where they could see how microfinance is working. “We saw people who are living in extreme poverty and could see how their lives are changing because of the efforts by Opportunity International,” said Smith. “This self-help process provides the economic resources to help these families lift themselves out of poverty and educate their children, frequently resulting in breaking the cycle of poverty in one generation.”

The group took home many ideas on how their Forum could offer similar advancements to others throughout the globe.

 Helping Disadvantaged Kids Network:  Bringing Games and Compassion to El Salvador 16-21 July 2007, San Salvador, El Salvador

The Helping Disadvantaged Kids Network (HDKN) is sponsoring a mini-Olympic camp for 150 boys who live at the El Salvador government orphanage. WPOers, YPOers and their families will spend five days working with the boys, organizing them into teams, coaching them, celebrating victories and teaching through defeats. The Salvadoran boys at this orphanage range in age from six- to 16-years-old.

During the event from 16-21 July, WPO and YPO families will help the kids with tournaments and competitions in football (U.S. soccer), basketball, kickball, Whiffle ball, dodge ball, swimming and track races. There’s also a host of behind-the-scene needs for assembling prizes, team signs, standings boards, team logos and banners. The WPO and YPO family members will also help plan and create pizza and ice cream parties and a final “closing ceremony” dinner.

“These kids need you, and in a way, your kids need them,” said Event Champion Greg Garrett (YPO Virginia). “Getting to know others who live very different lives will make your children more passionate and compassionate. It also will show them that, no matter what life brings, people are the same everywhere.”

Click here to learn more and register.

 Village Partnership Action Forum:  Opening the Door to Northeastern Pakistan  3-10 September 2007

Save the Dates:  27-29 November in Boston - 2007 Social Enterprise Networks Summit