Philanthropist

Inside the Head & Heart of a Philanthropist

At each of our Seminars, we attempt to have a philanthropist join us for a very special session. Registrants have an opportunity to examine and probe the thinking and spirit of a philanthropist.

You discover their chief motivation for giving, how they like to be called on and by whom, the role of campaign literature, the importance of tax, and a dozen other issues.

Here is a brief biographical sketch of the men and women who are participating. Each is an extraordinary person you will thoroughly enjoy.

Ann Kaplan is the Chair of the Circle Financial Group, an investment think tank. The members are all women, all of significant resources. The purpose of the group is to analyze the capital markets and leverage their funds for investment and philanthropic opportunities. Ann joined Goldman, Sachs & Co. in 1977. She was one of the first women to become a General Partner. During her last three years at the firm, she was a member of the Asset Management Division focusing on wealth management.

She serves on the boards of Financial Guaranty Insurance Company and Signature Bank. She also serves on the national board of the American Red Cross, and is a trustee of Columbia University, Smith College, the Museum of Art & Design and the Women’s World Banking.

Ann and her husband donate $3 million a year to a wide variety of philanthropic programs. She is not only going to be interviewed as one of our philanthropists, she is going to be on the faculty of our Seminar in Hydra (The Hydra Experience).

Richard P. Simmons is one of Pittsburgh’s most significant donors. He is also a major donor to his alma mater, MIT, where he is a Life-Trustee.

His most recent gift, in February, was to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. It was a gift of $5 million. He is currently chairman of the Pittsburgh Symphony which is undertaking a major capital campaign at this time. He is a Life Director of the Symphony. He ended his professional career at Allegheny Ludlum Corporation where he was Chief Executive Officer. He has served as a member of the board of seven major corporations. He has Honorary Doctorates from four universities.

His generosity extends to organizations throughout the Pittsburgh and Allegheny County area. He is also one of the most influential and notable leaders in the region— having chaired just about every major recent campaign.

Martha Ingram succeeded her late husband as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ingram Industries, an $11 billion distribution conglomerate based in Nashville, Tennessee. She is recognized as one of the nation’s top executives.

When she attended Vassar, she developed a love for the performing arts and has been sharing that devotion with others ever since. She is chair of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and is on the boards of the Tennessee Repertory Theatre, the Nashville City Ballet, the Nashville Opera Association, the Nashville Institute for the Arts, and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. She also serves on the board of directors of the nationally renowned Spoleto Festival USA. She is chair of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust and a trustee of Ashley Hall School at Vassar College— and a major contributor to each. The family’s gift to Vanderbilt University was the largest to an institution of higher learning in the history of the United States. She is currently completing a campaign for the Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville. Martha is their largest donor and their most faithful and ardent solicitor.