Executive Director’s Corner

Philanthropy: From Prometheus to the Present

Theresa S. Gonzales, DMD, MS, MSS, FACD

It is hard to imagine that it is time to draft the message for the Executive Director’s Corner for the August newsletter. Of all the information that we provide in our publications, this is perhaps my favorite message to draft. This issue of the ACD News is devoted almost exclusively to those who support the College and its myriad missions through their generosity of time, talent, and treasure. This issue also gives us a window to view all of the activities that are planned for the 2022 ACD Annual Meeting and Convocation. Clearly, there is much to celebrate as we make the final preparations to deliver a world-class event deep in the heart of Texas. A brand-new cohort of Fellows will be welcomed into the American College of Dentists’ family, and this alone is ample cause for celebration. Many of the opportunities that are made available to our Fellows are underwritten by the generous contributions of our Fellowship to the American College of Dentists’ Foundation. The Foundation is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year and we have planned many events to acknowledge this organizational milestone. This newsletter also includes our list of donors and by all accounts, philanthropy is alive and well in the College.

The word philanthropy is literally translated as the “love of humanity” and it is generally agreed that the first philanthropist was the Greek mythological figure, Prometheus. Legend has it that this Titan deity gave humanity two gifts to improve the human condition—fire and hope. In the late 19th and 20th centuries, industrialists like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and Cornelius Vanderbilt transformed modern philanthropy by the sheer scale of their giving. More recently, business

magnates Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are widely known for their philanthropy and their contributions to society. In fact, the Gates Foundation is reported to be the second-largest charitable foundation in the world, with an endowment of $49.9 billion. It is said that many munificent individuals spend much of their lives acquiring wealth and the remainder of their lives giving their fortunes away. Philanthropy takes many forms and there are many ways to give. What is common to all philanthropists is a loving desire to better the human condition. A less well-known philanthropist was the legendary peace activist and social reformer, Jane Addams. She famously opined that “action is the sole medium of ethics.” For Jane Addams, this was more than a catchphrase, it was her way of life. Young Jane was exceptionally gifted academically and at age 17, she graduated and was the valedictorian of Rockford Female Seminary. Shortly thereafter, she began to study of medicine with the expressed intention of service to the public as a physician but her medical school career was derailed by chronically poor health. Many years later on a trip to Europe with a colleague, she had the opportunity to visit a so-called settlement house in London and she soon realized that her life’s mission would be the creation of a settlement house and attending to the needs of those most vulnerable in society. Jane Addams lived out her creed of activism and philanthropy for the good of humanity by providing much-needed social services and compulsory education to working-class immigrants and laborers. It is said that Addams sought to foster a place where social progress, education, ethics, art, religion, peace, and happiness could be daily experiences. For her numerous contributions to the public good Jane Addams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931 and she continued to live and work at Hull House in Chicago until she departed this life in 1935. It is obvious when looking through a wider lens that philanthropy can take a number of forms and it does. It is said that philanthropy benefits

There is an old adage that suggests the “you should give until it hurts.” I would argue that “one should give until it feels good.” Philanthropy is a benefit in action and a centuries old method of imbuing values to successive generations.

Jane Addams. This work is from the George Grantham Bain collection at the Library of Congress. According to the library, there are no known copyright restrictions on the use of this work.

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds

you plant.” –Robert Louis Stevenson

society and creates opportunities. Opportunities create paths forward and generally more opportunities to create opportunity. The fundamental purpose of philanthropy, simply stated, is to serve others; although it is widely known that philanthropy provides considerable benefit to the philanthropist. Charity and philanthropy teach empathy and build emotional intelligence and create deeper connection with communities of interest. I would argue that “one should give until it feels good.” Philanthropy is a benefit in action and a centuriesold method of imbuing values to successive generations. Jane Addams believed that philanthropy is a mechanism that helps us negotiate the healing waters of human endeavor.

On behalf of the American College of Dentists in our 2nd century of service to humanity, we wish to thank those who have contributed to our ongoing efforts to “advance excellence, ethics, professionalism, and leadership in dentistry.” We look forward to welcoming you to your American College of Dentists’ family in Houston.

Registration for ACD 2022 Annual Meeting and Convocation is Open!

Visit www.acd.org/annual-meetings/ for more information and to register. Registration for Fellowship Candidates Ends August 31 Registration for Current Fellows Ends September 15 News of Fellows and Section News for the Fall Issue of the ACD News Due October 1, 2022 ACD 2022 Annual Meeting and Convocation October 12-13, 2022 Fellowship Nominations Due for ACD 2023 January 15, 2023 Ethics Scholarship Applications and National Award Nominations Due February 15, 2023 Section Awards and Model Section Designation Applications Due February 15, 2023 Nominations for Board of Regents Due March 1, 2023

CONTACT ACD News is published by American College of Dentists 103 North Adams Street Rockville, MD 20850 301-977-3223 • 888-ACD-1920 301-977-3330 fax spitman@acd.org • www.acd.org

EDITOR Theresa S. Gonzales, DMD, MS, MSS ASSISTANT EDITOR AND PUBLICATION MANAGER Suzan Pitman GRAPHIC DESIGN Matthew Sheriff

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