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Farewell & Parting
It’s not just philanthropy; it’s an adventure for Miller
Charities do good, but they don’t always work well. Capitalism works well, but it doesn’t always do good.
Doug Miller is on a mission to bring together the best of both worlds—and enjoy big adventures in the process.
Miller ’71, is co-founder of the European Venture Philanthropy Association, a group that applies the principles of venture capital to the realm of charitable giving.
“Like venture capital, venture philanthropy is a more hands-on, engaged model,” Miller says. “In addition to giving capital, you’re working directly with a charity on its management structure and business plan—including operations effi ciency.”
Charities don’t always deliver services as effi ciently as possible, he contends. In London, for example, some 30 charities care for the homeless. “Each one needs a chief executive, a building, secretarial staff,”Miller says. “That’s very ineffi cient. If you consolidate those charities, you could help more homeless people more effi ciently.” As founder of International Private Equity Ltd., a “corporate fi nance boutique,”Miller has since 1990 raised $5 billion to fi nance business ventures in China, India, Israel and Europe. Venture philanthropy, he believes, creates a classic win-win: Charities gain more money, and donors gain more control over how their money is used.
The idea is relatively new in Great Britain, where Miller has worked since 1979. To generate publicity, he led two adventure treks. The fi rst, a bicycle trip across Vietnam in 2002, raised $350,000 for the Mines Advisory Group, a charity that clears land mines in Vietnam (where Miller served with the U.S. Special Forces in 1968-’69), Laos, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.
In January, the 60-year-old led 17 people to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Trekkers raised more than $350,000 through pledges. A third went to Tanzanian charities, including a school building on the mountain and a water project for a local Masai village; a third helped fund EVPA projects; and the remaining third went to charities of each donor’s choice.
Miller—and his wife, Audrey, and his sister, Judith L. Miller, — donated their shares to the Multicultural Scholars Program at KU, which Miller has long supported.
Just as he strives to build a more effective philanthropy with EVPA, he seeks a similar long-term payback in the Multicultural Scholars Program, a School of Business effort to help students of color that expanded into seven KU schools in 2001. Each recipient accepts a “moral agreement”with Miller to give back to the program when they are able.
“It’s the principle of leverage. If I can give some of my time and money and encourage others to do the same, the ultimate effect is greater than just writing a check.
Article reprinted with permission from the Kansas Alumni magazine.
Miller led 17 donors to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in January to raise money and visibility for the European Venture Philanthropy Assoc.
RAOUL “ROD” DEDEAUX (1914-2006)
Legendary former longtime USC baseball head coach Raoul “Rod” Dedeaux, led the Trojans to a record 11 national championships, coached nearly 60 future major leaguers and was an ambassador for baseball’s international popularity. In his 45-year tenure at USC (1942-86), Dedeaux led the Trojans to 11 College World Series crowns and 28 conference titles. He posted an overall collegiate record of 1,332-571-11 for a .699 winning percentage. In 1999, he was named “Coach of the Century” by both Baseball America and and Collegiate Baseball. Dedeaux . Dedeaux was named Coach of the Year six times by the American Baseball Coaches Association and was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame in 1970. Dedeaux also served as president of Dart Transportation, Inc., a million-dollar trucking fi rm that specializes in worldwide distribution. He founded the company in the 1930s. USC’s baseball fi eld was named after him – Dedeaux Field – when it opened in 1974. On his reported $1 USC annual salary: “I always say everyone gets paid what they’re worth.”
Dedeaux was named Delta Chi of the Year for 2000.
1984 USA Baseball Olympic Team Head Coach, Rod Dedeaux helped develop top stars Tom Seaver, Mark McGwire, Randy Johnson, Fred Lynn, and Dave Kingman. These men have lived amongst us for a time, and we have been honored to call them Brothers. Now they are gone and we bid them a fond farewell at this parting. DEPAUW
Harry R. Watts ’34, January 2, 2005 Edwin E. Warner ’38, December 17, 2005 Thomas S. Magsino ’46, May 27, 2004 Donald E. Breimeier ’51, August 24, 2005 FLORIDA
Russell B. Carson ’31, July 12, 2005 Paul B. Worley ’46, August 11, 2005 Joseph S. Elrod ’88, August 8, 2005 Glenn A. Steckel Faculty, March 25, 2004 ILLINOIS STATE
Jody D. Govero ’87, April 30, 2005 Brian D. Root ’07, February 26, 2006 IOWA
George V. Nesheim ’47, November 12, 2005 JACKSONVILLE STATE
Shawn M. Bulman ’95, December 19, 2005 LONG BEACH
Frank K. Saporito ’91, February 2, 2006 Curtis E. Leber ’92, November 10, 2005 MICHIGAN
Lewis E. Berry ’36, January 31, 2005 MICHIGAN STATE
James A. LaDu ’40, September 12, 2004 Harry V. Wilkinson ’43, December 3, 2005 MISSOURI
Phillip L. Jacoby ’84, January 8, 2006 R. David Rutz ’89, November 5, 2005 Michael R. Lebermann ’91, January 31, 2006 NORTHEAST MISSOURI
Dr. J. Scott Billings ’84, October 29, 2005 Larry W. Custer ’84, July 3, 2005 NORTHWESTERN
Caleb M. Jordan ’06, November 5, 2005 OHIO STATE
John Thomas Hoover ’47, April 27, 2005 W. Dean Sweet ’49, November 14, 2005 OKLAHOMA
Garland W. Emmons ’54, August 5, 2005 Donald L. Reneau ’56, June 24, 2005 OSHKOSH
Joseph A. Kotlowski ’76 PURDUE
Richard W. Gibson ’61, November 29, 2005 S.M.U.
Warren G. Harding ’47, April 2, 2005 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Raoul Dedeaux ’35, January 5, 2006 Wm. H. Hartman ’52, October 15, 2005 Earl M. Rowan ’57, October 21, 2004 TEXAS STATE
Bret D. Elston ’03, November 28, 2005 UCLA
Roger Arthur Marrs ’50, June 19, 2005 WASHINGTON
Warren F. Margrath ’38, December 25, 2005 WESTERN MICHIGAN
Russell L. Bentley ’66, July 30, 2004 YOUNGSTOWN