August 27, 2008

By: Joanna Haerle, W.E. O'Neil Construction Company

On August 27th, CREW Chicago held an inspirational and educational program that connected strategic philanthropy to the empowerment of women and the health of communities. Helen J. Kessler, CREW Chicago member and President of HJKessler Associates, a green building design consultancy, moderated a panel of formidable women that shared their thoughts and stories about supporting organizations that empower women. Helen briefly defined the three types of philanthropy: Institutional, Personal and Strategic and noted that the program was focused on Strategic Philanthropy. Strategic philanthropy is defined as supporting an "intervention" that helps to change the way things have always been done using a systemic approach. It looks to the future by determining what is needed and wanted and distinguishing what is missing.

Gwen Cohen, a 21-year Morgan Stanley professional with an investment consulting and wealth advisory practice, led an interactive discussion that engaged the audience in understanding what their views are toward philanthropy, the impact they want to make and what's important to them. She shared some of the conversations that she has with her clients as well as her personal view of strategic philanthropy and, in that context, why she supports specific organizations.

Goldie Wolfe Miller is one of the country's top commercial real estate brokers and has launched The Goldie B. Wolfe Miller Women Leaders in Real Estate Initiative at Roosevelt University. Goldie discussed her programs and what motivated her to create them. Last year, she gave a significant gift to Roosevelt University to start a program that will advance the professional development of women in their real estate careers. Motivated by a desire to give back to the community and to grow the ranks of women in the real-estate profession at the highest levels of professional achievement, she is a multi- million dollar donor to real estate and other causes.

Barbara Rose, CEO of S.N. Peck Builders, Inc., a contractor focusing primarily on high end residential remodeling, discussed her deeply felt views of strategic philanthropy and the importance to her of supporting organizations with a strategic and systemic approach. She used The Hunger Project as an example and told stories of how the leadership of The Hunger Project came to realize why traditional approaches to ending hunger didn't work and that severe discrimination against women was a root cause of the persistence of chronic hunger.

All in attendance were asked to think about where we spend our money, because as Barbara Rose said, "How we spend our time and energy is how we invest in the future."