Is this summer flying by for you as it is for me?
Mine started with an annual trip to London for the Global Family Office Forum conference at the Dorchester Hotel. It was wonderful to be back in London, see old friends, meet new colleagues, and learn about new trends in the family office world.
Conversations in London focused on – you guessed it – Brexit and the U.S. election cycle. While we know how Brexit turned out, I (I’m guessing like you) am in pensive wait to see how the U.S. votes this November.
I enjoy attending conferences – I really do! It’s an opportunity to see old friends, meet new people, learn about new trends and giving strategies, and hear what keeps others up at night. Beyond the mechanics of giving, family dynamics and blending strategy and passion in philanthropy remain the most asked-about topics in my conversations. (Look for our upcoming EngagedPhilanthropy® toolkit called Balancing Passion and Strategy: A Family Office Guide to Giving coming this Fall! Click here to get on the waiting list and reserve your free copy.)
Top 5 Summer Philanthropy Reading List
While I haven’t been to the beach, I’ve been absorbed in some thoughtful summer philanthropy reading. I want to share my five favorite philanthropy resources with you in case you want to make use of some lazy days in a hammock ahead. (See the list below.)
- The Almanac of American Philanthropy by Karl Zinsmeister (The Philanthropy Roundtable): This is a fascinating compendium of philanthropy through the years and is wonderful to search for stories on a specific foundation, or look up a topic and a timeline of philanthropy dating back to 1643.
- Every Gift Matters: How Your Passion Can Change the World by fellow Coloradoan Carrie Morgridge. In Colorado, the Morgridge Family is known for their big hearts and support of well-run organizations. It is wonderful that they have put their experiences onto paper for others to read. Carrie has worked hard to align her passion with strategy coupled with a willingness to take risks and learn from each experience.
- Stanford Social Innovation Review and Philanthropy are my current magazine ‘must reads’ as they’ve both had series of articles related to my work with family offices and their foundations.
- Raised Healthy, Wealthy & Wise by Coventry Edwards-Pitt. We all know that at a certain level of wealth, parenting becomes harder, not easier. This book draws on the author’s experience to interview successful heirs and uncover what works—and what doesn’t—in raising wealthy children to lead fulfilling and productive lives.
- And since it’s summer, I’ll throw in a thriller: Foreign Agent by Brad Thor. This is part of the Scott Horvath series, one of my and my dad’s favorites. It’s bittersweet reading a novel we used to read at the same time & then discuss. I now read books on my iPad, and having said that, I do miss the boxes of fresh-printed hardcovers my dad used to ship to me every few months!
What are you reading this summer? Do share. I look forward to your favorites at Suzanne@SuzanneHammer.com.
….And a Bike Ride for a Cause
Enjoy it as I do, this weekend, I had no time for reading. I was on the road, quite literally, with nothing but my cycling legs to carry me forward.
I rode (for the first time) in the 2016 Pan-Mass Challenge (www.PMC.org) on Sunday August 7th. As part of my own philanthropy, I’ve committed to raising $4,500 for cancer research and patient care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
I rode with my two brothers, David Hammer and Steven Hammer, in honor of our mom, our Aunt Mildred, our Uncle Adolph, our grandfathers, their mother-in-laws, and other relatives we lost to cancer. I rode for my brother who has been cancer-free for decades, and for my own cancer close calls. Together we’ll be part of an event raising more than $45 million dollars!
I’m almost at my goal! If you are interested in learning more or supporting this race, please click here.
Thank you for your support, and wish me luck (and a cushiony bike seat…).
Until next time, enjoy your summer.
Suzanne