Philanthropy+in+Delaware

=Philanthropy= Philanthropy: **:** goodwill to fellow members of the human race; //an// active effort to promote human welfare. Philanthropy is the voluntary giving of charitable donations in support of the common good. Today in the U.S., the term philanthropy refers not only to the act of giving, but also describes an extensive network of foundations, corporate donors, and individual givers who support numerous causes and interests in order to improve the quality of life in our communities. While philanthropic organizations can vary greatly in size and type, most operate by providing needed resources to nonprofit organizations in the form of cash grants, technical assistance, in-kind donations, and volunteer time. These nonprofits in turn transform those charitable donations into programs and services that benefit our communities, such as: Philanthropy – by making contributions to nonprofit organizations – has been responsible for many of the United States proudest accomplishments. Philanthropy helped fuel the civil rights movements for women, African-Americans and Latinos, among others as well as supporting the rich tapestry of arts in this country.
 * •** providing food and shelter
 * •** strengthening educational programs
 * •** improving health and child care
 * •** protecting the environment
 * •** enhancing access to technology
 * •** supporting art, cultural and historic treasures

__Background Information__ In order to understand the impact and origins of philanthropy in American society in general, and Delaware in particular, consideration of three converging philosophies that existed in the post Civil War United States is essential. These three philosophies, Social Darwinism, the Gospel of Wealth, or Success, and the Social Gospel, appeared and coexisted in constant tension in the industrialized society of the late 19th century. In 1859, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution turned scientific, religious, and lay communities on their collective “heads.” Sociologist and philosopher Herbert Spencer refined his beliefs regarding evolution, applying the theory of evolution to human society as well as nature, and coined the phrase “survival of the fittest.” Spencer’s beliefs and theories advocated a laissez faire form of government. He believed that government intervention was appropriate ONLY to protect the individual and the country from external attack. Spencer, in his //A System of Synthetic Philosophy//, espoused that the wealthier and more successful and individual was, the more virtuous, talented and deserving he was of that success and his related positions at the top of society. William Graham Sumner, a Yale sociologist and political economist, capitalized on the Darwinian theory of evolution as Spencer applied it to society and, like Spencer, advocated a Social Darwinism in which society would, and should, govern itself. As the rich became richer, they would increase the development and improvement of the society. Again, like Spencer, he promoted laissez faire policies but advocated an even more radical hands off approach towards governmental interference, speaking out against anti-trust legislation, protective tariffs, and interference by the government in labor disputes. To Sumner, and interaction in the economic activity of society or of the individual was misguided and would only cause harm to the natural evolutionary state of societal development. Taking this notion even further, Sumner championed his belief that man’s most important responsibility was to take care of himself, and possibly his family; he believed that philanthropic works meddled in the evolutionary process. His expression of the “survival of the fittest” tenet claimed “no man can do more than take care of himself and possibly his family. Those who are exploited are themselves to blame for their exploitation.” While the Social Darwinists touted man’s success as natural and his wealth as his exclusive domain, a group primarily composed of Protestant clergy, took issued with the selfish view advocated by many in the late nineteenth century and promoted the “Social Gospel” that reminded man that he was, in fact, his brother’s keeper and should use any acquired wealth to assist in improving conditions of society and the working classes. These men sought intervention by the government in the form of mandated social reforms, such as improved working and living conditions. Andrew Carnegie, business tycoon of industrial age in the United States and, after selling his steel mills to J.P. Morgan for 480 million dollars, the richest man in the world, based much of his philosophy on the writings of Spencer and Darwin as they “ provided the philosophical justification for Carnegie’s unabashed pursuit of personal riches in the world of business, freeing him from the moral reservations about financial acquisition that he had inherited from his egalitarian Scottish relatives.” Unlike Spencer and Sumner, though, Carnegie believed in the importance of philanthropy and social responsibility and fought for improvements to the lives of workers and the common man, believing that uplifting them would ultimately uplift all of society. He delineated his ideas on money and practices in his essay //Wealth// in which he stated, “The man who dies rich dies disgraced.” He believes in the essential role of philanthropy in the life of wealthy and espoused that the proper use and disposition of wealth would ensure that all positions in society existed harmoniously and improve the lives of all. Carnegie lived his beliefs He was successful in divesting himself of approximately $350,000,000.00 before his death in 1914. Among his philanthropic works were his lasting legacies of more than 2,500 public libraries. Delawareans of great wealth made an impact on the state, and living by the guidelines of Andrew Carnegie, changed the lives of Delawareans in significant ways. They endowed the state with gifts from their own wealth and made the entire state a better place. In 1889, women of Wilmington’s leisure class formed the New Century Club. This association, part of the General Federation of Women’s Club in the United States, enabled wealthy women to engage in philanthropic activities. Participants included the wives of prominent industrialists who worked within their sphere to effect changes for the improvement of women and families and for Wilmington’s working classes, in particular. Two prominent Delaware women who worked tirelessly for social change in industrial Delaware were Emalea Pusey Warner, social reformer and worker for women’s education, and Emily Bissell, tireless advocate for tuberculosis research and care. Other significant changes made by Delaware women’s activities were the establishment of private kindergartens, aid to families of prisoners, sanitation improvements, and increased literacy. Perhaps the best-known philanthropists in the state, though, were three cousins, Pierre, Alfred, and T. Coleman du Pont. Members of this family have contributed to millions of dollars to state projects and education, so much so that at one point in time, the state was referred to as their own private fiefdom. These men made a tremendous difference in the lives of Delawareans and in those of the surrounding area and people today are still recipients of their benevolence. Each focused his resources in different areas of interest. Pierre S. du Pont's support for education as a whole in Delaware is legendary. His foucs on education for African Americans in particular altered the potential of African Americans in the state to receive a quality education. Mr. duPont believed that education was essential for the continuation of a strong society and, through education, many of society's problems could be overcome. With this philosophy in mind, he undertook to radically improve the state's education and educational institutions. In 1919, Pierre incorporated the Delaware School of Auxiliary Association to finance school construction of 89 school buildings for 8,000 black students and for 31 white schools. He partially funded 50 other schools. In 1920-21, Pierre centralized the system, rewrote the school code and set up a department of public instruction. He started consolidation that would bring the system down to 19 school districts from 420. His donations for education were significant for the University of Delaware's growth and success as one of the country's premier institutions of higher education. At one point, when teachers at Wilmington's A.I. DuPont Public School asked for an advance on their pay, and the school commission refused their request, PS DuPont took their plight to heart and personally added a yearly stipend of $100.00 to their paychecks. Additionally, his creation of the Longwood Foundation and the Welfare Foundation provided income that continues to enable the public to enjoy the world renown Gardens, originally the home of Pierre and his wife. The foundation today is among the top 100 in assets and donations. Alfred DuPont, the cousin whose idea it was to purchase and restore the DuPont Company to greatness and profitability, is today remembered as a benefactor for the health care to children and the elderly. When a bill to assist the poor and elderly in the state did not pass legislature, he “inaugurated a private, statewide old-age pension by sending out 800 checks to seniors needing assistance. He also poured $350,000 into the state welfare home in Smyrna, which is now the hospital for chronically ill.” Much of his estate went to charitable works after the death of his second wife, Jessie. Those charities focus on research and the care of the handicapped children at the A.I. DuPont Institute. The Nemours Foundation, established by Jessie DuPont in his memory, funds research and educational activities directed towards improving the lives of children and elderly. T. Coleman DuPont, one of Delaware's representatives in the United States Senate in 1921-1922 and again from 1925-1928, gave the state the gift that has tied northern and southern Delaware together and opened southern Delaware's poultry industry and tourism industry to the world. Coleman DuPont personally financed the nearly $4 million ($40 million in 2000 dollars), 100-mile U.S. 13 Highway that bears his name. He supervised the highway's construction and conceived of its path breaking features-such as going around rather than through towns-and he hired the professional staff who built the road. At the time, DuPont's gift was called the “greatest personal contribution known in in the history of the world.” T. Coleman DuPont had always been interested in building and improving transportation and was even involved in the construction of New York City's Empire State Building. Connecting the northern and southern ends of the state, though, was his crowning and most ambitions project. Beginning the dream by founding Coleman DuPont Road Inc. in 1912, DuPont built the first half of the road totally through his own auspices. He was foresighted in his vision and realized that the state could only prosper if southern citizens had the means by which to get products to market in a timely fashion. Those means necessitated building a road and that he did. It was not until the Delaware legislature established the State Highway Commission in 1917 and thus had the organization to oversee the project that he turned construction over to the state. However, he continued to fund the project to ensure its completion. In 1924, when to road was completed, the Wilmington to Dover section was the longest divided highway in the nation. Stepping into the arena of medical philanthropy, T.C. Coleman purchased a German miming operation in Central City, Colorado. His dual aims were to remove American dependency on foreign sources for radium and to develop and allow use of its by-products, at no cost, for benefit of society. The spirit of “with wealth comes great responsibility” permeated the elite class of Delaware from the 1880s through the 1940s. The legacy of these leaders, both men and women, changed the course of Delaware and moved it from a small state to a corporate power. It is beyond the scope of this background piece to go into depth and identify all of the work and vision of those early 20th century citizens, inheritors of the Carnegie Philosophy of wealth.