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Archived News
2008
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Dakota
State Fund Raiser Attends White House Conference For further information contact Marty Gallanter at 605-256-5120 or Kelli Koepsell at 605-256-5119 (Washington, DC) Marty Gallanter, Director of the Dakota State University Foundation in Madison, SD was a guest at the Executive Mansion in the nation’s capitol on Friday October 22nd when he attended the White House Conference on Philanthropy. Entitled “Gifts to the Future,” the meeting was convened by First Lady Hillary Clinton and jointly chaired by the First Lady and President Clinton. In attendance were representatives of major foundations, philanthropic corporations, fund raising organizations and individual philanthropists. Some of the attendees included Patty Sonesifer, President of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Marie C. Wilson, President of the Ms. Foundation for Women, Academy Award winning actor Paul Newman, Chairman and CEO of America On-Line Steve Case, General Partner of the Mayfield Fund (Silicon Valley philanthropies) Kevin A. Fong, and Justin Randall Timberlake of the pop music group ‘N SYNC who has formed a foundation to promote music programs in the public schools. “I probably represented the smallest organization in the room, “ said Gallanter, “but when I read about the Conference, I just thought someone from this part of the country ought to be attending.” Gallanter received his invitation to the prestigious event through the combined efforts of Senators Tim Johnson and Tom Daschle. “I called both the Senators’ offices and told them I thought it would be good for South Dakota in general and Dakota State in specific if they could help me get an invitation,” Gallanter continued, “and that’s how it seems to be turning out.” While not personally on the formal program, which was also being broadcast nationally by Public Television and C-Span, Gallanter was allowed to speak during an open forum toward the end of the regular agenda. The Dakota State fund raiser talked about the gap between the needs in rural America and the wealth available for philanthropic purposes. “Most of the wealth in our nation is located within one day’s drive of an ocean, “ Gallanter told the group, “and very often foundations and corporations overlook the opportunities to use rural America as a laboratory for social change, simply because we are not in their back-yards. Our part of the country still considers family, hard-work, faith-based communities, and caring for each other to be the values on which we live. From the days of the Fresh Air Fund, when city children were sent for summer vacations in the country, rural America has worked with urban American to solve common problems. We ask philanthropic groups in the major urban areas to look at places like South Dakota to invest charitable dollars for the future.” Gallanter also told the group that foundations in New York City had told him that despite need and innovative ideas, they were reluctant to fund projects quite so far away from their base city. First Lady Hillary Clinton expressed support for the thesis, saying that America’s unprecedented economic boom had bypassed some parts of the nation and philanthropy reaching into “places like the Dakotas” could be of great help. The Conference, which took place in the historic East Room of the White House was announced as the first of a series of initiatives designed to increase charitable giving in the United States. Though Mrs. Clinton referred to Americans as some of the most charitable people in the world, she emphasized that a small increase in individual giving could go a long way toward answering many issues. In 1998 of the nearly $175 billion dollars given to charities, almost $135 billion were donated by individuals. “I was very gratified,” said Gallanter, “not only to have had the opportunity to represent the needs of South Dakota students struggling for scholarships, but to hear the First Lady of the United States, more than once, support the very points I came to make. I even had the opportunity to discuss the issue with her face-to-face for a few moments as the Conference ended. I look forward to continuing this dialogue with individual philanthropists, corporation and other foundations where access for Dakota State would have been impossible before this conference.” Also present and honored at the gathering were a number of Philanthropic Heroes like Matt Dawson, a 78 year-old forklift operator at Detroit’s Ford Motor Company who through overtime and careful investment has given away more than $1 million for scholarships in the last eight years; and Regina Jennings, a custodian at West Virginia School of Law who, upon her retirement, donated her life-savings of $93,000 to her employer for scholarships. White House spokespeople said that several task forces would be formed as a result of the Conference in order to keep the momentum moving. Plans call for groups on Internet Giving Opportunities, Youth Service Programs and additional tax reform to encourage philanthropy. -30-
Photos of Marty Gallanter
available at
http://deadendstreet.com/bios/about-gallanter.html
and at http://www.themadhatter.net |
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