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Soros: Time for Philanthropists to Step Up in Public Sphere

Gives $200 to every underprivileged NY kid

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 11, 2009 12:41 PM CDT

(Newser) – George Soros is giving $200 to each and every underprivileged kid in New York state, the billionaire announced today, for a total $35 million bill that will make the state eligible for another $140 million in stimulus money. Some have criticized it as a welfare-style handout, but Soros tells Time that the $200 seemed significant, but not so huge as to require conditions.

Soros says helping kids seems like a way to have a long-term impact, and notes that he himself once received charity as a teen. The stimulus money was another factor; Soros says he likes to “influence how public authorities spend their money.” Philanthropists, he says, “truly care,” while bureaucrats “try to protect their behinds from being criticized.” He added that in a time of recession “those who are in a better position ought to do more.”

Financial analyst George Soros speaks during a news conference at International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008.
Financial analyst George Soros speaks during a news conference at International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
US billionaire and hedge fund manager George Soros speaks during a conference to discuss the impact of the world financial crisis in the Caribbean region, Nov. 22, 2008.
US billionaire and hedge fund manager George Soros speaks during a conference to discuss the impact of the world financial crisis in the Caribbean region, Nov. 22, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kena Betancur)
Financial analyst George Soros speaks during a news conference  at International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008.
Financial analyst George Soros speaks during a news conference at International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008.   (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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I thought as a recipient of charity, that this would be a very dignified thing to do for others. - George Soros

I think private donors who give their own money truly care about the objectives. They can actually have a beneficial influence on bureaucracies that generally try to protect their behinds from being criticized. - George Soros

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 24 comments
cochiserocks
Aug 12, 2009 12:25 PM CDT
I agree with you RbnN........I love the sentiment but it seems like a bit of headline grabber - How about building a hospital, or providing a bunch of schools with better equipment, or providing some skills based mentoring in seriously deprived areas? Cash alone isn't a solution and while the intention might have been good - the execution is sloppy and reeks of narcissism.
nick
Aug 12, 2009 12:17 PM CDT
Geez, when I got my measly $200 from George W. Bush in 2003-- which I considered a gift-- there were no stings attached directing how I should spent the money, or even that I spent it at all. Just saying. (These kids have parents don't they.)
AnnieChrist
Aug 12, 2009 2:02 AM CDT
Yeah, always use sterotypes in your arguments, it makes you appear so intelligent. It's people like you that give ignorant, backwater, white trash, red neck bigots a bad name.

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