DemFromCT on Google and philanthropy

DEMFROMCT (DAILY KOS):

Ever wonder if the US is still capable of technological innovation? Follow me here, and you might be surprised at what's happening behind the scenes of something as non-technological as philanthropy.

Can a company as wildly successful as Google leverage their tech wizardry to do good by doing well? In this Jan '08 article by Julie Fagnani for the onPhilanthropy blog, the question is addressed:

In 2004, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin made a commitment to address some of the world's most significant challenges. The commitment included a considerable contribution of both capital and man power.

There's a definite tech slant to Google's mission:

Like a traditional nonprofit, Google.org operates by supporting partners with targeted grants.  But its unique structure also allows for Google.org to make for-profit investments and to lobby for policies that support its philanthropic goals.

Google.org is separate from the Google Foundation. Established in 2005, the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation that is managed by Google.org and supports its mission and core initiatives through grants.  Thus far, Google.org and the Google Foundation have committed more than $75 million in grants and investments.

Two aspects worth commenting on are energy and public health. On the energy side, Darksyde wrote this yesterday: Google to Invest 10 Million in Alternative Geothermal Energy and on the public health side (also from Jan '08), Larry Brilliant, of Google.org: Internet 'is pandemic early warning system'.

So what has the internet got to do with pandemics (beyond this, anyway: Pandemic Flu Preparation and the Role of Internet Communities) and who's this Larry Brilliant guy? READ IT ALL