BBC News - The new philanthropists: Rich with a social conscience

How would you cope with becoming a multimillionaire overnight?

While many rich people are driven to become ever richer, others are discovering the joys of philanthropy and giving their wealth away.

When Anne became a multimillionaire after her company floated in 2001, she was petrified - fearing her fortune would drive away the man she loved and lead her friends to desert her.

"I paced back and forth in my little living room for about four hours, with my stomach knotted with fear, because there was one person in particular I was scared of [...]

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Lucy Kellaway interviews Anne in One to One on Radio 4 at 0930 GMT on Tuesday 6 December 2011. A new Radio 4 series How New is the New Philanthropy starts on Radio 4 at 2000 GMT on Monday 12 December. Listen online afterwards at the above links.

Full article at bbc.co.uk

Money doesn't make people evil or uncaring. It can influence us in ways that cause us to lose sight of who we are, as can a lot of things, and given it's importance in society and the impact it can have in any individual life, that influence can be stronger than almost any other motivator. We, however, have the ability (whether we know it or not) to resist any mere *influence* that runs counter to our own well-being and the well-being of our loved ones and communities.

Posted via email from Moments of Awareness