Leaving Microsoft to Change the World

[PK]

Someone told me about this book by John Wood and wondered if any of you have heard about it or read it.

http://www.leavingmicrosoftbook.com/

It's about a Microsoft Executive who left his job to try to educate the poor children of the world.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/qbcNuaatFRA&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/qbcNuaatFRA&rel=1</a>

[Ginafish]

Nope, we leave that nerdy sort of reading to you, oh mighty webmaster.

[thartley]

A good transcript from an interview Tavis Smiley did with John Wood back in 2006.

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/t...200610/20061005_wood.html


Something that strikes me as interesting is the answer to "why not do this in the U.S.?"   It seems to me that something in the system in the U.S. needs to be changed so that doing good is not so hard. 

Who do I need to talk to?     Seriously, though.  It should not be easier to help elsewhere than your own home. It shouldn't be, but seems that it is. 

[Nick Lane]

Nope, we leave that nerdy sort of reading to you, oh mighty webmaster.

Bwahahahahahaha!

[KitKat]

Something that strikes me as interesting is the answer to "why not do this in the U.S.?"   I seems to me that something in the system in the U.S. needs to be changed so that doing good is not so hard. 

 It should not be easier to help elsewhere than your own home. It shouldn't be, but seems that it is. 

thartley, this is the question that's asked about PK from many of the people I talk to.   I tell them he couldn't afford to do the  projects, he wouldn't have the funding.    Grants take time and PK doesn't have time to waste on paperwork and red tape meeting their qualifications for grants.   When there isn't a huge foundation supporting the funding, it just isn't going to happen.   

Thank you pk!!  Good story.   

[thartley]

thartley, this is the question that's asked about PK from many of the people I talk to.   I tell them he couldn't afford to do the  projects, he wouldn't have the funding.    Grants take time and PK doesn't have time to waste on paperwork and red tape meeting their qualifications for grants.   When there isn't a huge foundation supporting the funding, it just isn't going to happen.   

Thank you pk!!  Good story.   

Yes, and the fact that Mr. Smiley (gotta love that man's name) asked it of John Wood is pretty indicative that its a common question for anyone doing charitable works overseas.  It seems to be easier to do more with less overseas than it is at home, and less red tape.

[Mus.]

I thought this would be about PK. Turns out it's not. Betcha didn't know that.

[KitKat]

   Mus. you're right, it does sound like PK.        

[thartley]

The big difference between this guy and PK is this guy gets paid an annual compensation of $127,945 from the charity organization...according to records from 2006.

http://charityreports.bbb...p;bureauID=9999#taxStatus
(the  Terms of Use section on that site is under development, so I hope its okay to post that report here.  Its publicly avail to anyone who can manage to find it.)


Curious what his salary might have been at Microsoft when he left.  Prob a bit more than $127,945?

[PK]

The guy is making a six figure income from his own non-profit charity?  Wouldn't that be considered a profit?

I think I'm going to be sick.

[thartley]

I know....  I did A LOT of digging today, not necessarily on Room to Read, but just on non-profits in general and what if any of their financial statements were transparent and available to the public, legally.  I was actually looking for info on one of the non-profits from Jacksonville, where I am from.  I happened across a very dry interview by a panel of folks and discovered the website that I got that info from.  The reports they have avail online are provided voluntarily by the organizations, although any public non-profit HAS to make certain forms avail to anyone who requests them. 

Oddly enough, Oral Roberts Ministries has refused to supply their data after numerous requests.   

[KitKat]

I think I'm going to be sick.

Me too!!        I'm with you PK, a profit is a profit!   
However, it is legal for non-profits to make  show a profit.  Our local playhouse theater is a non-profit and scored a high profit this last year. 

Let us never forget, PK's doing this for all the right reasons.  I repeat, he's helping the less fortunate b/c it's the right thing to do, nothing more.
     I'm done. 

[Ginafish]

A non-profit can make money, it just has to put the excess back into the 'company/charity' in order to be classified as non-profit. Like if isara bought more helmets or the local playhouse improved their venue.

And yes, pk is doing the Isara non-profit for all the right reasons.

[Hbrown]

A good transcript from an interview Tavis Smiley did with John Wood back in 2006.

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/t...200610/20061005_wood.html


Something that strikes me as interesting is the answer to "why not do this in the U.S.?"   It seems to me that something in the system in the U.S. needs to be changed so that doing good is not so hard. 

Who do I need to talk to?     Seriously, though.  It should not be easier to help elsewhere than your own home. It shouldn't be, but seems that it is. 

It's called bureaucracy.... it can get mighty sticky in all that red tape...