March 28, 2018

For us, philanthropy is the meaning of life and also what gives our lives true meaning. Our philanthropic journey has been our richest experience. We are thrilled to be joining the Giving Pledge and making public our intent to share our good fortune. We took it to heart when Warren Buffett said that this is not our money; we have been temporary stewards of it, and now it goes back into society for the benefit of mankind.

Our primary philanthropic focus is K-12 public school education and health care – basic human rights. A democracy depends on a foundation of educated constituents. Our nation’s K-12 public school educational system is systemically broken and must be transformed in a way that supports capacity, scalability, and sustainability. We are co-founders of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, a non-profit 501(c)3. This was the initiative of then Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and was established in 2007. The Partnership works WITHIN the Los Angeles Unified School District system to transform the system and is not a charter school organization. There is an abundance of intelligence and creativity in this country and it is our collective responsibility to provide the opportunities for every person to meet their potential, just as those that were made available to us. Our parents’ generation (Tom Brokaw’s greatest generation) sacrificed so much to make sure we inherited a better world. Now, it is our turn to ensure the same for future generations.

The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is also an example of a public-private partnership. Public dollars alone can no longer sustain our society. We are grateful to be participating in the solutions that will not let poverty equal destiny.

Our second area of focus is healthcare, another basic human right. Over the years, it had become obvious that obtaining high-quality healthcare may depend on the zip code in which you reside. If you live in a community that does not have a teaching and training hospital, you may be at greater risk with respect to emergency medical treatment. Twelve years ago, we initiated a philanthropic relationship with a hospital in our community, Torrance Memorial Medical Center. The purpose of that initiative was to strengthen the hospital’s capability to remain independent, provide services in more critical areas of emergency medicine thus enabling more patients to be served in their own local area, and establish higher quality medical care.

In our philanthropic endeavors we evaluate the larger picture to determine the needs in an effort to make the most meaningful and deepest impact. We strive to develop new, cost effective, and results-oriented solutions. We are driven by the most difficult challenges. Working where the most constraints exist, such as the Los Angeles Unified School District, and experiencing success, leads to a model that can be replicated.

In closing, it is a privilege to join the esteemed individuals who have committed to ensuring a better future for our world and its inhabitants through the Giving Pledge.