Mrs. Yushchenko Takes Part in Round Table on Philanthropy at the World Economic Forum in Davos

January 24, 2008, Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund Kateryna Yushchenko took part in the Davos Philanthropic Roundtable at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Among other participants were President of the Aspen Institute Walter Isaacson (moderator), renowned financier and philanthropist George Soros, President of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Health Tadataka Yamada, Managing Director of the Clinton Global Initiative Robert Harrison, and American business editor of The Economist Matthew Bishop. The roundtable was organized by the Viktor Pinchuk Foundation.

The participants discussed the effectiveness of the philanthropy, the situation with charity and philanthropy in the developing countries, interaction of charitable organizations with the state, media, and business.

Opening the discussion, Mrs. Yushchenko described the situation with charity and philanthropy in Ukraine. She said that Ukraine had unique opportunities to revive its centuries-long traditions in philanthropy, adding to them global experience in carrying out charitable programs and projects. In Mrs. Kateryna’s words, today Ukraine is looking at a true renaissance of philanthropy, involving big corporations, funds, along with hundreds of thousands ordinary people. She cited as an example the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund’s project, the Children’s Hospital of the Future, where a telethon alone had raised almost 50 million dollars donated by big corporations as well as almost 500,000 Ukrainians.

Mrs. Yushchenko also broached the subject of cooperation between the state and philanthropists. In her view, it should be a partnership where the state, carrying out its basic social functions, creates the conditions for the philanthropy development in the country, in particular, through creating a legal basis and tax privileges for both private persons and corporations.

Over 100 people from Ukraine and other countries, taking part in the Davos Forum, attended the roundtable. In part, Ukraine was represented by charitable funds (Kliychko Brothers Foundation, Open Ukraine Fund, Viktor Pinchuk Fund, etc), public figures, and businesspeople.

The World Economic Forum in Davos is the world’s biggest and most popular meeting spot for influential political leaders and businesspeople, dealing with global economic, social, and humanitarian issues. The Forum was founded in 1970. Its annual meetings are attended by international businesspeople, political leaders (heads of the states and governments, international, and non-governmental organizations), public figures, renowned scientists, owners and CEOs of the major media outlets.