L.A. PHILANTHROPIST MELANIE LUNDQUIST CALLS FOR NEW MODELS OF CHARITABLE GIVING IN UPCOMING SPEECH TO TOWN HALL LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles, CA Wednesday, April 4, 2012 Melanie Lundquist, Philanthropist and Co-founder of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools will discuss "Philanthropy: A New Model" with Town Hall Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Angelenos will have an opportunity to meet Lundquist at a networking reception before the event.
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Lundquist???s call to individuals and foundations is to give more and to give differently. ???Philanthropy should reflect today's society and its needs, not the society of 30, 40 years ago, said Lundquist. ???Philanthropy today has an obligation to step into critical areas where government has pulled back such as education. From now on, so many of our vital interests are going to require public-private partnerships."
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Lundquist, a lifelong Angeleno, has invested more than $80 million in support of education and health care initiatives in Southern California, including a $50 million gift to the Partnership for L.A. Schools, the largest gift ever made to Los Angeles public schools by an individual. Founded in 2007, Partnership for LA Schools is a nonprofit joint initiative of the city of Los Angeles and LAUSD to manage 15 of the lowest performing schools in the district.
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"America's wealthy funnel the vast majority of their charitable dollars into institutions that simply don't address society's most urgent needs. That may pass the muster when we're all doing well, but it doesn't work in times like these, said Lundquist.??
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All accredited members of the media are invited to cover this event. RSVPs required to Deborah Weinberg at 213.312.9307 or [email protected]. ???
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