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Rockefeller money to help orphans of HIV/AIDS in South Africa
Daily News. 21 March 2003. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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Two grey-haired men sit chatting about philanthropy at Gallagher's Estate in Midrand, Johannesburg - one 87 years old and the other 85.
One lived a life of extreme luxury as a member of one of the wealthiest families in the world, the other spent 27 years in jail.
The two men, David Rockefeller and Nelson Mandela, met for the first time in Johannesburg this week after the millionaire arrived in the country not only to meet the former president, but to investigate the possibility of providing funding for orphans of HIV/AIDS in the country.
Rockefeller will be donating the proceeds of the memoirs he has just written to this cause.
The two men met through the South African Grantmakers' Association, a philanthropic association that provides services to organisations involved in funding sustainable development programmes in South Africa.
Poverty is the greatest assault on human dignity, said Mandela.
"Not knowing where your next meal comes from and not being able to provide for a family is devastating," he said.
Mandela said that in recent years businesses had rallied around him to help with social responsibility programmes to ensure that children and adults had equal facilities in rural and urban areas.
"Most places I took these business people to were not accessible by road, and we had to go by helicopter.
"They were shocked to see the conditions of filth and poverty." he said.
Rockefeller said he had been brought up by his parents with the lesson that the more worldly possessions one has, the greater the responsibility to society.
As owner of the Chase Manhattan Bank, he said his business philosophy had always focused on looking after shareholders, staff and society at large.
"I have a great respect for South Africa and what has been achieved here.
"After reading reports on the plight of HIV/AIDS orphans, I decided to visit South Africa to see what the conditions are." |
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