Thoughts on Business, Politics, and Life from a Private Investor
The Kennon & Green Foundation is rarely discussed. On a handful of occasions, when I think it might help a specific cause heighten its profile and raise more money for a good cause, I might highlight an individual grant; nevertheless, a vast majority of the foundation's efforts will not be discussed or disclosed. Giving should be done privately, behind closed doors, without a lot of fanfare. Please don't write and solicit donations or ask for more information because your message will be blacklisted.
Over the past year, the Kennon & Green Foundation has done a lot for anti-poverty, education, marriage equality, and Christian religious causes but not much in the medical area. (Other than a personal project that culminated on March 30th, 2010, when I cut off all of my hair to donate to Locks for Love, the charity that makes wigs from real hair for kids suffering from childhood cancers.) That suddenly hit me this morning. Most of the grants are kept secret, with a handful … [Read more...]
You know one of the only things that makes me physically uncomfortable is discussing charitable giving. But, from time to time, a specific cause or charity seems to really get my attention so I want to highlight it in the hopes that it raises their profile, helping them increase donations. This is one of those times. For the past week, I've walked around thinking about Ruth Brinker and the amazing work she did at Project Open Hand. This afternoon, I was sitting at my desk and kept … [Read more...]
The Kennon & Green Foundation is a big supporter of marriage equality and includes gay rights in one of the five categories to which it donates cash grants (the others being poverty reduction, education, supporting the Christian Church, and ecology, environmental, and species preservation; for more information, you can read the foundation's guidelines). As a result, the family was thrilled last night when, shortly before midnight, the New York State legislature passed the marriage … [Read more...]
This mail bag question deals with charitable giving and investments. Joshua, I know you don't talk much about your charitable giving but a few months ago, you mentioned several grants that the Kennon & Green Foundation had issued to support a handful of causes, which isn't your usual policy. I want to be financially independent. I save a lot of my income and I'm not quite sure how to approach charitable giving since I want to keep as much of my money invested as I can but I don't … [Read more...]
After the company announced the donation of a small grant from The Kennon Foundation to The Trevor Project yesterday in response to the (something like 6 teenagers now!?) that killed themselves this week as a result of being bullied for being gay, someone tracked down one of my private lines and left a message about helping "...the faggots and queers" ... this went on for awhile (didn't want to bother listening to the entire message). And then they had the audacity to say I hope I can sleep … [Read more...]
A series of events happened today that led me to disclose another grant issued by The Kennon Foundation despite my usual practice of keeping gifts silent. But this one is for a cause that needs to be highlighted. It is preventable and the damage caused to ordinary families in the wake of the tragedy is beyond my comprehension. As I was visiting my two-year-old niece today (when I came in the door, she ran up to me and asks, "Joshie? Do you want to play with me?" so we practiced colors and … [Read more...]
A few months ago, Charlie Munger donated $20,000+ to a man who wrote an article about lowering health care costs in the United States. It was so excellent, Charlie wanted to support that kind of work and use it to serve as an example to others. Like Cicero, Munger and Franklin, that is the kind of man I want to be. Tonight, I came across an example of "good behavior" that is stellar in an industry where so many are corrupt. Like my hero, Charlie, I am going to point it out and do … [Read more...]
There is a painting from 1750 by artist Thomas Gainsborough called Mr. and Mrs. Andrews. The original hangs in the National Gallery in London, England, where it has been held in collection for more than 50 years. I have a reproduction hanging in my own home because I love the story behind it. The painting [...]
Last night, I was working late and watching the most recent episode of House, M.D. on Hulu Plus. There is a scene where an Amy Grant song plays and one of the doctors goes, “Amy Grant? Really?”. That response mirrored the response of some music critics when she burst onto the music scene decades ago, [...]
There is an old latin phrase, panem et circenses, made famous by Juvenal of Ancient Rome. “Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions — everything, now restrains itself and [...]
This mail bag question has to do with marriage and figuring out the answer to the oft-posed question, “When is the best age to get married?” … Dear Mr. Kennon, Your writing has helped me so much since I first found it. My question isn’t exactly related to money or investing but I want to [...]
Today’s question comes from someone named Aran. (Is that pronounced like Erin or Aaron?) Anyway, it involves launching a mutual fund. Hi - Why did you decide against launching a mutual fund? Were there any specific operational barriers that you didn’t realize existed? What did you estimate the cost of establishing the SEC-registered vehicle would [...]
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