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Last updated: 05 May 2009
Dame Stephanie Shirley has been appointed as the Government's Giving and Philanthropy Ambassador. The appointment follows the pledge in Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises announcing that the Government will appoint a Giving and Philanthropy Ambassador who will support Ministers and the Office of the Third Sector in championing giving and philanthropy.
The Ambassador will work over the coming year to act as the voice of philanthropy as well as championing innovative and effective forms of giving, and to make recommendations to Government about how to encourage and facilitate giving. Her work will also inform the Giving and Philanthropy Summit to be held later this year to look at how to encourage giving amongst the more affluent parts of society, as well as considering how to support and encourage charitable giving more generally.
Dame Stephanie arrived in the UK as an unaccompanied child refugee and is a successful entrepreneur who donates a large proportion of her wealth through her foundation, which supports children with autism. The Shirley Foundation is now one of the top 50 grant-giving foundations in the UK with £55m grants given over the past seven years.
Dame Stephanie pledged that:
“From this day forward and until my tenure is at end, I pledge to inspire the idea that giving is a pleasurable act of desire and compassion to help, change or challenge any aspect of our great society by raising the bar on our capacity to be generous.”
Kevin Brennan, minister for the Third Sector said:
"It is important to make sure that the voice of philanthropy is heard beyond its usual supporters. Dame Stephanie Shirley’s life and commitment are a clear indication that she is the most fervent advocate philanthropy could get. We are delighted that the she’s agreed to be the Government’s Ambassador for Philanthropy, and look forward to working with her on building an even stronger culture of giving in this country"