Philanthropy – My Best Investment

Last week, as we launched The Lui-Walton Innovators Fellowship in the United States, Bill Gates released an open letter addressed to his dear friend and major donor, Warren Buffett, on his newly launched Weibo account. The letter detailed the returns of the US$30 billion Buffett “invested” in Gates’ foundation. I don't want to go into details of his returns, but I do think some of the ideas that Gates mentioned in his letter are worth examining as they are beneficial to others: I even thought to share his ideas with my two children during our recent visit to Tsz Shan Monastery.

Gates said he devoted the second half of his life to philanthropy because: “… improving the lives of people whom live in other countries fulfills the interest of our own country and even the entire world. By preventing the spread of disease, we save lives within our own country and beyond. By stimulating economic development, we open markets for our own products. By reducing conflicts, we raise our national security. By lifting up the poorest, we express the highest values of our nations. One of the greatest of those values is the belief that the best investment any of us can ever make is in the lives of others… the returns are tremendous.”

Built from the generous donation by the Li Ka Shing Foundation, Tsz Shan Monastery is magnificent in style, both solemn and serene. To date, Mr Li has donated hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars, focusing on areas like education and children's health. Although I have never had a chance to personally discuss with him his views on philanthropy, Mr Li's passion in education reflects what Gates said: advancing the common good of humanities is the best investment.

When the Lui-Walton Innovators Fellowship was about to be set up, Mr Walton and I thought of how, amongst the various Conservation International’s sustainability projects, we could fill the current gaps, and break through the existing framework. Where should we invest our money for the best return, especially with all of the sustainability projects already in place around the world? The answer was and is to invest in “people” – only by continuously nurturing partners with unwavering passion for sustainability can the vision of the Fellowship be sustained and evolved. That’s how we came up with the idea of providing fellowships to leaders, scientists, volunteers etc from around the world, providing them with an interactive platform where they can devise the latest, the most daring and diversified yet challenging sustainable solutions by tapping their capabilities and imagination. Lui-Walton Innovators Fellowship is the foundation and pedestal for dreamers and environmentalists to bring their innovative thinking and ideas to life, through it they can put their ideas to work. This is no easy path: just look at the journey that the great philanthropists Gates, Buffett and Mr Li have taken. Nevertheless, their passion has made me all the more determined and confident.

Having arrived at the Guan Yin Statue Precinct with my daughter, we discussed the number “0” as we admired the 74-metre Guan Yin Statue. Gates mentioned in his letter that “0” is the number that his foundation worked towards every day: “Zero malaria. Zero TB. Zero HIV… Polio is closest to reaching this magic number… In 1988, when the global campaign was launched to end polio, there were 350,000 new cases each year. Last year, there were 37.”

In front of the Buddha, I told my daughter that “0” does not mean nothing or an eternal end; it represents rebirth and reincarnation. When you stop holding fast, you will see a whole new horizon. “0” symbolizes a chance to reset. Gates said the foundation will spend all of their resources within 20 years after his death. I also told my daughter that if she goes down this path with me, the materials that she would possess may go down to zero. However, the seeds you will have sown, the flowers that will have blossomed and the people that you will have helped, will give you the most meaningful return of all.

Philanthropy is my best investment.