Šta vas je inspirisalo da se bavite filantropijom i da li postoje neki humanitarni ciljevi koji su vam posebno bliski?

Moje interesovanje za filantropiju počelo je u mladosti. Moram da se zahvalim svojim nastavnicima i roditeljima, koji su odigrali ključnu ulogu u usmeravanju važnosti pomoći onima kojima je potrebna. Bili su dobri uzori. Pohađala sam 12-godišnju katoličku školu u kojoj su nas časne sestre poučavale važnosti pomaganja onima koji su imali manje sreće od nas. Ali sve religije uče o važnosti davanja. Odrastala sam u srednjoj klasi. Moj otac je bio učitelj, a majka domaćica. Moj otac je bio veoma posvećen porodici, a zatim je pružio dobro obrazovanje svojim učenicima. Bilo mu je stalo do naše budućnosti. Moja brižna majka bi volontirala u našoj školi i našoj crkvi. U svojoj knjizi SUCCESSFUL PHILANTHROPY: HOW TO MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT YOU GIVE, pišem o važnosti podučavanja dece filantropiji u ranom uzrastu u obe institucije, a zatim i kod kuće. Nakon srednje škole, nastavila sam školovanje na Univerzitetu Kolumbija gde sam diplomirala fizikalnu terapiju, a zatim magistrirala finansije na Visokoj poslovnoj školi Univerziteta Kolumbija. Moje obrazovanje je odigralo ključnu ulogu u filantropskom radu kojim se bavim. Obrazovanje otvara mnoga vrata. Između koledža i postdiplomske škole, radila sam kao fizioterapeut u bolnici u centru grada, St. Luke u Njujorku. Tamo sam radila sa pacijentima koji su živeli na rubu siromaštva i koji su takođe imali ozbiljne bolesti. Tada sam odlučila da se vratim u školu i nastavim visoko obrazovanje. Nakon što sam stekla MBA, radila sam na Vol Stritu nekoliko godina. Postepeno sam se uključila u različite dobrotvorne organizacije, a zatim sam pomagala u školama mojih ćerki. Danas služim u 7 dobrotvornih odbora i svake godine predsedavam oko 8 do 9 dobrotvornih gala svake godine. Takođe sam domaćin i sponzor mnogih dobrotvornih događaja u svojim domovima i drugde. Podržavam mnoge različite dobrotvorne organizacije uključujući Humanitarnu organizaciju Lifeline, dobrotvornu organizaciju koju su osnovali Prestolonaslednik Aleksandar i Princeza Katarina koji žive u Beogradu. Ova dobrotvorna organizacija je posvećena onima kojima je potrebna pomoć u Srbiji.

Moja područja fokusa su prava žena, prava stanovništva kojima se nedovoljno pruža usluga, prava životinja i zdravstvena zaštita. Takođe uživam u podršci umetnosti i ciljevima koji pomažu da se smanji diskriminacija.

Kako balansirate svoje uloge filantropa, spisateljice i društveno odgovorne osobe? Da li vam je jedan aspekt vredniji ili izazovniji od ostalih?

Upravljanje vremenom je ključno za balansiranje svega što radim. Takođe je važno da ostanete u formi i da jedete zdravu ishranu. Priznajem da je moje lično vreme za sebe ograničeno. Provodim veliki deo svog vremena radeći. Ali sav posao koji radim je toliko ubedljiv i nagrađujući da je postao ono što jesam. Moj filantropski rad, pisanje, druženje i lično vreme su se spojili.

Veoma sam blagosloven što mogu da se bavim dobrovoljnim filantropskim radom. Najviše me ispunjava. I moje pisanje je važno. Naravno, volim da se družim, a zatim prisustvujem (i podržavam) mnoge dobrotvorne događaje. Takođe uživam u putovanjima, druženju sa prijateljima i porodicom, a zatim se bavim ljubavlju prema modi i umetnosti. Moj filantropski rad je glavni prioritet zajedno sa provođenjem vremena sa porodicom. Čitaocima, kada se jednom uključite u filantropski proces, osetićete koliko je to isplativo.

Vaš smisao za modu je naširoko cijenjen. Kako koristite modu kao oblik samoizražavanja, posebno u svojim filantropskim poduhvatima i društvenim angažmanima?

Moda je umetnost. Volim da se oblačim, posebno za veoma formalne događaje. Imam veliku kolekciju svečanih haljina koju ću jednog dana pokloniti muzeju. Nosim mnoge od ovih haljina na raznim humanitarnim događajima. Moda u velikoj meri izražava ko smo mi. Za mene su moda i stil veliki hobiji, važno je ne samo ono što nosim, ​​već i frizura i šminka koja upotpunjuje izgled. Svet bez stila i mode ne bi bio baš uzbudljiv! Jedan od neprofitnih odbora u kojima radim je Couture Council for the Museum na The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). Služila sam u ovom odboru od 2010. i volim svoje učešće u njemu. Tehnološki institut za modu mi je pomogao da razvijem veliko poštovanje prema modnoj industriji. Takođe uživam da promovišem i podržavam rad mladih dizajnera.

Možete li da podelite nezaboravan trenutak ili iskustvo iz vašeg filantropskog rada koje je imalo trajan uticaj na vas?

Kroz svoja putovanja videla sam ogromnu patnju i ljudi i životinja. Sećam se posete sirotištu u Kambodži sa organizacijom Kambodžanske zajednice snova 2013. Deca nisu imala porodice, a deca u sirotištu su imala vrlo malo sredstava. Bilo je srceparajuće videti ovo, a mi smo pokušali da pomognemo. Onda se sećam da sam videla strašnu patnju i ljudi i životinja dok sam odlazila na privatno finansirana putovanja u Nikaragvu i Kolumbiju. Putovala sam tamo sa dobrotvornom organizacijom svoje najmlađe ćerke, Global Strays. (Global Strays je međunarodna dobrotvorna organizacija za zaštitu životinja koja radi divan posao u Latinskoj Americi i Africi.) ​​Takođe sam videla užasne ekološke probleme dok sam bila na drugim putovanjima. U Sjedinjenim Državama takođe imamo strašnu patnju. Sve ovo me je motivisalo da želim više da pomognem onima kojima je to potrebno. Ovo su samo neki od razloga zašto se bavim filantropijom. Moja je dužnost i obaveza da pomognem da se sadašnje stanje u svetu popravi.

U svojoj knjizi „Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give“, nudite savete ambicioznim filantropima. Za koju se ključnu poruku se nadate da će čitaoci usvojiti iz vaše knjige?

Glavna poruka moje knjige, „Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give“, je da svako može postati filantrop. Ako nemate velike količine novca da donirate nekom cilju, možete postati filantrop tako što ćete dati svoje vreme i znanje. Ipak, verujem da oni koji imaju finansijska sredstva imaju obavezu da daju. Još jedna važna poruka koju sam prenela u mojoj knjizi je da je davanje u velikoj meri nagrađivanje. Kada dajemo da bismo pomogli drugima, postižemo veliko lično zadovoljstvo. Davanje je najčešće daleko veće zadovoljstvo od primanja. Svrha pisanja moje knjige bila je da motivišem druge, a zatim da poslužim kao vodič za filantropski rad.

Kako vidite ulogu filantropije u budućnosti, i šta biste savetovali mlađim generacijama koje žele da dobrotvornim radom naprave razliku?

Filantropija je veoma važna u budućnosti. Verujem da će vlade, preduzeća, pojedinci, novinski izvori i neprofitne organizacije bliže sarađivati. Kako postajemo sve više i više globalizovani, saradnja između svih ovih grupa će postajati sve važnija. Filantropija mora postati globalni prioritet. Preduzeća koja rade direktno u zajednicama sa nedostatkom usluga i koja zapošljavaju i podržavaju ljude u tim zajednicama imaće veću ulogu u stvaranju promena.

Mlađe generacije su ključne za budućnost filantropije jer su oni budućnost. Svaka mlada osoba zainteresovana za filantropiju treba da počne polako kada bira dobrotvornu organizaciju. Trebalo bi da izaberu dobrotvornu organizaciju čija je misija od njihovog interesa. Predlažem im da slede svoje strasti. Ako ste osoba zainteresovana da pomognete u pronalaženju leka za rak, onda se uključite u dobrotvornu organizaciju koja se bavi istraživanjem raka ili pomaže onima koji imaju rak. Ako ste zainteresovani da vidite kraj siromaštva, uključite se u dobrotvornu organizaciju koja služi zajednicama koje nemaju dovoljno usluga. Postoji mnogo oblasti koje možete izabrati. Zatim pokušajte da se uključite u neprofitnu dobrotvornu organizaciju koja dobro vodi i koja pametno koristi svoj novac. Istražite dobrotvornu organizaciju i naučite sve što možete o njoj. Emocionalno je korisno uključiti se u filantropiju!

Šta vas motiviše da nastavite sa svojim filantropskim naporima i kako ostajete inspirisani u svom radu?

Veoma sam zahvalan za svoj život. Život nije jednak svima. Oni koji imaju resurse imaju obavezu da daju. Verujem da je moja odgovornost da pomognem i učinim najbolje što mogu da olakšam život onima koji se bore.

Kakvo nasleđe se nadate da ćete ostaviti svojim filantropskim radom i doprinosima društvu?

Jednostavno želim da me pamte kao nekoga ko je naporno radio da podrži one kojima je pomoć potrebna. Verujem da su moja knjiga i televizijska emisija, USPEŠNA FILANTROPIJA, pomogle da se motivišu drugi da se uključe u filantropski proces. Nadam se da će moj filantropski rad motivisati i druge da se uključe u ovu priču.

English here:

What inspired you to become so deeply involved in philanthropy, and are there any particular causes that are especially close to your heart?

My interest in philanthropy started at a young age. I have to thank my teachers and parents, who played a key role in guiding me on the importance of helping those in need. They were good role models. I attended 12 years of Catholic school where the nuns taught us the importance of helping those who were less fortunate than we were. But all religions teach about the importance of giving back. I grew up very middle class. My father was a schoolteacher, and my mother was a stay-at-home mom. My father was very interested in the family, and then providing a good education to his students. He cared about all of our futures. My caring mother would volunteer at our school and our church. In my book, SUCCESSFUL PHILANTHROPY: HOW TO MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT YOU GIVE, I write about the importance of teaching philanthropy to children at a young age in both schools and then at home. After high school, I continued my education at Columbia University where I earned a BS in Physical Therapy and then an MBA in Finance from the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University. My education played a key role in the philanthropic work I do. Education opens so many doors. In between college and graduate school, I worked as a physical therapist at the inner-city hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital in NYC. There I worked with patients who lived at or below the poverty level and who also had serious illnesses. I then decided to go back to school and pursue higher education. After earning my MBA, I worked on Wall Street for a number of years. I gradually got involved with different charities and then helped at my daughters’ schools. Today I serve on 7 charity boards and each year chair about 8 to 9 charity galas each year. I also host and underwrite many charity events in my homes and elsewhere. I support many different charities including Lifeline Humanitarian Organization, a charity founded by Crown Prince Alexander and Prince Katherine who reside in Belgrade. This charity is dedicated to helping those in need in Serbia.

My areas of focus are women’s rights, rights of underserved populations, animal rights, and health care. I also enjoy supporting the arts and causes that help to reduce discrimination.

How do you balance your roles as a philanthropist, author, and socialite? Do you find one aspect more rewarding or challenging than the others?

Time management is key to balancing everything I do. Also staying in shape and eating a healthy diet is important. I admit that my personal time for myself is limited. I spend a great deal of my time working. But all the work I do is so compelling and rewarding that it has become who I am. My philanthropic work, writing, socializing and personal time have merged together.

I am very blessed to be able to do volunteer philanthropic work. It is most fulfilling. My writing is important, too. Of course, I love to socialize and then attend (and support) many charity events. I also enjoy travelling, socializing with friends and family, and then pursuing my love of fashion and the arts.

My philanthropic work is a top priority along with spending time with my family. To the readers, once you get involved in the philanthropic process, you will experience how rewarding it is.

Your fashion sense is widely admired. How do you use fashion as a form of self-expression, especially in your philanthropic endeavors and social engagements?

I am passionate about fashion and style. Fashion is art. I love to get dressed up, especially for very formal events. I have a large formal gown collection that I will donate to a museum one day. I wear many of these gowns to various black tie charity events. Fashion very much expresses who we are. For me, fashion and style are great hobbies, Not only is what I wear important but also the hair and make-up which completes a look. A world without style and fashion would not be very exciting! One of the non-profit boards I serve on is the Couture Council for the Museum at The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). I have served on this board since 2010 and love my involvement with it. The Fashion Institute of Technology has helped me develop a great appreciation of the fashion industry. I also enjoy promoting and supporting the work of young designers as well.

Can you share a memorable moment or experience from your philanthropic work that has had a lasting impact on you?

Through my travels, I have seen enormous suffering of both people and animals. I remember visiting an orphanage in Cambodia with the Cambodian Community Dream Organization in 2013. The children had no families and the children in the orphanage had very few resources. It was heart-breaking to see this, and we tried to help out. Then I remember seeing terrible suffering of both people and animals while taking a privately funded trips to Nicaragua and Colombia. I was traveling there with my youngest daughter’s charity, Global Strays. (Global Strays is an international animal welfare charity that does wonderful work in Latin America and Africa.) I have also seen terrible environmental problems while on other travel trips. In the United States we also have terrible suffering. All of this has motivated me to want to do more to help those in need. These are just some of the reasons why I am involved in philanthropy. It is my duty and obligation to help to improve the current state of the world.

In your book “Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life by What You Give,” you offer advice to aspiring philanthropists. What key message do you hope readers take away from your book?

The main message of my book, SUCCESSFUL PHILANTHROPY: HOW TO MAKE A LIFE BY WHAT YOU GIVE is that anyone can become a philanthropist. If you do not have large amounts of money to donate to a cause, you can become a philanthropist by giving your time and knowledge. However, I do believe that those that have financial resources have an obligation to give. Another important message that was conveyed in my book is that giving is greatly rewarding. When we give to help others, we achieve great personal satisfaction. Giving is most often far more satisfying than receiving. The purpose of writing my book was to motivate others and then to serve as a guide for philanthropic work.

How do you see the role of philanthropy evolving in the future, and what advice would you give to younger generations interested in making a difference through charitable work?

Philanthropy is highly important in the future. I believe that governments, businesses, individuals, press sources, and non-profit organizations will work more closely together. As we become more and more globalized, collaboration between all of these groups will become increasingly more and more important. Philanthropy must become a global priority. Businesses that work directly in underserved communities and that employ and support the people in these communities will have a larger role in creating change.

Younger generations are key to the future of philanthropy since they are the future. Any young person interested in philanthropy should start off slowly when choosing a charity. They should choose a charity whose mission is of interest to them. I suggest that they follow their passions. If you are a person interested in helping find a cure for cancer, then get involved in a charity that is doing cancer research or helping those who have cancer. If you are interested in seeing an end to poverty, get involved with a charity that serves underserved communities. There are many areas to choose from. Next try to get involved with a non-profit charity that is well run and that uses its money wisely. Do research on the charity and learn all you can about it. Look for junior groups, too. There are quite a few charities that have large junior groups all working towards a goal. It is emotionally rewarding to get involved in philanthropy!

What motivates you to continue your philanthropic efforts, and how do you stay inspired in your work?

I am very grateful for my life. Life is not created equal. Those that have resources have an obligation to give. I believe it is my responsibility to help out and do the best I can to make life easier for those who struggle.

What legacy do you hope to leave through your philanthropic work and contributions to society?

I simply want to be remembered as someone who worked hard to support those in need. I believe my book and Television Show, SUCCESSFUL PHILANTHROPY, have helped to motivate others to get involved in the philanthropic process. I hope that my philanthropic work will motivate others to get involved as well.

Foto: Michael Paniccia
Model: Jean Shafiroff