Apart from specializing in business, Richard Branson also focuses on philanthropic activities. For a time, he was contributing initiatives for South Africa. In fact, he worked with singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel to contribute to the founding of The Elders, a group of world leaders working together to solve world issues. The organization was also supported by South African leader Nelson Mandela.

In addition, he also established the Branson School of Entrepreneurship, an institution that works in partnership with Virgin Unite, in South Africa in 2005. The school works on the improvement of the economy in the country by promoting startup companies and small businesses with mentors, skills, networks, finance arrangements and services. Richard Branson was on trips to regions in South Africa to coach and mentor students.

Moreover, Richard Branson was the first famous guest in Reserve Dinners, a renowned charity fund raiser, raising money of more than $75,000 in one night toward his Virgin United aid group.

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His generous pursuits began when he founded Landmark Communications (currently known as Landmark Media Enterprises) of which he was the chairman and CEO for a number of years.

Frank Batten Sr.’s experience as a media and entertainment mogul covers newspapers, radio stations, televisions, and even a new cable station that became a household name (The Weather Channel). Other affiliations include the distinguished Associate Press for which he served as chairman from 1982-1987. He graduated from the Culver Military Academy in 1945, earned his undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Virginia in 1950, and attended Harvard University for his master’s degree in business administration in 1952.

At present, The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked Frank Batten Sr. as 23rd in The Philanthropy 50: Americans Who Gave the Most in 2008. With a total commitment of $93 million in 2008, he earned the reputation of being one of the devoted leaders in education philanthropy.

• Frank Batten Sr.’s 2008 biggest beneficiary is Culver Academies, a private secondary school whose main thrusts are personal responsibility, leadership, teamwork and accountability. An emeritus member in the Culver Educational Foundation Board of Trustees, he has been a consistent financial pillar in his 24 years of being part of the committee. In 1984, he became Culver’s 17th Man of the Year.

• The Batten Fellows Program, established with his $20 million donation, aims to provide the faculty with opportunities for professional development as well as merit-matched salaries. The second part of Frank Batten Sr.’s commitment is The Batten Leadership Challenge, in which he will match the amount the fundraisers are able to pull in for as much as $50 million. This grant program will run until January 31, 2010.

• Hollins’ Batten Leadership Institute is also running on a $2 million gift from Frank Batten Sr. and his wife.

• Slover Library Foundation I Norfolk, Virginia received an endowment of $20 million for the city’s 2012-targeted $50 million library project in honor of Mr. Batten’s uncle, Col. Samuel L. Slover.

• In championing higher education, Frank Batten Sr. gave $100 million to create the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy in the University of Virginia, $60 million to Darden Graduate School of Business in Virginia, and $32 million to Harvard Business School.

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After serving as the first National Association of Theatre Owners’ chairman of the board, Sumner Redstone continues to be actively involved in the association as a director. A particular long-term affiliation is with National Amusements Inc., for which he was President (1967-1999), and CEO (since 1967). Since 1986, the company has been the majority stockholder of Redstone’s Viacom Incorporated (NYSE: VIA) and CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS). For Viacom, he acted as chairman of the board (since 1986) and CEO (1996-2005). Following the creation of two separate entities, separating CBS from Viacom, he became Viacom Inc.’s executive chairman of the board of directors on January 1, 2006.

Most of Sumner Redstone’s philanthropic initiatives function through the Michael Redstone Charitable Trusts and the Sumner M. Redstone Charitable Foundation. In his many commitments, he currently sits as a member of the Board for the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and his Sumner M. Redstone Child Rescue Center.

He recounts one personally memorable encounter, where he met scoliosis victim Lyda. She moved him to contribute $500,000 to a group that made critical health care and educational services available to the children of Phnom Penh – The Cambodian Children’s Fund.

Another considerable and generous donation is Sumner Redstone’s charitable grants that total at an estimated $105 million. The amount is to be evenly distributed and regularly paid out to three prominent healthcare institutions over the course of five years. All the identified beneficiaries are to use the funds for medical discovery and clinical research development.

The Washington-based Faster Cures/The Center for Accelerating Medical Solutions, tied to the Milken Institute, will expand The Research Acceleration and Innovation Network (TRAIN) to include other non-profit disease research groups and renamed as The Redstone Acceleration and Innovation Network. Other programs include FasterCures Philanthropy Advisory Service and Patients Helping Doctors program. The second $35 million recipient is top non-university hospital Cedars-Sinai Prostate Cancer Center that will be able to pursue a six-year National Prostate Cancer Study. Lastly, the Massachusetts General Hospital, already with its Sumner M. Redstone Burn Center since 1974, will be able to establish the Sumner M. Redstone Burn and Trauma Service, as well as The Sumner M. Redstone Emergency Department.

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A trustee of the National Committee of the Whitney Museum, the Council on Foreign Relations, the International Council of the Museum of Modern Art, and the Council of American Ambassadors, Anne Cox Chambers’ life is one of those significantly influencing the global community. On top of these influential roles, she is also the distinguished president of the American Friends of the International Lyric Art Festival of Aix-en-Provence. Likewise, she is a board member of the French American Foundation, Woodruff Arts Center and the MacDowell Colony.

The billionaire media proprietor has also served on select boards for corporations such as Coca Cola (1981-1991), Bank of the South (1977-1982), and the Fulton National Bank (since 1973). Her appointment at Fulton is historic, for she was the first woman in Atlanta to fulfill such a capacity. Other not-for-profit organizations that Anne Cox Chambers was actively involved in were as a director for Central Atlanta Progress Board and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. She is the first woman to hold such positions of power.

Anne Cox Chambers also played a key role in President Jimmy Carter’s administration when she was chosen to be the Ambassador to Belgium from 1977-1981. For her invaluable service, the King Baudoin of Belgium presented her the Officier de la Legion d’Honneur, l’Order de la Couronne.

Other political affiliations revolve around her stalwart support for the Democratic Party. She is a member of New Leadership for America PAC, MoveOn.org, John Kerry for President, Bill Bradley for President, and the most recent endeavour and success, Obama for America.

Born on December 1, 1919 to James M. Cox and Barbara Cox Anthony, she had James M. Cox Jr., John W. Cox, and Barbara Cox Anthony as siblings. She attended Miss Porter’s School for her secondary education, and went to New York’s Finch College afterward. Currently, Anne Cox Chambers is a Director of Cox Enterprises. As the last surviving inheritor of her father James M. Cox’s media conglomerate, she has a net worth estimated at $9 billion as of March 2009. In 2008, she was ranked 19th in the Forbes 400 Richest Americans.

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• Through her Angel Network, Oprah Winfrey has raised $50 million for Third World schools, $10 million for Katrina relief and $1 million for tsunami aid. Because Winfrey personally covers the administrative costs, 100% of funds raised for the Angel Network goes to charity programs.
• Winfrey also initiated a campaign for a national database for convicted child abusers. This campaign was motivated by her experiences of child abuse.

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• Turner established the United Nations Foundation with a $1 billion pledge to benefit the United Nations. The goal is to promote world peace, prosperity, and justice.
• Ted Turner also chairs the Turner Foundation. This organization’s commitment is to prevent damage to natural systems necessary for life. Also serving on the board of trustees are his five children.
• Nuclear Threat Initiative was co-founded by Ted Turner and Sam Nunn. The organization’s mission is to reduce global threats from nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons.

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Kluge’s success began with his purchase of Metropolitan Broadcasting Company’s stocks. He eventually became its biggest stockholder. He was elected chairman in 1958. He started diversifying the business by investing in advertising and broadening the business to include broadcasting activities. He eventually sold the company to 20th Century Fox. After the release he continued to pursue his media business through a private venture called Metromedia Company, which has served countries from the former Soviet States and China.

• In celebration of the Library of Congress’ 200th anniversary, Kluge donated $60 million to the institution. This gift resulted in the creation of the John W. Kluge Center, which grants accomplished scholars and post-doctoral fellows access to the library’s immense collection, as well as interaction with members of the United States Congress.
• In 2007, John Kluge donated $400 million to Columbia University’s financial aid program. John Kluge also donated around $110 million between 1987 and 1993 to Columbia University. Kluge made this donation to scholarship and grant funds to aid deserving but underprivileged students at Columbia.
• John Kluge donated 7,378 acres (30 km²) of additional lands, worth $45 million to the University of Virginia to the University.

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