I’ve spent the best days of my life dancing with refugee girls in Nairobi
dancing with refugee girls in Nairobi
dancing with refugee girls in Nairobi Kenya and I have to tell you when we’re
Kenya and I have to tell you when we’re
Kenya and I have to tell you when we’re all out there dancing under the hot
all out there dancing under the hot
all out there dancing under the hot kenyan sun with cool red dirt beneath
kenyan sun with cool red dirt beneath
kenyan sun with cool red dirt beneath our feet it’s very obvious that I’m the
our feet it’s very obvious that I’m the
our feet it’s very obvious that I’m the worst dancer of the bunch but no matter
worst dancer of the bunch but no matter
worst dancer of the bunch but no matter how epically bad my dance moves are
how epically bad my dance moves are
how epically bad my dance moves are these girls have danced joyfully
these girls have danced joyfully
these girls have danced joyfully alongside me and loved me
alongside me and loved me
alongside me and loved me unconditionally the few times I’ve been
unconditionally the few times I’ve been
unconditionally the few times I’ve been able to visit them in Kenya and I’ve had
able to visit them in Kenya and I’ve had
able to visit them in Kenya and I’ve had the great gift of loving them back the
the great gift of loving them back the
the great gift of loving them back the very great gift
very great gift
very great gift I’ve been philanthropic Lee committed to
I’ve been philanthropic Lee committed to
I’ve been philanthropic Lee committed to supporting populations of vulnerable
supporting populations of vulnerable
supporting populations of vulnerable women and girls since I was 22 years old
women and girls since I was 22 years old
women and girls since I was 22 years old and right there in itself is a phrase
and right there in itself is a phrase
and right there in itself is a phrase that I never thought I’d say I’m someone
that I never thought I’d say I’m someone
that I never thought I’d say I’m someone who is philanthropic Lee committed to
who is philanthropic Lee committed to
who is philanthropic Lee committed to something I mean come on but here’s the
something I mean come on but here’s the
something I mean come on but here’s the thing philanthropy is expanding as a
thing philanthropy is expanding as a
thing philanthropy is expanding as a term and what I’m proud of is that in my
term and what I’m proud of is that in my
term and what I’m proud of is that in my first few days working in the world of
first few days working in the world of
first few days working in the world of philanthropy in my early 20s I worked
philanthropy in my early 20s I worked
philanthropy in my early 20s I worked with incredible mentors that helped me
with incredible mentors that helped me
with incredible mentors that helped me start to reimagine what it could mean I
start to reimagine what it could mean I
start to reimagine what it could mean I took my first job in philanthropy and
took my first job in philanthropy and
took my first job in philanthropy and truth be told I spent hours in a Google
truth be told I spent hours in a Google
truth be told I spent hours in a Google search trying to figure out whether or
search trying to figure out whether or
search trying to figure out whether or not I worked in philosophy or ecology
not I worked in philosophy or ecology
not I worked in philosophy or ecology turns out though when you do Google the
turns out though when you do Google the
turns out though when you do Google the word philanthropy there’s little for
word philanthropy there’s little for
word philanthropy there’s little for resources to the everyday person there’s
resources to the everyday person there’s
resources to the everyday person there’s not a whole lot of inspiration either I
not a whole lot of inspiration either I
not a whole lot of inspiration either I saw images of Bill Gates Warren Buffett
saw images of Bill Gates Warren Buffett
saw images of Bill Gates Warren Buffett John Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie men
John Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie men
John Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie men who I knew little of from my humble
who I knew little of from my humble
who I knew little of from my humble upbringing in Massachusetts and whose
upbringing in Massachusetts and whose
upbringing in Massachusetts and whose bank accounts had more zeroes than my
bank accounts had more zeroes than my
bank accounts had more zeroes than my mind could even fathom truth is in those
mind could even fathom truth is in those
mind could even fathom truth is in those first days I really felt like a fraud
first days I really felt like a fraud
first days I really felt like a fraud showing up in that world and that work
showing up in that world and that work
showing up in that world and that work and it took me a while to move through
and it took me a while to move through
and it took me a while to move through it authentically but I kept showing up
it authentically but I kept showing up
it authentically but I kept showing up because I felt like there had to be
because I felt like there had to be
because I felt like there had to be something there for me there had to be
something there for me there had to be
something there for me there had to be something for me in the world of
something for me in the world of
something for me in the world of generosity that said fast-forward a few
generosity that said fast-forward a few
generosity that said fast-forward a few months into my first days in this world
months into my first days in this world
months into my first days in this world of philosophy excuse me philanthropy I
of philosophy excuse me philanthropy I
of philosophy excuse me philanthropy I started to recognize that I was going to
started to recognize that I was going to
started to recognize that I was going to get to go to a lot of fancy fundraising
get to go to a lot of fancy fundraising
get to go to a lot of fancy fundraising events and one took place at the
events and one took place at the
events and one took place at the Cipriani in New York City it was there
Cipriani in New York City it was there
Cipriani in New York City it was there that I first met
that I first met
that I first met Jennifer Buffett and she was to receive
Jennifer Buffett and she was to receive
Jennifer Buffett and she was to receive a reward that night for her amazing work
a reward that night for her amazing work
a reward that night for her amazing work as both a philanthropist and an activist
as both a philanthropist and an activist
as both a philanthropist and an activist giving back to end violence against
giving back to end violence against
giving back to end violence against women and girls all across the globe and
women and girls all across the globe and
women and girls all across the globe and if you’ve never been to the Cipriani in
if you’ve never been to the Cipriani in
if you’ve never been to the Cipriani in New York let me paint you a picture
New York let me paint you a picture
New York let me paint you a picture crystal chandeliers hanging from the
crystal chandeliers hanging from the
crystal chandeliers hanging from the 65-foot sailing the finest linen in the
65-foot sailing the finest linen in the
65-foot sailing the finest linen in the entire world adorns every table and in
entire world adorns every table and in
entire world adorns every table and in addition to that the most affluent and
addition to that the most affluent and
addition to that the most affluent and influential people of Manhattan are
influential people of Manhattan are
influential people of Manhattan are studded throughout the room you can
studded throughout the room you can
studded throughout the room you can imagine how overwhelming that was for
imagine how overwhelming that was for
imagine how overwhelming that was for this kid from rural Massachusetts I was
this kid from rural Massachusetts I was
this kid from rural Massachusetts I was pretty intimidated and anxious even more
pretty intimidated and anxious even more
pretty intimidated and anxious even more so when Jennifer walked up to me
so when Jennifer walked up to me
so when Jennifer walked up to me introduced herself shook my hand and
introduced herself shook my hand and
introduced herself shook my hand and told me that my dress looked nice I have
told me that my dress looked nice I have
told me that my dress looked nice I have to be honest I wanted to run out the
to be honest I wanted to run out the
to be honest I wanted to run out the door but something told me to stay and
door but something told me to stay and
door but something told me to stay and so I walked through that star-studded
so I walked through that star-studded
so I walked through that star-studded room found my place at my table and I
room found my place at my table and I
room found my place at my table and I stayed long enough to watch Jennifer
stayed long enough to watch Jennifer
stayed long enough to watch Jennifer take the stage and share a speech that
take the stage and share a speech that
take the stage and share a speech that although simple cut straight through to
although simple cut straight through to
although simple cut straight through to me on that sparkling night philanthropy
me on that sparkling night philanthropy
me on that sparkling night philanthropy Jennifer said at its root means the love
Jennifer said at its root means the love
Jennifer said at its root means the love of all humanity I want each of you to
of all humanity I want each of you to
of all humanity I want each of you to think about what that means for you
think about what that means for you
think about what that means for you tonight and always I stop shaking in
tonight and always I stop shaking in
tonight and always I stop shaking in that moment I stopped feeling like I was
that moment I stopped feeling like I was
that moment I stopped feeling like I was just this silly kid from Massachusetts
just this silly kid from Massachusetts
just this silly kid from Massachusetts in a room of brilliant wealthy adults if
in a room of brilliant wealthy adults if
in a room of brilliant wealthy adults if philanthropy meant the love of humanity
philanthropy meant the love of humanity
philanthropy meant the love of humanity I could do that I could love in fact
I could do that I could love in fact
I could do that I could love in fact loving people was something that I had
loving people was something that I had
loving people was something that I had done from a very young age
done from a very young age
done from a very young age something that I cherished as a girl and
something that I cherished as a girl and
something that I cherished as a girl and that was robbed of me when I became a
that was robbed of me when I became a
that was robbed of me when I became a teenager you see in my late teens I was
teenager you see in my late teens I was
teenager you see in my late teens I was forced out of my parents home for
forced out of my parents home for
forced out of my parents home for believing that my life should be one of
believing that my life should be one of
believing that my life should be one of giving away unconditional love I wanted
giving away unconditional love I wanted
giving away unconditional love I wanted to be best friends with the cool gay guy
to be best friends with the cool gay guy
to be best friends with the cool gay guy in fear arts class I wanted to date the
in fear arts class I wanted to date the
in fear arts class I wanted to date the Latino basketball player who was funny
Latino basketball player who was funny
Latino basketball player who was funny and new to town and needed friendship
and new to town and needed friendship
and new to town and needed friendship and I wanted to be a shoulder to cry on
and I wanted to be a shoulder to cry on
and I wanted to be a shoulder to cry on a friend when she unveiled a recent
a friend when she unveiled a recent
a friend when she unveiled a recent abortion to all of these things for one
abortion to all of these things for one
abortion to all of these things for one reason or another I was told no by my
reason or another I was told no by my
reason or another I was told no by my parents but I didn’t want to judge these
parents but I didn’t want to judge these
parents but I didn’t want to judge these people
people
people I just wanted to love them this led to
I just wanted to love them this led to
I just wanted to love them this led to one of the worst days of my young adult
one of the worst days of my young adult
one of the worst days of my young adult life loading my childhood belongings on
life loading my childhood belongings on
life loading my childhood belongings on to a friend’s pickup truck and driving
to a friend’s pickup truck and driving
to a friend’s pickup truck and driving away to try and figure out the world on
away to try and figure out the world on
away to try and figure out the world on my own I remember driving away that day
my own I remember driving away that day
my own I remember driving away that day thinking you have to go there with how
thinking you have to go there with how
thinking you have to go there with how this feels right now girl
this feels right now girl
this feels right now girl and I sat with it the entire ride
and I sat with it the entire ride
and I sat with it the entire ride feeling unwanted and unloved and knowing
feeling unwanted and unloved and knowing
feeling unwanted and unloved and knowing that I had to feel the depth of that and
that I had to feel the depth of that and
that I had to feel the depth of that and move through it if I wanted to still
move through it if I wanted to still
move through it if I wanted to still come out on the other end able to make
come out on the other end able to make
come out on the other end able to make people feel wanted and to make people
people feel wanted and to make people
people feel wanted and to make people feel loved
feel loved
feel loved because that was in my true nature and I
because that was in my true nature and I
because that was in my true nature and I couldn’t deny it I found the antidote to
couldn’t deny it I found the antidote to
couldn’t deny it I found the antidote to my pain in my first job in philanthropy
my pain in my first job in philanthropy
my pain in my first job in philanthropy in Jennifer buffets wise words that
in Jennifer buffets wise words that
in Jennifer buffets wise words that night at the Cipriani and in a vision
night at the Cipriani and in a vision
night at the Cipriani and in a vision that I now carry that no matter who you
that I now carry that no matter who you
that I now carry that no matter who you are if you’re feeling powerless hopeless
are if you’re feeling powerless hopeless
are if you’re feeling powerless hopeless unloved or unwanted you can still find
unloved or unwanted you can still find
unloved or unwanted you can still find ways to give through that calling myself
ways to give through that calling myself
ways to give through that calling myself a philanthropist and claiming my
a philanthropist and claiming my
a philanthropist and claiming my philanthropy it’s made all the
philanthropy it’s made all the
philanthropy it’s made all the difference and in a world that is
difference and in a world that is
difference and in a world that is rapidly changing and often frightening
rapidly changing and often frightening
rapidly changing and often frightening for us to all be standing in I’m glad
for us to all be standing in I’m glad
for us to all be standing in I’m glad that I’ve learned this so young I don’t
that I’ve learned this so young I don’t
that I’ve learned this so young I don’t want us to feel powerless anymore I turn
want us to feel powerless anymore I turn
want us to feel powerless anymore I turn on the TV and everything that I see on
on the TV and everything that I see on
on the TV and everything that I see on CNN and in the news it scares me and I
CNN and in the news it scares me and I
CNN and in the news it scares me and I know that a lot of people feel like that
know that a lot of people feel like that
know that a lot of people feel like that you might be thinking Who am I what can
you might be thinking Who am I what can
you might be thinking Who am I what can I do well it turns out you can do a
I do well it turns out you can do a
I do well it turns out you can do a whole heck of a lot you just have to be
whole heck of a lot you just have to be
whole heck of a lot you just have to be conscious and strategic with how you get
conscious and strategic with how you get
conscious and strategic with how you get there I want to share three simple steps
there I want to share three simple steps
there I want to share three simple steps with you today if you’re ready to feel
with you today if you’re ready to feel
with you today if you’re ready to feel powerful in your own philanthropy and
powerful in your own philanthropy and
powerful in your own philanthropy and claim it as your own and I want to start
claim it as your own and I want to start
claim it as your own and I want to start with inviting you to know your true
with inviting you to know your true
with inviting you to know your true story there’s a lot of talk out there
story there’s a lot of talk out there
story there’s a lot of talk out there about understanding your passion or
about understanding your passion or
about understanding your passion or unlocking your purpose but you really
unlocking your purpose but you really
unlocking your purpose but you really can’t get there if you don’t face your
can’t get there if you don’t face your
can’t get there if you don’t face your truth first I worked for years in
truth first I worked for years in
truth first I worked for years in populations of vulnerable
populations of vulnerable
populations of vulnerable girls because I didn’t want people to
girls because I didn’t want people to
girls because I didn’t want people to know that at one point I had been one I
know that at one point I had been one I
know that at one point I had been one I had to mull over ways in which I could
had to mull over ways in which I could
had to mull over ways in which I could navigate that after sitting in it for
navigate that after sitting in it for
navigate that after sitting in it for weeks and weeks to finally come out on
weeks and weeks to finally come out on
weeks and weeks to finally come out on the other side and authentically bring
the other side and authentically bring
the other side and authentically bring myself to the cause that I cared about
myself to the cause that I cared about
myself to the cause that I cared about but once I did that I was sharing more
but once I did that I was sharing more
but once I did that I was sharing more and giving more and the ultimate gift
and giving more and the ultimate gift
and giving more and the ultimate gift was that my compassion increased both
was that my compassion increased both
was that my compassion increased both for myself and for the girls that I was
for myself and for the girls that I was
for myself and for the girls that I was working with so I invite you before you
working with so I invite you before you
working with so I invite you before you think about passion or purpose to know
think about passion or purpose to know
think about passion or purpose to know your true story to face your truth and
your true story to face your truth and
your true story to face your truth and no matter how hard it is to move through
no matter how hard it is to move through
no matter how hard it is to move through it so we can all come out on the other
it so we can all come out on the other
it so we can all come out on the other side together secondly it might not
side together secondly it might not
side together secondly it might not shock you that I’m going to talk about
shock you that I’m going to talk about
shock you that I’m going to talk about money don’t be afraid to give away big
money don’t be afraid to give away big
money don’t be afraid to give away big money I’ve had the most incredible
money I’ve had the most incredible
money I’ve had the most incredible mentors in the world of philanthropy
mentors in the world of philanthropy
mentors in the world of philanthropy remind me that this is a core thing we
remind me that this is a core thing we
remind me that this is a core thing we need to shift philanthropy as a term
need to shift philanthropy as a term
need to shift philanthropy as a term needs to become accessible to the
needs to become accessible to the
needs to become accessible to the everyday person and the idea that needs
everyday person and the idea that needs
everyday person and the idea that needs to be expanded but it takes all of us
to be expanded but it takes all of us
to be expanded but it takes all of us together finding out how we serve and
together finding out how we serve and
together finding out how we serve and being responsible in the way that we
being responsible in the way that we
being responsible in the way that we give back to truly create the world that
give back to truly create the world that
give back to truly create the world that we imagine so I’m definitely not someone
we imagine so I’m definitely not someone
we imagine so I’m definitely not someone who can cut a million-dollar check but I
who can cut a million-dollar check but I
who can cut a million-dollar check but I give away 10% of my net income every
give away 10% of my net income every
give away 10% of my net income every year and let me tell you I’m
year and let me tell you I’m
year and let me tell you I’m occasionally still eating avocado toast
occasionally still eating avocado toast
occasionally still eating avocado toast thank you and I’m saving for retirement
thank you and I’m saving for retirement
thank you and I’m saving for retirement so it is possible and perhaps one of the
so it is possible and perhaps one of the
so it is possible and perhaps one of the best things that we can all do as the
best things that we can all do as the
best things that we can all do as the world changes is get comfortable with
world changes is get comfortable with
world changes is get comfortable with giving away big money we’re facing some
giving away big money we’re facing some
giving away big money we’re facing some of the most critical social
of the most critical social
of the most critical social environmental and economic issues that
environmental and economic issues that
environmental and economic issues that the human race has ever faced and you
the human race has ever faced and you
the human race has ever faced and you better believe I want to cut big checks
better believe I want to cut big checks
better believe I want to cut big checks to the world that I see coming because I
to the world that I see coming because I
to the world that I see coming because I want it to be a positive and fruitful
want it to be a positive and fruitful
want it to be a positive and fruitful one lastly I want to invite you to map a
one lastly I want to invite you to map a
one lastly I want to invite you to map a long-term vision plan if you’ve faced
long-term vision plan if you’ve faced
long-term vision plan if you’ve faced your truth and if you are ready to cut a
your truth and if you are ready to cut a
your truth and if you are ready to cut a big check and comfortable with it
big check and comfortable with it
big check and comfortable with it chart the next decade that’s where I
chart the next decade that’s where I
chart the next decade that’s where I think the fearlessness comes in I
think the fearlessness comes in I
think the fearlessness comes in I recently went into an organization that
recently went into an organization that
recently went into an organization that I’ve been working with for a few years
I’ve been working with for a few years
I’ve been working with for a few years now and I said you will have all of my
now and I said you will have all of my
now and I said you will have all of my time and talents you will have all of my
time and talents you will have all of my
time and talents you will have all of my energy and network
energy and network
energy and network and you will get $10,000 from me over
and you will get $10,000 from me over
and you will get $10,000 from me over the next 10 years what can we build
the next 10 years what can we build
the next 10 years what can we build together those conversations don’t
together those conversations don’t
together those conversations don’t happen in our social change sector
happen in our social change sector
happen in our social change sector because people are afraid to have them
because people are afraid to have them
because people are afraid to have them and I’ve had them a lot of times and I
and I’ve had them a lot of times and I
and I’ve had them a lot of times and I want to invite you to do the same so
want to invite you to do the same so
want to invite you to do the same so every December 31st as an engaged board
every December 31st as an engaged board
every December 31st as an engaged board member who fund raises I could have
member who fund raises I could have
member who fund raises I could have check also for $1,000 does it scare me
check also for $1,000 does it scare me
check also for $1,000 does it scare me yes does it make me feel like I’m in
yes does it make me feel like I’m in
yes does it make me feel like I’m in control in a world that wants to me to
control in a world that wants to me to
control in a world that wants to me to be out of it yes it does because I’m in
be out of it yes it does because I’m in
be out of it yes it does because I’m in the driver’s seat and I’m sick of
the driver’s seat and I’m sick of
the driver’s seat and I’m sick of feeling like I shouldn’t be the truth is
feeling like I shouldn’t be the truth is
feeling like I shouldn’t be the truth is we are in control so I invite you to map
we are in control so I invite you to map
we are in control so I invite you to map a long-term vision plan I love human
a long-term vision plan I love human
a long-term vision plan I love human beings I’ve loved every single person
beings I’ve loved every single person
beings I’ve loved every single person who has come into my life for both her
who has come into my life for both her
who has come into my life for both her goodness and their flaws and I have to
goodness and their flaws and I have to
goodness and their flaws and I have to say that moving through the world of
say that moving through the world of
say that moving through the world of philanthropy sometimes it really makes
philanthropy sometimes it really makes
philanthropy sometimes it really makes you question whether or not you belong
you question whether or not you belong
you question whether or not you belong anywhere or whether or not you should
anywhere or whether or not you should
anywhere or whether or not you should just curl up in a corner and cry and
just curl up in a corner and cry and
just curl up in a corner and cry and leave it up to somebody else to figure
leave it up to somebody else to figure
leave it up to somebody else to figure things out but what’s been the joint was
things out but what’s been the joint was
things out but what’s been the joint was joyful thing for me and claiming my
joyful thing for me and claiming my
joyful thing for me and claiming my philanthropy is recognizing that I
philanthropy is recognizing that I
philanthropy is recognizing that I actually have the ability to make
actually have the ability to make
actually have the ability to make massive shifts and massive change happen
massive shifts and massive change happen
massive shifts and massive change happen on an everyday basis that’s a gift and I
on an everyday basis that’s a gift and I
on an everyday basis that’s a gift and I think we often forget that we’re all
think we often forget that we’re all
think we often forget that we’re all more powerful than we are powerless I
more powerful than we are powerless I
more powerful than we are powerless I invite you in the coming days and weeks
invite you in the coming days and weeks
invite you in the coming days and weeks to claim your philanthropy and I promise
to claim your philanthropy and I promise
to claim your philanthropy and I promise that I’ll continue to do the same
that I’ll continue to do the same
that I’ll continue to do the same alongside you thank you
alongside you thank you
alongside you thank you [Applause]
”
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