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Collaboration in philanthropy is popular these days among both donors and charities.
It’s been done before. On 17th October, 1739, George II granted a charter to a
"Foundling Hospital" in London, organized by a former Massachusetts (Taunton)
shipbuilder, Captain Thomas Coram. Coram recruited volunteers to support the
project – private persons “moved…to promote Publick Good” (please note). Coram also
persuaded his friend, the artist William Hogarth, to donate several paintings for the walls;
Hogarth, in turn, got several of his friends – Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough,
Richard Wilson, and others – to donate their works as well. Their idea was that wealthy
patrons of art would visit for the art, take pity on the foundlings, and make charitable
donations. As the first public art gallery in London, this was the catalyst for the Royal
Academy. Coram got another friend, George Friedrich Handel, to donate the organ for
the children’s chapel, for which he composed a special anthem and performed many
benefit concerts – including the successful London premier of his oratorio, Messiah!
Today charities in both arts and human services are fiscally stressed; both need to
promote charitable giving; why not do it together, for mutual reinforcement? Starting
here – Catalogue readers, after you check out your favorite fields, browse through the
others – you may be inspired.
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