March 27, 2007

“If there was ever a time for tikkun olam, this is it.” was how Larry Brilliant, executive director of Google.org, began his speech to 300 Jewish Community Federation donors at the second annual Business Leadership Council Breakfast on Wednesday, February 28, 2007.

Dr. Brilliant spoke of the three factors that are the most threatening to the planet and the top two that are helping to heal the world.

• The continually increasing population is creating problems that impact all of us. Within the last 30 years 30 new communicable diseases have affected the global population. Disasters occur more frequently and with greater intensity, and we are running out of water. The world is becoming increasingly destabilized and sectarian violence is on the rise.
• Global climate change will impact the poorest people and countries in the world. Rising sea levels due to global warming threaten to wipe out entire communities.
• •Urban migration and rising temperatures have caused the number of malaria cases in Africa to explode, threatening millions of lives.

The good news is that globalization and the explosive growth of technology can make a big difference in repairing the world. By uniting and strategically using their funding and intelligence, the business community has the ability to address many of the global problems that are threatening all of us. Taking immediate action on issues such as stabilizing population numbers, prioritizing global health planning and increasing disaster preparedness, together with the “Green revolution” will allow us to leave a healthier planet to our children.

Dr. Larry Brilliant is the executive director of Google.org, the umbrella organization which includes the Google Foundation as well as partnerships with and contributions to for-profit and nonprofit entities. He is an M.D. and M.P.H., board-certified in preventive medicine and public health, and served as a medical officer for the World Health Organization's successful smallpox eradication program. Brilliant was the founder of the Seva Foundation, whose projects in 15 countries have given back sight to more than 2 million blind people. He has also been a professor teaching courses in global health and economic development. In addition, Brilliant co-founded the pioneering online service The WELL and has served as CEO of two public companies and other venture-backed startups.

Larry was named the 2005 “International Public Health Hero” of the University of California, received the 2006 TED Prize and has earned numerous other honors and honorary degrees.

The Business Leadership Council (BLC) is an initiative of the Jewish Community Federation of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties founded by Jewish leaders in the Bay Area business community. The BLC offers ongoing networking and community involvement opportunities geared towards executive-level business professionals. The goal is to provide a forum that connects, educates and inspires individuals to build relationships and become active philanthropists.

Sponsored by AT&T and Levisohn Venture Partners, this special BLC event was open to all donors who contributed $1,000 or more to the 2007 San Francisco-based Jewish Community Federation’s Annual Campaign. Donors under the age of 40 who contributed $500 were also welcome.

The Jewish Community Federation is the central organization for fundraising, planning, outreach and leadership development for Jewish communities in San Francisco, the Peninsula, and Marin and Sonoma counties. In fiscal year 2006, the Federation’s annual campaign allocated $18.3 million to some 60 agencies providing social services, educational and cultural programs in the Bay Area, in the U.S., Israel and elsewhere in the world; and the Federation’s Endowment Fund, with assets exceeding $1.8 billion, provided more than $203 million for a variety of grants, seed projects and emergency needs. For more information, call 415.777.0411 or visit www.sfjcf.org.