Carnegie 100

Volume 12 / Number 1 Winter 2020 Carnegie 100 Letter to Our Visionary Founder CARNEGIE Crisis at the Border Philanthropy’s Deep Impact REPORTER U.S. Retreats from Global Stage Volume 12 / Number 1 Winter 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME TO THE CARNEGIE REPORTER Chief Communications and Digital Strategies Officer Julia Weede Taking the Long View Editor/Writer Kenneth Benson Principal Design Director 02 20 Daniel Kitae Um Assistant Editor nce, on a visit to Beijing, I asked a Chinese Inspired by a century of Andrew Carnegie’s legacy, we Anita Jain university leader what he believed was the hear from Gov. Tom Kean about the need for philanthropy Researcher singular thing that well-educated Westerners in America — now more than ever; we celebrate the work Ronald Sexton O Carnegie Corporation of New York is a philan- missed in their understanding of Chinese culture. He shared of nine extraordinary philanthropists who were awarded thropic foundation created by Andrew Carnegie a favorite proverb, “Take the long view, but get up early.” the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy this past October; in 1911 to promote the advancement and diffusion Another leader suggested it was their ability to invest in and we eavesdrop on a letter from Vartan Gregorian to of knowledge and understanding among the people of the United States. Subsequently, its research over decades, as opposed to short-term market Andrew Carnegie about the Corporation’s work over the charter was amended to permit the use of funds 27 53 cycles, that made it possible for Chinese researchers to last 100 years. for the same purposes in certain countries that are or have been members of the British Overseas compete globally on critical issues. Commonwealth. The goal of the Carnegie Reporter is to be a hub of ideas and a forum for FROM THE PRESIDENT We explore the complex challenges and opportunities of dialogue about the work of foundations. I have thought about this for years as we watch market- global migration and American immigration with a former Dear Andrew Carnegie Vartan Gregorian writes a letter to the visionary philanthro- 02 BOARD OF TRUSTEES pist whose inspirational and vastly influential mission was to achieve “real and permanent driven science and technology radically redefine much of secretary of homeland security, a migration policy expert, Thomas H. Kean, Chair good in this world.” what drives America’s focus and research. We see U.S. and the former national immigration correspondent for the Janet L. Robinson, Vice Chair Vartan Gregorian, Ex Officio election cycles create frenzied debate leading to legislation New York Times. A related book review looks at the issue CARNEGIE CONVERSATION Border Breakdown What’s causing the record influx of immigrants at the southern that is enacted hastily if not haphazardly. from a migrant family’s perspective. Pedro Aspe Maria Elena Lagomasino 08 Lloyd J. Austin III Marcia McNutt border, where are they coming from, and will a recent change in asylum laws help slow Lionel Barber Louise Richardson the flow? Are we losing the long view entirely? We visit some of the sobering discussions on emerging chal- Jared L. Cohon Anne Tatlock Kevin J. Conway Ann Claire Williams FEATURES lenges to peace that took place with leaders such as Hillary John J. DeGioia Judy Woodruff We Need Big Ideas. Philanthropy Has Them. Thomas H. Kean, board chair of 16 Philanthropy may be one of the few places left in America Rodham Clinton, Bill Burns, Ian Bremmer, and many others Caroline Kennedy Carnegie Corporation of New York, argues that amid government inaction and paralysis, America’s philanthropic institutions can fill the void. that can sustain efforts that are measured over the long at the Second Carnegie Peacebuilding Conversations, a Helene L. Kaplan, Honorary Trustee term — in years and decades rather than market quarters daylong event convened in New York City by the Peace Newton N. Minow, Honorary Trustee Peace Out Speaking at the Second Carnegie Peacebuilding Conversations, former and election cycles. It is an important point as our nation Palace and the Carnegie family of organizations. secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton warned that waning U.S. influence would have a 20 debates how we will govern ourselves and to what end. If destabilizing effect on global peace. philanthropy can share a lesson, it is that the most intracta- When we consider what is at stake, the pressing need for ble challenges need long-view solutions. a national long view should be calling us beyond the polls CENTER POINT and headlines into the sort of collaborative partnerships Big Impact Giving that is hands-on, savvy, proactive, transformational. Meet some of the 27 Welcome to the Winter issue of the Carnegie Reporter, that bring real change over time, or as Carnegie described beneficiaries whose lives have been made better by the generosity of the 2019 Carnegie 437 Madison Avenue Medal of Philanthropy recipients. where we step back and take the long view on our work, it, “real and permanent good in this world.” New York, New York 10022 Phone: 212.371.3200 Fax: 212.753.0584 on the work of other philanthropists, and on the vision of the CARNEGIE CORNER carnegie.org extraordinary man who endowed more than 20 organiza- We wish you peace in the new year as we seek that good Family Affair Carnegie institutions gather for three days of events surrounding the 10th 42 tions more than 100 years ago, Andrew Carnegie. together. Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy and to commemorate the centenary year of Andrew Carnegie’s passing. On the Cover Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) In this issue we delve into some of the themes that were Julia Weede Drawing his inspiration from the commemorative CARNEGIE BOOKSHELF planted deeply into the organizations Carnegie created, pin that was designed in honor of the centennial of The Lives Left Behind — And the New Ones Created Jason DeParle tells 50 Chief Communications and Digital Strategies Officer Andrew Carnegie’s passing, illustrator Marcos Chin the fascinating story of global migration through the tale of one family in his new book, and that have endured over decades of work. Carnegie Corporation of New York has conjured up a colorful, elegantly swirling capital A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves. “C” that plays off of and extends the Celtic cross– inspired design of the original. For a photograph of the actual pin, see p. 56. NOTABLE EVENTS Wish Granted | Wreath-Laying Ceremonies on Both Sides of the Atlantic | New Building 53 Named After Vartan Gregorian | National Voter Registration Day Shatters Records | Kim Lew Discusses Economy with New York Fed President FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Andrew Carnegie The president of Carnegie Corporation of New York writes a letter to the singular man — immigrant from Scotland and proud American, titan of business and visionary philanthropist, an optimist and perpetual dynamo — whose inspirational and vastly influential mission was to achieve “real and permanent good in this world” n your autobiography, you wrote, “I intend to tell my Just as you had Colonel Anderson to loan you books, I story, not as one posturing before the public, but as in too knew kind individuals who gave me access to their the midst of my own people and friends, tried and true, libraries and thereby opened new worlds. In Tabriz I read to whom I can speak with the utmost freedom.” That is noncirculating books at the Armenian diocesan library. also my intent in this letter. Every day, when I walk In fact, I volunteered to be a book shelver there at age Iinto my office, I see your statue and your portrait. Every 12 precisely for that privilege. Like you, I loved to read. once in a while I imagine that you are looking back at me, And my world expanded as I read translations of Persian, and I hope you realize that Carnegie Corporation of New Russian, French, and German literature. Occasionally, I York still strives to uphold your mission “to promote the read books about “self-made men,” where I came across advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understand- your name for the first time. ing.” As a historian, I’m fully aware that I have inherited a great mantle of responsibility. After all, I am the second Another source of light for me was the private library immigrant to preside over the Corporation. You, of course, that belonged to Miss Boodakian, the sister of a local were the first. Growing up in a relatively poor family in bank president, who lived in a large house in a wealthy Tabriz, Iran, I never dared to dream that I would someday neighborhood. She generously lent me her precious be among your successors. leather-bound books, one at a time. There was also a stationery store in town, where I found lighter read- In retrospect, our worlds, though distant, were not so far ing material, like detective stories featuring the master apart. Our formative years were shaped by strong women, of disguise, Arsène Lupin. With shrewdness worthy of yours by your devoted mother; mine by my beloved grand- Monsieur Lupin, the store owner divided his books into mother, Voski Mirzaian. Although she was illiterate, my three parts, which he rented out to customers, charging grandmother knew the importance of education, and she each time, and tripling his profit. instilled that belief in me. You and I both loved books as children. I understood instinctively what you meant when Later in life, when I learned that you were the father of the you wrote about your youth in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, modern public library system, I was filled with gratitude. and the way books and libraries “opened windows” for Thanks to you, millions of individuals have been able to you, as if they were letting light into a dark room.

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