By Karl Zinsmeister

Reprinted from the Spring 2019 issue of Philanthropy magazine (PhilMag.org)

a stroll through Community Life

An important part of the long-term mission of willingly hand over to these institutions—every The Philanthropy Roundtable is cataloguing single year—more than $400 billion, and at least and celebrating America’s crucial institutions that much more in the value of our volunteer of civil society. These entities don’t wield time, is because we recognize their power to government’s coercive authority. Nor are make our society better in multiple ways. they fueled by the profit incentives of the Over the next several years, I hope to commercial sector. They exist in a third sphere chronicle many of these organizations. More independent of those two poles of social action, specifically, I’ll map them by geography, in region- fixing problems where neither power nor by-region guides. So any time you want to get money are adequate to the task. to know a place, you’ll be able to quickly pull up Voluntary community-building organizations all the descriptions and practical information are some of the most distinctive elements of our needed to immerse yourself in the distinctive civilization. One could say they make America elements of that area’s civic culture. Museums, America. Many date back hundreds of years; glorious parks, special schools, potent churches, others are just recently born. Compared to other restaurants where you can eat a meal served countries, they are extraordinarily numerous, and by a former convict or prostitute or homeless they exist and thrive only because they work, and person, venerable athletic organizations, priceless propel us forward. medical nonprofits, civic music halls, impressive Again and again, in sector after sector, these community-boosting charities, public art, historic civic associations have demonstrated their libraries—you’ll find all of these and more. capacities to make our lives richer, healthier, As a sneak peek at this new prospective work, kinder, happier, and more beautiful. And for that, the following pages present a sketch of civil they are loved by everyday Americans (though society in one of America’s oldest and culturally sometimes taken for granted). The reason we richest cities: Philadelphia.

Karl Zinsmeister is author of The Almanac of American Philanthropy. Karl Zinsmeister Karl

14 PHILANTHROPY Libraries for the Common Man Benjamin Franklin was a supreme example of a distinctively American “type”—the self-improver. The tenth son of a soapmaker who had only enough money to send Ben to school for one year, a stroll through Franklin had to train his mind himself and blaze a personal path to achievement. Members of the Junto lent After running away from home at age 17 Franklin the money he needed to buy he found himself hundreds of miles from the Pennsylvania Gazette and turn it all friends or family, without any sources into the most popular and innovative of assistance or advantage. If he was newspaper in the colonies. Other going to prosper in life, it would have to members of the group were likewise Community Life be by the wit, character, and diligence he boosted into professional and personal developed on his own. achievement through the support of When he turned 21 Franklin their clubmates. began his first experiment in using The other half of the formula voluntary association with other behind this little voluntary association citizens as an aid to individual success. was to methodically do civic He pulled together a group of similarly good. Junto members organized a hard-working friends in what he pathbreaking volunteer fire brigade. called “a club of mutual improvement.” They led campaigns to pave, clean, and One of the 12 members was affluent, light the public streets, and to improve but the others all toiled in trades like health conditions. They spawned the cobbler, glazier, clerk, bartender, and colonies’ first learned group. cabinetmaker. They called their circle These efforts inspired others. As the “Junto,” and met every Friday members of the Junto thrived, Franklin evening for dinner and discussion. encouraged each of the dozen to set Franklin drew up club rules which up similar small groups with a fresh required them to think out loud membership of earnest self-improvers. together about both intellectual topics This set the template for America’s and practical subjects—like how they dense growth of voluntary communal could assist each other’s success, and organizations through which participants what the group should do to elevate simultaneously refine themselves and their growing city. enrich the larger society. The Junto helped popularize One of the most valuable social the kind of individual striving and contributions of Franklin’s Junto was its community-mindedness that eventually creation of the public lending library. became common in America, but when Members of the group found they often Franklin and his friends began, this was had to consult books to settle questions a novel approach. In mother Britain raised during their discussions. To make and more class-conscious parts of the this easier, they first agreed to pool in one American colonies, like the cavalier place all of the reference volumes they South, the prevailing view was that owned as individuals. (Books were then citizens were born either as “gentlemen” very expensive and possessed only in or “serviles,” and that those who worked small numbers even by striving readers.) with their hands could not aspire to But they found that members borrowed a life of the mind or engage in public books then forgot to return them. service. Franklin and his friends, and So Franklin suggested a refinement: many other Americans like them, Members of the Junto and as many Karl Zinsmeister Karl exposed the foolishness of that view. friends as they could convince to join

SPRING 2019 15 million works it acquired in its nearly three centuries of existence. The initial subscription library grew big enough to serve as the Library of Congress during the decades when Philadelphia was the them would form a new book group that national capital. It continued to grow as anyone willing to pay a modest deposit an open lending collection and was the could join. Records would be kept, and if largest set of books in the U.S. until the someone failed to bring back a book, a fee 1850s. In the 1950s it was transformed would be taken out of his deposit. Pooled into a research library, opening its many funds would also be used to buy new rare volumes to investigators of all sorts. books suggested by the members. Philadelphia is also home to many The 50 initial joiners who set specialized libraries created for the this up in 1731 called it the Library public good. These range from one of Company of Philadelphia. This was the country’s largest family-history a breakthrough in making reading and genealogy collections, offered by material broadly available to the public. the Historical Society of Pennsylvania Average citizens who would otherwise (where you can also see treasures like have no hope of being able to read the first draft of the U.S. Constitution and study suddenly had resources and the earliest known American for sharpening their minds. This fit photograph), to America’s deepest trove beautifully with Franklin’s belief in of books about freemasonry, which can the diffusion of knowledge to give all be accessed at the Masonic Temple. people opportunity. The public lending library spread across America during the 1740s, and Public Art Everywhere later across the world. Many other Philadelphia has more outdoor statues, philanthropists like Judah Touro, Peter sculpture, and other pieces of public Cooper, Enoch Pratt, and Andrew art on its streets than perhaps any city Carnegie followed in Franklin’s steps in the U.S. A big reason for that is by offering easy access to books as their the private organization known as the best attempt to help poor but ambitious Association for Public Art—created in people sharpen their capacities. 1872 by locals who wanted to beautify Carnegie, for instance, gave funds for the their hometown parks. It was our construction of nearly 30 public libraries country’s first charity aimed at making in Philadelphia alone. Today the city’s art accessible to city dwellers. Free Library is one of the largest public The group immediately began systems in the world, with 54 branches, commissioning striking pieces over 2 million books, and 125 live author from artists like Alexander Stirling events per year. Calder, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, And Franklin’s original Library Daniel Chester French, and Frederic Company is also very much alive and Remington, then installing them all well. It still shelves every one of the over Philadelphia. Its very first gift, a lovely piece called “Night,” can still Philadelphia has more statues, sculpture, be viewed in West Fairmount Park. On a busy boulevard in the main arts and other pieces of art on its streets than district you’ll find a glittering Joan of Arc astride her horse in full battle perhaps any city in the country. A private armor, which was initiated by leading association is the big reason for that. Philadelphians to honor their city’s connections to France. The downtown Zinsmeister Karl

16 PHILANTHROPY Mural City Back in the 1980s, Philadelphia had a serious graffiti problem. This resulted not only in ugly streetscapes but also disorder and crime (which often surge when a neighborhood looks like no one cares, as the “broken windows” research of that era demonstrated). Civic leaders formed the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network, campus. Just to the left he is operating which first worked to stop the spray his printing press, at life size, in an painting and remove existing eyesores. outdoor plaza by the Masonic Temple. Many thousands of properties were memorial to pioneering aviators killed Philadelphia’s most charming cleaned by a Graffiti Abatement Team in World War I was a product of lots of celebration of Franklin is a bronze (with some of the labor done by “taggers” small donations. bust sitting next to one of Philly’s assigned to that work by judges after they Members of the Association for engine-and-ladder companies. To were caught defacing property). Public Art also got the ball rolling to honor Franklin’s invention of volunteer Simultaneously, local artist Jane establish the Philadelphia Museum of firefighting companies for fending off Golden was hired to create a program Art. But their main effort—every year for urban conflagrations, local firehouses that would take young people, including decades—was to cultivate a continuing accumulated 1.8 million pennies donated many arrested for vandalizing, and train flow of donations and bequests that by schoolchildren. They also collected them to create handsome murals on allowed placement of new sculptures 1,000 old keys for the artist, who cast walls that had previously been scarred. outdoors, or restoration of existing works them right into the surface of the Beginning in 1984, the effort produced in need of care. And they’re still doing sculpture to give it a wonderful texture. 60-100 murals annually, many of them it. A monumental acquisition made in Crowdsourced in this way, the friendly visually dramatic. Soon, more than 2015 with donor funds was the chrome and bemused visage of Franklin reminds 1,500 young people were learning, rendition of a broken tree that is located viewers of the democratic roots of the working, and earning artist fees in the in Iroquois Park. republic he helped create. program every year, redirecting their With the pump primed in this way Another community project with energies from destructive acts into by association members, lots of other hundreds of donors is the Irish Memorial. construction of new works of art (along citizens and groups in Philadelphia It was unveiled at the 150th anniversary with restoration of previously painted offered up art for public enjoyment. of the famine that killed a million people wall art). The Philadelphia Fountain Society in Ireland and pushed that many more to There are now around 4,000 large provided the Swann Memorial emigrate—many to the U.S. where they public murals scattered throughout Fountain located across from the became the kernel of today’s 34 million Philadelphia, many of them enlivening Catholic cathedral. It includes Calder Americans with Irish heritage. tired old industrial districts and bronze figures representing the One popular Philadelphia sculpture Delaware, Schuylkill, and Wissahickon allows a little audience participation. rivers that wrap watery arms around “Freedom” was created with a $1 the city. The fountain’s pool has million grant from a local retiree, and traditionally become a swimming hole placed on the street in front of what for Philadelphians during the hot is currently a charter school for the months (with oscillating attempts by arts. It depicts a figure tearing himself the police to stop that). free from a sticky wall and springing Fittingly, Philadelphia’s face is joyously down the sidewalk—an thickly freckled with statues of favorite allegory encouraging escape from son Ben Franklin. You can view him as personal traps. The human-shaped a massive marble hero in the rotunda cavity left behind by the sprite is of the Franklin Institute. Or sit next now a favorite spot for people to be Karl Zinsmeister Karl to him as he reads a paper on the Penn photographed unsticking themselves.

SPRING 2019 17 knit together neighborhood residents, becoming points of unity and pride co-workers from the docks and in distressed neighborhoods. It is firehouses, and multiple generations of the largest collection of collaborative the same family. artwork in the world, and has earned If you can make it to Philly on Philly international recognition as the New Year’s Day, you’ll see a street show “City of Murals.” that exists nowhere else in the U.S. If An average mural costs $25,000- post-Christmas interval was a kind of you’re unable to be present then, the $30,000 to produce. Tens of thousands truce period where the poorer classes Mummers Museum will give you a taste of donors provide gifts to keep the art could poke fun of their more successful during the rest of the year. You can coming, with property owners, businesses, neighbors and make sure they didn’t get even rent the museum for your wedding and private citizens of all stripes now too impressed with themselves. reception, provided you’re willing to cooperating enthusiastically with the This democratic, satirizing spirit leave your celebratory firearms at home. program. As local philanthropic leader remains alive and well. It’s not actors John Bogle once put it, “Mural Arts and professional dancers and college is Jane Golden’s priceless gift to our kids hired by the visitors’ bureau who Brother’s Keepers Philadelphia community. It is a cause that you’ll see on the street on January 1, Among the ten largest cities in the I revel in supporting.” but mostly working-class men who grab U.S., the one with the highest poverty their once-a-year opportunity to put rate is Philadelphia, at 26 percent. on fancy dress and makeup and raise a Yet Philly has one of the lowest Mum on little hell. rates of homeless people per capita. New Year’s Day Originally, mummers would fire That paradox can be explained to a One of Philadelphia’s most distinctive sidearms into the air as part of their considerable degree by the success contributions to American culture celebrating, and their headquarters is of Project HOME, the Philadelphia is mummery. Each New Year’s Day, still officially called the New Year’s charity that has helped get thousands 10,000 elaborately costumed mimes, Shooters and Mummers Museum. of people off the streets, in the process dancers, clowns, and musicians march While gunfire is no longer part of becoming one of the nation’s most through the city, with hundreds of the commemoration, there are still influential and admired organizations thousands of locals cheering them plenty of animal spirits on display. The for battling homelessness. on live or over broadcast feeds. It is museum’s current explanation that once The organization was launched the oldest and largest folk festival in the city became too populated for safe with a $100,000 check from the the country, and a deep and beloved celebratory shots “the firearms were left Connelly Foundation, after three tradition which brings together at home” (not surrendered) gives a hint daughters of foundation creator John blue-collar Philadelphians in an annual of the continuing “don’t tread on me” Connelly went to visit a feisty nun crescendo to months of cooperative flavor of the event. and a newly minted MBA who they work in fraternal clubs that are The more than 40 grassroots had been told were planning an attack clustered in ethnic south Philly. neighborhood groups that on homelessness in their mutual Mumming is not just a parade. Its spontaneously cook up this annual hometown. Sister Mary Scullion and roots go back to ancient times, with extravaganza compete to tickle Joan McConnon went on to build the Greek namesake Momus being onlookers in different categories: an efficient and business-like charity the personification of satire. When Comics, Fancies, String Bands, with about 350 employees (many of English and Scandinavian immigrants Wench Brigades, and so forth. them formerly homeless), hundreds of brought the practice to Philadelphia Their clubhouses resemble VFWs volunteers, and a reputation for getting starting in the 1600s, revelers would or Elks halls. Costume-making and things done. descend on the grander houses in their choreography-planning take place Project HOME has collected neighborhood in costume and masks to throughout the year, financed by bar some of the largest donations ever “mum”—sing, present poems and skits, proceeds and spaghetti dinners and made to an organization aiding the and beg a little food and drink. The picnic raffles. These social gatherings homeless, including $30 million Zinsmeister Karl

18 PHILANTHROPY World’s Most Influential Prison In its first two centuries, Pennsylvania tried harder than almost any place from Philadelphians Leigh and John in the world to find better ways of Middleton. Singer and philanthropist administering justice. This began with Jon Bon Jovi has also made William Penn himself. After becoming multimillion-dollar contributions a Quaker he was several times jailed by to help finance one of the group’s the English for blasphemy, including residential centers. There are now 17 one stint in Newgate prison and of these centers, which typically pair another in solitary confinement in an efficiency apartments with addiction, unheated cell of the Tower of London. education, health-care, and employment When Penn later established his services in the same building. commonwealth in the new world, he Another Philadelphia anti-poverty forbade criminalization of religious organization that has developed a views, and guaranteed broad liberty national reputation is Esperanza, a to residents. He insisted on basic faith-based effort to bring economic rights for suspects, guarantees of bail, protection of the independence of juries, bans on torture and branding, and a limiting of capital punishment to cases of murder and treason. (At that time, people in England could be hung for more than 200 offenses, including minor thefts and other small crimes.) And in the places where persons convicted of crimes were kept, Penn instituted humane reforms. He stopped the practice of charging prisoners for food, and for basic services like development to the fast-growing unlocking their irons for court Spanish-speaking community in appearances. In his lockups, men Philadelphia—which doubled in size shaped wood, and women spun yarn. from 1990 to 2010 (now totaling over Instead of being dungeons, he insisted, 12 percent of the city population). The prisons should be workhouses and group is run by two Hispanic brothers, places that aimed to rehabilitate. He Baptist ministers, who began with one hoped that through his reforms “an laundromat, then a small building to example may be set up to the nations provide apartments for senior citizens, as…a holy experiment.” then a mortgage counseling service for In subsequent generations, Quakers immigrants hoping to buy homes. and other Pennsylvanians continued Today Esperanza (“Hope” in to seek better ways to punish and Spanish) runs a vocational college, a avert crime. The great humanitarian K-12 charter school, a health clinic, Benjamin Rush and some friends work-training programs, a Hispanic created the Philadelphia Society for theater, and more housing. The group Alleviating the Miseries of Public is credited with transforming its gritty Hunting Park base from a center Despite very high poverty (26 percent), Philly of crime, drugs, and poverty into a working-class neighborhood on the has one of the lowest rates of homelessness— rise. Since its founding, the charity has thanks to this charity. spent $126 million on construction Karl Zinsmeister Karl alone in the area.

SPRING 2019 19 and other donors weatherized the building, created informative exhibits, Prisons in 1787. (Under the evolved and allowed the premises to be opened to name of Pennsylvania Prison Society, visitors—who lined up in droves to tour the group still exists today!) They the anachronism. held their first meeting in Benjamin The goal of the operating Franklin’s home, and proposed to shift nonprofit is to preserve the building “as prison design and operation toward a stabilized ruin.” Some areas have been individual penitence and inner change, tidied up, but much of the property rather than humiliation. That marked expensive American buildings in its remains a forbidding wreck. It is a the birth of a new word, and concept— day, and it became a world-famous time capsule of nineteenth-century the penitentiary. attraction. There were regular social dreams, overlaid with some This changed thinking climaxed in open-house hours, and in many years twenty-first-century yearnings—in the opening of a radically new prison more visitors toured its corridors than the form of art installations that have in Philadelphia—the Eastern State visited Independence Hall. Famous men been created in many cells and public Penitentiary—in 1829. Up until then, like Alexis de Tocqueville, Lafayette, areas. Most of these transmit the “aren’t prisons were large holding pens where and Charles Dickens were among those prisons a bummer” message. One, adults and children, murderers and who came to inspect the marvel. More though—a cell decorated with images petty thieves, men and women, were all than 300 copycat prisons were erected of dozens of people killed by folks who tossed together in common rooms, and all around the world, spreading what ended up behind bars here—reminds us left to sort out their own rules, pecking became known as the “Pennsylvania why incarceration exists. orders, and living conditions. When Model.” Dozens of these duplicates are Every day of the year you can rent guards and authorities did intervene it still in use today on other continents. an audio guide, get a group tour, or was often in harshly physical ways. As the years passed, the solitary just stroll the grounds on your own Under the influence of Quaker ideas, confinement system was gradually (there is an abundance of informative ESP operated completely differently. abandoned. The prison became signs). There are unexpected twists to Every inmate had his own separate cell crowded, and decrepit. The city of the place, like the synagogue that once with a skylight and a small personal Philadelphia had long since grown up served more than 80 Jewish inmates exercise yard outside. There was no all around the facility—pressing daily at a time. The amazingly atmospheric mingling or conversation whatsoever. bustle up against what looked like the spaces have been used to film dozens Solitude and silence were thought to be walls of a medieval fort. of movies and television shows, and the best way to get criminals to think In 1970 Eastern State Penitentiary you are likely to commit felony-level through their deeds and change their was finally abandoned. After the last overphotographing as you wander. hearts. Each cell had running water, a inmate left the grounds, it became a flush toilet, and central heat. In that same spooky ghost town. But when the city year, even the White House had none announced plans to demolish the historic Urban Cavalry of those things, never mind the average building, there was a public uproar. The gray stone armory looks like a American home. Instead, a nonprofit was created to control Hollywood castle, but it extends back The carefully designed hub-and- the site. Grants from the Pew Charitable a full city block right in the heart of spokes facility was one of the most Trusts, the William Penn Foundation, Philadelphia, and inside you will find modern humvees and heavy weapons. Welcome to the home of possibly the As you wander this atmospheric former oldest active military unit in the U.S.— prison you are likely to commit felony- and the only private branch of our Army. First Troop Philadelphia City level overphotographing. Cavalry is altogether the most quirky

fighting force in America. Zinsmeister Karl

20 PHILANTHROPY The group began operating in 1774, before we were even a nation. First Troop is the last military group still operating from America’s first two centuries when our country was protected by regional militias—democratic community entities raised, paid for, and commanded by local top of the old ceremonial-dinner and leaders. Because this throwback force horse-parade schedule. Individuals was formed before the Militia Acts of now need to have prior military service 1792 and 1903, it enjoys original rights or an enlistment in the Pennsylvania and privileges that none of the other National Guard before they are even local military units subsequently pulled considered for enrollment. One First together into our National Guard were Trooper recently earned the coveted able to retain. Army Ranger tab—which only So, for instance, First Troop City about ten soldiers per year from the Cavalry is the only military body in Pennsylvania National Guard manage. America where soldiers are enrolled via Behind some vestiges of ballot. It is the only unit that elects its fancy-dress-and-highball silliness, own officers by democratic vote! All of First Troop Cavalry has avoided its councils and meetings are governed decaying into clubby anachronism, and by Robert’s Rules of Order. worked to maintain itself as a useful This is the only U.S. military body and intriguing piece of American civil that owns its armory. And the only society. Members have made personal one with a long tradition of members sacrifices to keep their unit functioning voluntarily turning over all of their as an active force, and it has been a National Guard pay to the unit, for respectable combat detachment over operation and maintenance of the the last generation—with members facility. They are the only soldiers deployed to Bosnia, Egypt, Kuwait, with the right to wear their traditional Iraq, and other theaters. And give dress uniform that dates back to their credit to any organization that gets founding. (The chest braid and plumes bankers, realtors, grad students, and bearskin helmets make the troopers lawyers, and MBAs involved in look a lot like West Point cadets in their military service today (with all of them historic parade dress.) This cavalry unit coming in as privates, not officers). even still keeps horses on a nearby West In addition to the personal time Chester farm and requires members to and family separations First Troopers become competent in the saddle and offer the unit, the occasional perils they with a saber. face, and their tradition of turning over It’s a wild combination of precious all pay received from the government tradition, martial spirit, and citizen to maintain the organization, members independence. The troop made a also donate generously via annual healthy evolution during the 1970s giving and bequests to the 501c4 that when the standard National Guard is now the legal foundation for their discipline of one weekend per month volunteer military service. There’s of drills, plus two weeks of exercises nothing else like this organization of

Karl Zinsmeister Karl during the summer, was overlaid on citizen-soldiers anywhere.

SPRING 2019 21 Master of the Organ Universe John Wanamaker was a commercial genius who built his department store into the most alluring emporium of its type ever created. It was a marble palace, the first retail property lighted by electricity, boasting 8,000 sales attendants staffing 12 stories and 45 acres of floor space—a regular wonderland where shoppers could purchase everything from boots to feathered hats, dime-novels to pianos, was not a man for half steps. So not This is one. John Wanamaker’s with lunch at one of the store’s three long after installing the World’s unsurpassed musical instrument really restaurants tucked in between. Fair instrument—which was already did turn out to be his greatest creation And you could also take in the largest in the world, at 10,059 for Philadelphia. a concert. Lots of concerts. In pipes—he began to expand it. He And the corporate philanthropy the Egyptian auditorium. In the hired the organ’s original maker and did not end with Wanamaker. Despite Greek-themed performance hall. Or 40 full-time craftsmen, gave them a the financial pressure in retail today, merely while shopping in one of the workshop carved out of menswear and Macy’s continues to employ a team of galleries that surround the Grand other sections of the store, and ran craftsmen in a third-floor shop solely Court pictured above—home to the an invisible factory right in the heart to manufacture small parts and make world’s most astonishing organ. (That’s of his store that fabricated legions repairs to keep this gigantic sound the organist at lower left—tucked in of metal and wooden pieces, pumps, machine, and its hundreds of thousands amongst the ladies’ dresses.) controllers, wires, and pipes. When the of pieces, in good working order. John Wanamaker loved music, and men finished working 20 years later, Who knows how much longer that his Wanamaker Musical Organization the organ weighed 287 tons. It had six will last? So go hear one of humanity’s included an orchestra, chorus, military stacked keyboards, 42 pedals, and 897 sonic wonders while you can. band, and bugle corp. He was also a voice controls. And it now possessed religious man, and considered the organ 28,628 pipes—far more than any other the king of musical instruments, a tool instrument on the planet—giving it an Musical Metropolis for simulating heaven on earth. So astonishing voice. In Philadelphia, you can run into after the St. Louis World’s Fair closed, The Wanamaker department rarified music even in the little he and his son bought the massive store has long since been overtaken by pasta joints. The Victor Cafe has organ created specially for that event. history. The operation was bought out been a family business since 1918, Shipping it to Philadelphia required by other retailers multiple times, and at squeezed in among gritty row houses a 13-car train. The organ was soon present Macy’s sells department-store and mom-and-pop stores in south booming recitals through the central goods from three floors of the Philadelphia. The original operation heart of the store, several times a day. building. Yet, amazingly, the organ was a gramophone shop run by an This was Wanamaker’s effort endures, and continues to give daily Italian immigrant who was crazy about to offer everyday people both daily concerts and beloved holiday shows. A opera. He was a sociable guy and enjoyment and a glimpse at the local NPR station aired a Wanamaker attracted lots of fellow music lovers, to possibilities of a deeper inner life. Organ Hour for years, until 2017. whom he started serving espresso and He came to view this organ as one There are occasions where a spumoni. When the Depression made of his greatest contributions to the business makes a seminal contribution record money scarce, the proprietor civic life of his hometown. And he to the civic life of its home community. purchased a wine-and-beer license and Zinsmeister Karl

22 PHILANTHROPY America’s First Hospital In 1751, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond got together to create the first generally available hospital in America, and one of the first in the world. Franklin put up a large personal for illness as anywhere you could donation and solicited friends to pull pick. It can also be visited, though, by turned the Victor Record Shop into the together the funds needed to create strappingly healthy members of the Victor Cafe. this novel institution “to care for the public who are just interested in its He noticed, though, that when he sick poor...and care for lunaticks.” illustrious history and fine artifacts. played his 78-rpm discs during slack At a time when many medical Inside the so-called Pine Building, periods, business ticked up. So he began facilities were designed simply to which all subsequent additions have to regularly spin selections from the isolate the ill from the community, the radiated from, you can take a self-guided 30,000 recordings still in his inventory, Pennsylvania Hospital aimed to restore or guided tour of the Great Court, the inviting patrons to sing along. The people to active health. Toward this end historic library which contains works restaurant stuck to this formula, and the it connected, from its very beginning, dating back to the fifteenth century, and same family, for decades. Then in 1979, medical care and medical teaching. the first surgical amphitheater—where an opera student who was working on Franklin bought equipment for its up to 300 people (a mix of medical the side at the cafe began belting out doctors when he was in Europe. He students and gawkers) would watch arias a few times per evening; soon wait gave additional money to the hospital’s surgeons snip off gallbladders or limbs. staff were being hired for their voices. endowment, and solicited more donors. The Pine Building also contains Today, every 20 minutes or so a bell is The Penn family eventually donated some fine art. The trustees of the rung, one of the rare records is cued an entire city block so the hospital Pennsylvania Hospital wrote to up, and a server rips through some could expand. Benjamin West, who was then high-vibrato musical interlude. The institution’s seal depicts historical painter to King George III, When Sylvester Stallone the Good Samaritan helping the with a highly unusual request. Would discovered this blue-collar bistro for roadside victim, and reads: “Take he “paint something” and donate it old-music lovers, he built a substantial care of him and I will repay thee.” so the charity-hospital could use it to story line around it. “Adrian’s Cafe” was This hospital repaid its backers many raise funds? West agreed, influenced by featured in two of his Rocky movies. times by coming up with hundreds the fact that his beloved wife Elizabeth of innovations in doctoring. Most was a Philadelphia native, and by the radical were its early efforts, led by arguments of local merchant Joseph Benjamin Rush, to sweep the mentally Wharton (great-grandfather of the ill off streets and out of basements and philanthropist who established the attics and treat them via occupational Wharton School of Business at the training, walking and swimming, University of Pennsylvania), who conversation, and “moral stimulation.” traveled to France to urge the artist to Astonishingly, the Pennsylvania create the gift. Hospital is still a bustling medical Once completed, West’s dramatic center based in its original building. composition “Christ Healing the Sick And if things go south for you, it’s in the Temple” created such a stir in about as good a place to be treated England that the aristocracy insisted it should be purchased by the Prince This business leader went to great trouble Regent (for the highest amount ever paid for a new painting at that time) to create the world’s most astonishing organ, to become the first work of art hung then used it to offer everyday citizens of his in a proposed new National Gallery. So West painted a second version, hometown free daily doses of inspiration. Karl Zinsmeister Karl

SPRING 2019 23 workmates, thanks to his highly visible job. He was a tight end for the which he considered “improved” by the Philadelphia Eagles football team. addition of a “lunatic boy” to the right Fellow players, fans, and team owner side of the image—his homage to the Leonard Tose were generous, and soon role of the Pennsylvania Hospital in Hill had an independent charity with providing some of the first humane care money in the bank. for the mentally ill. When this portrait Dr. Audrey Evans, a pediatric arrived in Philadelphia, it caused oncologist at Children’s Hospital of another sensation, as the first piece of Philadelphia, suggested a productive fine art available for viewing by the place to invest it. Families of critically general population in America. In the ill children, many of them from out of first 12 months it attracted 30,000 paid town, needed a local place they could visitors, and admission fees ultimately be supported and inexpensively housed. raised over $15,000 for the hospital, a Fred Hill and the Eagles management bit great deal of money in the early 1800s. hard on the idea. Along with putting up You can see it today for free. their own funds, they recruited the local McDonald’s restaurant owners to donate. By 1974, the first Ronald McDonald Child-friendly House was up and running in the Medical Care University City neighborhood. Way back in 1855, Philadelphians The local creation went figured out something no one else had global. There are now 365 separate yet discovered: children need different Ronald McDonald Houses in cities kinds of hospitals. Mid-nineteenth- everywhere, plus RM respite rooms century benefactors put up $4,000 to hire right within nearly all children’s three doctors, set up 12 beds and a drug hospitals. The families of 3.6 million dispensary, and invent a hospital for the children use them every year. young. By a half century later they were Thanks to their philanthropic able, when need called, to raise half a support, most houses charge visitors million dollars in donations in a matter nothing, or ask for a donation of $25 of days. Their creation administered the per day or less. No family is turned first vaccines for diseases like whooping away. This saves families $900 million cough, mumps, and flu, and started the annually in lodging and meals. The use of closed incubators and intensive McDonald’s Corporation still makes care units for babies. seven-figure annual donations, along Medical care for the young is not with dozens of other corporate just about cutting-edge technique. The sponsors, and hundreds of thousands warmth and family-friendliness of a of individual donors. The group also facility are crucial. Here, Philadelphia’s harnesses 509,000 annual volunteers. children’s hospital spawned an equally innovative charitable ally. It all began back in 1969. Fred Hill had a three-year-old fighting leukemia, and he and his wife were sleeping in chairs in their child’s room, living off vending-machine food, keeping vigils with their frightened preschooler—and wishing there was a better way. Hill later held a fundraiser to support leukemia treatment, and he got lots of help from friends and Zinsmeister Karl

24 PHILANTHROPY The Mother of All Anatomical Museums Thomas Mütter was another of the enlightened Philadelphia physicians who labored to advance medicine and the training of doctors. In 1858 he donated to the College of Physicians 1,700 objects of medical interest that he had collected during his career, along with $30,000 in cash to hire a curator, fund annual science lectures, and create a building to house all of this. Thus was President Grover Cleveland. Though the Mütter Museum born. he was one of our more honest Through additional acquisitions over politicians, he didn’t want the public the years, the collection swelled to more to know what was going on after he than 25,000 objects. These include some discovered a cancerous ulcer in his real anatomical doozies. Like pieces of mouth (just where he liked to place Albert Einstein’s brain. The tallest human his tobacco cud, back when the White skeleton in North America. A collection House was full of spittoons). The of 139 skulls illustrating ethnic variations. country was in a recession, you see, and Shrunken heads from Ecuador (one Cleveland was worried about spooking authentic, one “forged”—you’ll have to Wall Street. ask). The plaster death cast of Chang and So he spooked his doctors Eng, the famous Siamese twins co-joined instead—asking them to meet him on at their livers. the Oneida, a yacht owned by a friend, And those are some of the least which he told the public he was taking weird and creepy items. There is also on a four-day fishing trip. Once out on the Chevalier Jackson Collection. the rolling seas, six physicians labored Dr. Jackson was an ear, nose, and throat to cut out the tumor, along with five specialist who saved every foreign teeth, the President’s upper left palate, object he extracted from any patient’s and part of his jawbone. Then they throat, airway, lungs, nose, or ear canals jammed a rubber prosthetic in the during his almost 75-year career. You hole. At Cleveland’s request the entire can paw through drawers housing operation was completed from inside these vaguely disturbing objects, which his mouth, and his beloved trademark include nuts, pins, coins, six-pointed mustache was unharmed. jacks, bones, screws, dentures, and Somehow, the President was not various small toys. killed in the process. His voice was One treasure of the Mütter mighty funny when he landed, though, Museum is the tumor taken out of which he explained as the product of a toothache. He was able to negotiate with a special session of Congress over the financial crisis, however, without anyone thinking of him as unpalatable. And, history be praised, the gelatinous sarcoma his tempest-tossed surgeons removed from his mouth was saved in a glass bottle. Thanks to the Mütter Museum, this lumpy artifact of high-wire American politics is available for you to gaze upon. Karl Zinsmeister Karl You don’t get tips like that every day.

SPRING 2019 25 argued that with Irish immigration swelling Catholic church ranks, it was time to throw off the Quaker and Puritan restraint that kept other local sanctuaries dressed in plain white and Grand Churches clear glass. His new house of worship Everywhere would “make all the bishops of all the William Penn was imprisoned multiple churches jealous” and “expose the godly times for his religious beliefs. (He Presbyterian to the danger of squinting, wrote his Christian classic No Cross, in his efforts to look the other way as No Crown while locked up.) So when he passes.” he set up his American colony he went Over the next 50 years, the to great pains to establish full freedom Philadelphia diocese went on to create of worship. And locals took advantage a stunning portfolio of glorious sacred of their liberty. Penn’s Quaker faith spaces. As the city de-industrialized thrived here. Philadelphia became the in the twentieth century, though, and birthplace of the Methodist, Episcopal, many ethnic Catholics moved out of German Reformed, and African their old neighborhoods, some of even Methodist Episcopal churches. For the most impressive churches have years it was the only place in the British become threatened, repurposed, or Empire where a Catholic mass could be abandoned. For a sample of what is at publicly celebrated. stake, see hiddencityphila.org/ Philly is home to the oldest 2015/06/taking-inventory-with-the- Presbyterian congregation in the philadelphia-church-project country. You can visit the founding house of worship of the first explicitly black denomination in America. The Take Your Imagination city hosts one of the oldest surviving to the Graveyard church structures in the U.S., which People tend to find cemeteries either began construction in 1698. fascinating or morbid, so if graves give The Catholic churches of you the willies, feel free to skip ahead. Philadelphia include some of the But if densely packed commemorations most gorgeously intricate buildings of men and women from history get anywhere. And there is a reason for your imagination racing, Philadelphia this. John Hughes was a feisty and has some impressive burial grounds you charismatic Philadelphia priest. (To can prowl. get a sense of just how feisty, consider One larger-than-life tale ends that his nickname was “Dagger at the graveyard surrounding Christ John.”) Before he moved on to become Church. A simple vault there quietly archbishop in New York City (and houses the body of Robert Morris. the force creating that city’s potent There was nothing simple or quiet, system of Catholic schools), Hughes though, about his life. built as a kind of unofficial cathedral Morris immigrated to the colonies in Philly a soaring gothic church that as a teenager and became an apprentice overshadowed every competitor. He and eventually partner in a Philadelphia shipping firm. His company actively The Catholic priest wanted to build a church expanded trade around the world, including the first American trading so beautiful it would “expose the godly voyage to China. As tensions with Presbyterian to the danger of squinting, in his Britain rose he smuggled gunpowder (and later other arms and ammunition) efforts to look the other way as he passes.” into the colonies. When war broke out many of his firm’s ships went to work Zinsmeister Karl

26 PHILANTHROPY convinced Walter Scott to model the heroine of his novel Ivanhoe, called on behalf of the Continental Congress Rebecca, on Miss Gratz. and its military. Another Rebecca resting in the Then Morris became the primary Mikveh Israel Cemetery is Rebecca financier of the Revolution, arranging Phillips. She labored for many of the for the vast majority of its wartime Hundreds of men from Duffield’s expenses—many billions of present-day church bore arms in the Revolution. dollars. At a time when U.S. currency He served as a chaplain to the had no value, he showed enormous Continental Congress, and then inventiveness in finding money to chaplain to the army during the winter pay Washington’s soldiers. Late in the at Valley Forge. Revolutionary War, when all other The British put a price on financial means had collapsed, he kept Duffield’s head—50 pounds, dead or our military and nascent government alive—and destroyed his sanctuary afloat with his personal funds and lines when they occupied Philadelphia. of credit, earning George Washington’s Their final little present was to bury undying admiration and friendship. 100 Hessians in his churchyard. The Morris was a Pennsylvania mercenaries, however, are outnumbered same charities that Gratz contributed delegate at the Constitutional in the greenspace ringing “the patriot to, and she also bore 21 children, many Convention in 1787, and after the church” by the graves of 200-300 of whom became leading citizens. A national capital moved from New York Revolutionary War enlistees. A series grandson of hers, Uriah Levy, was one to Philadelphia, Morris offered his of clever little plaques leads visitors of the more interesting figures in early home to Washington as the executive through a self-guided tour of the America. He ran away to sea at age ten, mansion. It filled that role for our first property, which remains an active then worked his way up through the and second Presidents, until the White Presbyterian church. U.S. Navy to the rank of commodore, House opened in the new federal Parishioners at Pine Street have the first Jew to reach that pinnacle. He district. Washington asked Morris to also created an absorbing public tribute later had a successful career in New be the first Secretary of the Treasury to their liberty-loving early pastor. A York City real estate. but he suggested Alexander Hamilton Norway maple tree that was pushing Uriah Levy was a passionate and served in the new Senate instead. over the churchyard’s iron fence was admirer of Thomas Jefferson and his Morris’s extensive debts eventually chopped off, and its tall stump carved vision of American liberty. Because caught up to him, and the man who had into a folk statue depicting George Jefferson was as incompetent at been one of the wealthiest in America Duffield preaching. He looks every bit as finance as he was gifted in writing, was imprisoned for them from 1798 to unstoppable now as he must have then. there was no money to keep up his 1801. This broke his health, and with The Mikveh Israel Cemetery is a home Monticello after he died, so it his financial reputation ruined he never good place to remember Philadelphia’s fell into disrepair bordering on ruin. worked again after his release. He and Jewish achievers. This is the burial When Levy discovered this, he bought his wife lived off a small annuity she spot of Rebecca Gratz, the beautiful the property in 1836 and restored it owned, and his father’s worn-out watch daughter of a prominent merchant, as a tribute to its creator. His nephew was one of his few assets when he died who never married after losing her Jefferson Levy later put additional and was interred in his brother-in-law’s heart to a Gentile. Gratz was beloved hundreds of thousands of dollars into vault at Christ Church—made a pauper by many contemporaries for her grace rebuilding the home. In all, the Levy after sacrificial service to his country. and goodness. At the tender age of 20 family owned Monticello for nearly There is another historic she created a charitable organization to 90 years—far longer than Jefferson churchyard, which you can stroll for assist impoverished women and children. himself. They saved the property for free, encircling the Old Pine Street She was a principal funder of the city’s future generations of Americans, and Church. One of its first pastors, Orphan Society, and founded the Female eventually transferred it to a private George Duffield, was a great patriot Hebrew Benevolent Society which still foundation that still owns and operates who preached vigorously in favor does good charitable work today. She it for the benefit of the public. of independence. John Adams said nursed sick neighbors, performed good A final Jewish patriot now at rest in Duffield’s sermon comparing King deeds across the city, and offered aid to Philadelphia soil is Haym Solomon. He George to Pharaoh convinced him to poor Philadelphians who were suffering Karl Zinsmeister Karl sign the Declaration of Independence. without help. One of her admirers

SPRING 2019 27 joined the Sons of Liberty while working as a financier in New York, became friendly with George Washington, and was twice imprisoned by the British. He escaped on the second occasion the day before he was to be executed for spying. A master of several languages, he used Creating Options his German to talk a Hessian jailer into for Trapped Families fleeing with him to Pennsylvania for a Way back in 1689, Philadelphians new life. created a school open to all comers In Philadelphia, Salomon became for free—Friends’ Public Grammar a right-hand associate of Robert School. Amazingly, it’s still operating Morris, the financier of the American (as an independent donor-supported independence struggle. Salomon hustled institution with students coming from to arrange favorable loans, gave of eight surrounding counties). Today, his own resources to pay soldiers and however, public schools in Philadelphia Continental officials, made interest-free are a lot less successful—only about 15 loans to leaders like Madison and percent of eighth-grade students in the Monroe, and offered special gifts to city district schools perform at grade patriots he considered heroes, such as level. That’s one of the worst outcomes Army surgeon Bodo Otto, who used up in the country. all of his own money buying medical After decades of local frustration supplies for wounded soldiers. with the inability of the city school bureaucracy to reform itself, After decades of frustration with the public-spirited Philadelphians responded with new offerings for inability of the city school bureaucracy to parents. Charter schools began to be reform itself, public-spirited Philadelphians created around the city in the late 1990s. Many of these get powerful responded with new offerings that about half results. MaST Community Charter of all families now take advantage of. School in northeast Philly, for instance, now rates as one of the best city schools in Pennsylvania, with a math Salomon is thought to have provided and science emphasis for underserved more than $600,000 to the war effort— high-school students. the equivalent of tens of millions today. Simultaneous with the When Washington trapped British charter-school bloom there have been General Cornwallis near Yorktown but efforts to make private schools of all lacked the means to move and supply sorts accessible to low-income children. his army for the final battle of the In 2001, a donor-supported Children’s Revolution, he cried “Send for Haym Scholarship Fund was created in Salomon”—who quickly scratched Philadelphia to provide low-income together $20,000 under great pressure. parents whose children are stuck in Salomon died at age 45 shortly non-performing public schools after the war ended—from tuberculosis with grants useable at private or he contracted in the British prison— parochial schools. leaving his widow and four children Efforts to provide escape hatches penniless. You can honor this to kids trapped in miserable schools American luminary at the Mikveh accelerated when the state of Pennsylvania Israel Cemetery. Though his body created two statewide tax-credit programs lies in an unmarked grave, admirers that encourage businesses to donate have installed a granite tribute at the tens of millions of dollars every year to cemetery gate. scholarship-granting organizations. As a Zinsmeister Karl

28 PHILANTHROPY result, 50,000 children of modest means get a chance every year now to attend an Higher Ed for independent school on scholarship. Lower Classes In 2010, Philadelphia civic leaders, students in 2012 to more than 5,000 today, Philadelphia hosts some very businesspeople, and philanthropists and still growing fast. Another impressive interesting institutions of higher launched another local response to nonprofit called Faith in the Future took education. The University of school disappointments. They created over management of another couple Pennsylvania, despite its name, is not a the Philadelphia School Partnership dozen Catholic schools and put them on state institution but a private college. It with a simple premise: Rather than a path to stability and excellence. Recently was the first college on the continent to focusing on what kind of institution the Catholic education charity Seton become a university—which included a school is, or who runs it, or how it Education Partners set up high-quality starting the first medical school in is managed, Philadelphians should options in computer-enhanced education America, and the first college in the simply support what works, and open at Philly Catholic schools serving world focused on practical commerce up more seats in the places that are disadvantaged children. (the philanthropically created Wharton effective. The partnership supports As a result of these civic School of Business). conventional public schools, charter innovations, over a third of all Penn began in 1740 as a house schools, independent schools, and Philadelphia children now attend of worship and “charity school for religious schools alike. With support public charter schools, another 10 the instruction of poor children from local groups like the William percent are in Catholic schools, and gratis” inspired by evangelist George Penn Foundation, the Yass family, many others are using donor-funded Whitefield—perhaps the greatest and the Lenfest Foundation, they run scholarships to learn in private orator in American history, who could initiatives to attract excellent teachers academies. This is putting pressure on hold 20,000 listeners spellbound in to Philadelphia, develop promising the district schools to improve as well. an era with no voice amplification. principals for all types of schools, The most acclaimed network of In 1749, the Whitefield campus was and so forth. The Partnership has charter schools in Philly—the locally acquired by a group of Philadelphia invested more than $80 million in local created Mastery Schools chain—now philanthropists led by Benjamin education to this point. operates 24 campuses educating Franklin, to become a “useful” The PSP has long urged the city 14,000 students. Its results have been college that would train students for to create a single school-application so impressive that the city has asked “professions,” not just philosophical portal where parents can put in their Mastery to take over some of its most speculations. Today Franklin’s information once and apply for all dysfunctional district schools and turn university has 26,000 students and a available schools. After much resistance them around. At nine poorly performing donated endowment of $14 billion. from the public-school bureaucracy, the campuses that were made over into An even more thoroughgoing partnership raised about half a million charters, teachers and principals far experiment in making higher education dollars and created its own website in more than doubled the school rankings practical, and available to working men, 2018 that allows one simple application on Pennsylvania’s standardized tests of was Philadelphia’s Temple University. to 73 different schools serving reading and math, in just a few years. It was founded by a charismatic Baptist low-income families. They received This powerful record caught President minister and social entrepreneur named more than 120,000 applications in the Obama’s interest. “If a school like Russell Conwell, who had moved to first year, and aim to expand the portal Mastery can do it, every troubled school Philadelphia to take over a Baptist temple to cover more of Philadelphia’s schools can do it,” he commented. in a factory district after becoming in the future. famous for orations on the secrets A final bright spot in Philadelphia of self-improvement. (He delivered schools has been a recent renaissance his “Acres of Diamonds” speech—in among the Catholic schools that serve which he prescribes loyalty to your own many of the city’s poorest and most heavily community and family, plus hard work, as minority neighborhoods. A nonprofit the reliable paths to success in America— called Independence Mission Schools was more than 6,000 times.) formed to rescue 14 Catholic schools about Conwell used his soon-booming to be closed by the archdiocese. Mixing church to help poor Philadelphians philanthropy, the state tax credits, and low in the north of the city develop tuition rates, IMS revitalized campuses the habits and skills needed for life Karl Zinsmeister Karl and expanded enrollment from 3,800

SPRING 2019 29 As in every city, the Philadelphia papers were struggling mightily at the success. In 1884, a poor printer asked dawn of the new millennium. To save the pastor for advice on educating them from collapse, Lenfest (who gave himself, and Conwell volunteered to away $1.3 billion during his lifetime) tutor him. The printer started bringing purchased, in 2014, the Philadelphia friends to their lessons, and soon the Inquirer (America’s third-oldest classes (held at night because the newspaper), the Philadelphia Daily students were all laborers) had to be News, and their companion shared moved from Conwell’s home to the website Philly.com, for $88 million. Baptist temple. In 1887, Conwell Then he donated all three properties, announced he was forming a college along with a $20 million endowment, within “walking distance to factories to a nonprofit entity. He later added employing 30,000 workmen.” Today, an additional $40 million to the Temple University—a public school endowment of the Lenfest Institute with private origins—educates 40,000 for Journalism, matching a further $40 students per year. million of donations given by other A third Philadelphia innovation local concerned citizens. in making higher education relevant Earnings from the resulting and democratic was Drexel University. $100 million endowment have so far With a powerful vision and a gift of been applied to improving the use about $80 million in current terms, of technology by the papers, and a Anthony Drexel created an institute fellowship for recruiting reporters. The in 1891 to train young men and publications will continue to operate women who came from outside the as for-profit businesses, adapting as upper classes that typically populated necessary to balance their bottom lines. colleges, so they could find productive But the hope is that having a nonprofit spots in our newly industrial society. ownership umbrella over them, A successful financier and generous yielding special funding for innovation philanthropist, Anthony believed (especially high-quality local that alternating periods of study with reporting), will allow the newspapers to periods of intensive employment was survive and contribute to Philadelphia’s the best way to learn. From early on, civic life for years to come. Drexel University has been built on This is now one of the most closely “cooperative education” that mixes watched experiments in American schooling with on-the-job experience. journalism—a “lab for local news The university’s commitment to this innovation,” as the institute director puts experiential learning continues to be so it, and a test of the traditional American strong that even its law school trains its view that an energetic local press is enrollees using this cooperative model, fundamental to the health of civic life. alternating student time between Given the declining circulation that has classrooms and working law offices.

Nonprofit Newspapers The advent of the Internet and free news has been devastating for newspapers, and for local reporting in particular. As dailies desperately groped for viable new business models, Philadelphia uber-philanthropist Gerry Lenfest tried something dramatically different in his hometown. Zinsmeister Karl

30 PHILANTHROPY entities completely different from free soup-kitchens. In a world where 60 percent of all restaurants go bust in their first year undercut all newspapers, it’s clear that even without this pricing variable, it’s hard choices lie ahead even with this a tricky formula. One way some “pay lifeline. But thanks to a generous local what you can” restaurants keep things son, the Philly papers have a fighting working is by asking diners who can’t pay chance. And given the city’s many to instead provide an hour of volunteer firsts in journalism, “where better than labor. Philadelphian Dorothea Bongiovi, Philadelphia”—as Lenfest himself put it who founded two such eateries with her before his death—“to invent the future of husband, rock musician Jon Bon Jovi, a free press?” Rooster’s chef-owners changed its says trading an hour of work gives clients menu, hoping to increase profitability, “a sense of dignity and belonging, where but chicken-based soup remains a they have participated in their meal in Benevolent Bistros staple. Open for lunch and dinner seven some way.” These stints offer low-income The Rooster is a diner that turns days a week. people a chance to work alongside problems into opportunities. It is run Another unusual benevolent middle-class volunteers, and get some by two restaurateurs who operate a bistro you can patronize in downtown practical experience and training that chain of eateries around Philadelphia Philadelphia is EAT Cafe, created by the can lead to paid employment in the whose popular fried chicken involves Center for Hospitality and the Center hospitality business. butchering hundreds of chickens every for Hunger-free Communities at Drexel Some food establishments have day. That means hundreds of leftover University in partnership with a local been created specifically to hire backs and bones with no good use. Get high-end restaurant group, plus local individuals who’ve had a hard time out the soup kettles! supermarkets, bakeries, and churches getting a foot on the job ladder. The The owners decided to use the that donate about 15 percent of its food Monkey & the Elephant is a coffee chicken parts to make different supply. When you finish your meal at house formed to employ former foster varieties of broth they would sell to the EAT Cafe, you get a piece of paper children as they age out of the system. downtown workers and residents at a listing a “suggested price.” You can leave Foster-care alumni are at much higher new luncheonette. And 100 percent of that amount, more, less, or no payment risk of joblessness, reliance on public any earnings from the eatery would be at all. The idea is to feed needy people in assistance, incarceration, and living on donated to a local homeless ministry. a mix with normal restaurant customers, the street. This cafe aims to circumvent The restaurant’s partner is hoping that charitable patrons will pay those outcomes. the Broad Street Ministry. From a enough extra to cover the cost of the There are also more traditional previously abandoned Presbyterian 20 percent or so of visitors who end up eateries in Philadelphia that fold church in the heart of downtown, paying little or nothing. (The cafe is open charitable kindnesses into their normal it provides meals, a clothing closet, selected weekdays for standard-price business operations. At Rosa’s Fresh personal care packages, Sunday lunch, and selected weeknights for Pizza, any customer who donates $1 worship, Bible study, medical and legal pay-what-you-can dinner.) can stick a Post-It note on the wall. services, housing assistance, dental- EAT is one of about 60 “pay what Later, any hungry person without the and mental-health screenings, plus you can” restaurants that have grown funds to pay can retrieve one of those conversation, music, and hospitality for up across the country over the last Post-Its and redeem it for a slice of pie. needy locals—3,000 of whom use the two decades with support from an About 50 to 100 such transactions take church as their mailing address. Ohio-based nonprofit that inaugurated place every day. The Rooster aims to help pay for the practice. These currently serve 1.4 Schmear It has a main restaurant, some of that assistance. A Kickstarter million meals a year, and more cafes are pop-up branches, and a food truck that campaign raised $180,000 to renovate in development. Volunteer workers and all hawk bagels. And every two weeks the restaurant space. Then in its first donors allow the formula to work, but it allows customers to nominate their year of operation the luncheonette keeping menus and business operations favorite nonprofit—to which a portion P netted $16,000. That donation allowed as close to a for-profit restaurant as of profits are then donated. Broad Street to provide 7,000 meals possible is central to attracting the Karl Zinsmeister Karl to its clientele. In its second year, the middle-class diners who make these

SPRING 2019 31