Even long after his time in the White House, former president George H.W. Bush has remained committed to serving the country's people. No longer working solely as a political force, he has also embraced the humanitarian spirit.
Most recently, he's paid special attention to victims of poverty and disaster. When a ferocious tsunami rocked Asia to its core, both Bush and former president Bill Clinton came together and assumed leadership positions in a nationwide appeal to help the natural disaster's victims.
Bush and Clinton came together again to establish the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund (BCKF) shortly after the tragic hurricane struck the New Orleans region. Although funded by outside contributions, the organization is run under the guidance of the two men. It was started in order to provide grants and other forms of financial support to hard-hit areas.
For example, BCKF donated $25 million to over 1100 different houses of worship in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana as part of its Interfaith grant cycle. It was also recognized for its generous gift of over $12 million to Mississippi's Hurricane Recovery Fund; the money helped to build community resource centers, playgrounds and day care centers.
Thanks to Bush's philanthropic initiatives, millions of hopeless people have been given the opportunity to put their lives back together.
George Herbert Walker Bush, born on June 12, 1924, was destined for a career in politics. After graduating from Yale, he went on to become a Congressman, Ambassador, Director of Central Intelligence, and in 1981, Ronald Reagan's Vice President.
He was elected as the 41st President of the United States, with his presidency beginning in 1989. His administration was marked by a focus on international relations and foreign policy (fall of the Berlin Wall, dissolution of the Soviet Union, operation Desert Storm, etc.). Since losing the 1992 presidential election to Bill Clinton, Bush has devoted more time to charity work.
highlights
- Bush is the current Chairman of The First Tee, an initiative of the World Golf Foundation that focuses on giving young people an opportunity "to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship."
- In 2007, Save the Children honored Bush for his philanthropic work worldwide as well as loyal support of Save the Children and its programs.
Photograph by Susan Biddle via Wikimedia
