Philanthropy in Action: Liesel Pritzker Simmons (Full Lecture)

Liesel Pritzker Simmons shares with Maxim Thorne and Philanthropy in Action students her passion for philanthropy after receiving her sizable inheritance. She describes how she immediately transferred $50,000,000 of her inheritance to her foundation to engage in philanthropy. She serves as Vice President and Director of Program Development for the IDP Foundation, Inc., with a mission to mobilize resources and strategic support to increase educational opportunities. Established in 2008, the IDP Foundation has supported and developed a wide rance of programs in the education sectors most notably the innovative IDP Rising Schools Program in Ghana, which leverages microfinance networks to empower lower cost private schools with trainings and financial services. As a young philanthropist, she talks about leaving a carreer as an actress, but using those skills in her passion to change the world.
Liesel is also co-founder of Opportunity International Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO), a global network of young professionals who are passionate about microfinane. Liesel attended Columbia University, where she studied African History. She has volunteered at schools and microfinance institutions in India and Tanzania, but unfortunately has forgotten most of her Swahili. She lives in New York City with her husband, Ian Simmons.