An international business leader with a passion for philanthropy will deliver the keynote address during the annual symposium on charitable giving and fundraising sponsored by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, located on the IU Indianapolis campus.
The 2015 Lilly Family School of Philanthropy Symposium will take place Friday, Oct. 30, at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown, 350 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis.
Alan G. Hassenfeld, former chairman of the board and present chairman of the executive committee of Hasbro Inc., will open the annual event with an interactive talk on the conference theme, "Philanthropy and Fundraising -- What We Know and What We Need to Know."
Hasbro, a multibillion-dollar international toy company, was founded as a Hassenfeld family business in 1923. Under Alan Hassenfeld's leadership, the company known for such products as Mr. Potato Head, Transformers, Play-Doh and Lincoln Logs has become an international leader in children's and family entertainment.
Hassenfeld is also chairman of Hassenfeld Family Initiatives LLC, a philanthropy with goals of globalizing safety and human rights within the area of children's products, and empowering women in developing countries. The organization also provides initiatives to improve the economy, education and business opportunities in Rhode Island.
"Because Alan Hassenfeld is a proven leader in business and a passionate philanthropist, his presentation will be a wonderful kickoff for the symposium," said Amir Pasic, dean of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. In a unique format for the symposium, the keynote address features Pasic interviewing Hassenfeld.
In a 2013 interview with Leaders magazine, Hassenfeld discussed the roots of his personal and corporate passion for giving.
"Giving back was something that my parents imbued in our family from a very early age," he said. "Over dinner, they would discuss with us some of the different causes they were supporting and why they were doing it.
''When my father passed away, he left a letter for us concerning his thoughts on charity. It read something like ... 'I believe in living philanthropy. Living philanthropy allows you to see and be involved in helping others less fortunate ... believe in living charity and have fun doing it.'"
Alan Hassenfeld also discussed the family foundation's perspectives on giving. "We support the community, children and women the world over as they are the center of the family -- hopefully, they will be the catalyst that will break the cycle of violence ... whether it is a thousand-dollar grant or a million-dollar grant, we need to work with people of passion, for those people are the change agents. We try to be a catalyst for positive change."
In panel discussions following Hassenfeld's talk, those in attendance will continue to explore the ever-growing body of research-based knowledge about fundraising and giving, and ways additional knowledge can improve both.
Among the questions to be explored by symposium panels are:
- How pervasive are religious values and faith traditions in influencing philanthropic giving to secular causes?
- Have giving days or initiatives such as #GivingTuesday or the Ice Bucket Challenge increased philanthropy or merely concentrated giving that would have occurred anyway?
- How successful are social media channels as platforms for fundraising?
Participants and others can follow the conversation before, during and after the symposium by following @IUPhilanthropy on Twitter and using the hashtag #SYMP28.
The symposium is co-chaired by Dwight Burlingame, Glenn Family Chair in Philanthropy and professor of philanthropic studies; and Tim Seiler, director of The Fund Raising School, Rosso Fellow in Philanthropic Fundraising and clinical professor of philanthropic studies at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
About the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
The Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy is dedicated to improving philanthropy to improve the world by training and empowering students and professionals to be innovators and leaders who create positive and lasting change. The School offers a comprehensive approach to philanthropy through its academic, research and international programs and through The Fund Raising School, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving and the Women’s Philanthropy Institute. Follow us on Twitter @IUPhilanthropy and “Like” us on Facebook.