Paul Allen
The significant half of the duo who founded technology and computer software giant Microsoft, Paul Allen, is also one of the most generous individuals in terms of charitable actions. Throughout his life, Paul Allen has cashed out an estimated total of $925 million in his non-profitable pursuits, which includes community development, scientific research, technological breakthroughs, environmental preservation, and quality education to point out a few.
Paul Allen has always been a staunch supporter of quality education and has donated significant amounts for the construction of schools, libraries, and other academic facilities. That comes with no surprise given the fact that Paul Allen comes from a family of educators – his father was a librarian and his mother, a science teacher and librarian. But in terms of educational reform initiatives and programs, Paul Allen provides a vocal voice for charter schools.
Paul Allen has always viewed charter schools as vehicles towards educational reform that would provide a positive change in the educational landscape of the United States. Charter schools, according to Paul Allen, present competition.
One of his high-profile contributions for charter schools was the $2 million he and his sister Jody gave to the Initiative 729 campaign. This act solidifies the fact that money and attention from the public is needed to inform people about the significant effects of charter schools to the educational system in the country.
Paul Allen has also invested $30 million in Edison Schools, a private company that runs charter schools.
Aside from charter school initiatives, Paul Allen also shares his vision of classroom learning wholly hooked on technology with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Apple CEO Steve Jobs. In pursuit of this vision, Paul Allen has teamed up with ScienceMedia and NetSchools Corp. to provide package offers of customized laptops for teachers and students, and wireless Internet to various schools.