HUMAN SERVICES

Collaboration in philanthropy is popular these days among both donors and charities. It’s been done before. On 17th October, 1739, George II granted a charter to a "Foundling Hospital" in London, organized by a former Massachusetts (Taunton) shipbuilder, Captain Thomas Coram. Coram recruited volunteers to support the project – private persons “moved…to promote Publick Good” (please note). Coram also persuaded his friend, the artist William Hogarth, to donate several paintings for the walls; Hogarth, in turn, got several of his friends – Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, Richard Wilson, and others – to donate their works as well. Their idea was that wealthy patrons of art would visit for the art, take pity on the foundlings, and make charitable donations. As the first public art gallery in London, this was the catalyst for the Royal Academy. Coram got another friend, George Friedrich Handel, to donate the organ for the children’s chapel, for which he composed a special anthem and performed many benefit concerts – including the successful London premier of his oratorio, Messiah! Today charities in both arts and human services are fiscally stressed; both need to promote charitable giving; why not do it together, for mutual reinforcement? Starting here – Catalogue readers, after you check out your favorite fields, browse through the others – you may be inspired.