Sentinel Watch May 27, 2013 Issue

In support of philanthropy

Barb Goodspeed Grant

Scott Neeson, a former Hollywood executive, sacrificed his $1 million salary, his Porsche, a yacht, and his mansion. He held a garage sale and sold—in his words—“all the useless stuff I owned” and moved to Phnom Pehn, Cambodia, to help that country’s most destitute. This former president of 20th Century Fox International made the decision to give it all up for a life of philanthropy when he saw, firsthand, the plight of sick children rooting for recyclables in the fetid and fuming garbage dump of Stung Meanchey.

Neeson has since used his executive talents to oversee the building of schools and houses. He operates after-school and vocational programs, day cares and nurseries. His charity, The Cambodian Children’s Fund, provides hundreds of children with clothing and three meals a day (see Tibor Krausz, The Christian Science Monitor, August 10, 2012).

What does Scott Neeson’s example mean for you and me? How can we support this man and others like him?