What Does George Soros do For Charity?

The name George Soros generally equals controversy, especially in the United States. Yet this man has made a name for himself by becoming one of the most recognizable philanthropists in the world. While he became wealthy in financing and investing, Soros has become one of the most charitable donors to various causes today.

Investing in Charity

Once Soros amassed a substantial sum in the late 1970s, he started his hedge fund. This was so successful that he could live comfortably while establishing the Open Society Foundation. Soros based this foundation on certain philosophies he encountered while at the London School of Economics, including:

No concrete philosophy or creed should dictate the truth for all.
Only democratic leadership will lead to a society that will thrive.
Everyone deserves the right to freely express themselves.
Each person’s own individual rights must be respected.

Even though Soros and his charitable donations can cause controversy in some arenas, the motivation behind his Open Society is honorably directed. Not to mention that George is a rare person who gladly makes donations using his own hard-earned money. Soros prioritizes making the world better when aligned with his foundation.

Open Society George Soros Charity Donations Over the Years

For more than 40 years, Soros has been contributing to countless charities, possibly making him one of the world’s most prominent donors in history. Let’s take a closer look at how George Soros’s charity around the world has played out over the years.

In 1979, Soros bestowed scholarships to black South Africans living under apartheid.
During the 1980s, Soros focused his donations on an attempt to create environments in which people could freely think and creatively flourish in Europe. In fact, he built the Central European University in Hungary in 1991 to provide people repressed under Communism a way to expand their thinking and knowledge.
Once the Wall in Berlin was destroyed, Soros’ charitable reach extended outside of Europe to include Asia, Latin America, Africa, and even the U.S.
Despite its controversy, Soros established a foundation in China to combat Communist control. Unfortunately, it had to close in 1989 as it became a place where conflict thrived. Since it was the opposite of what Soros had intended when it was established, it was simply closed.
When the Berlin Wall was torn down, Soros saw the perfect place to plant his foundation in areas such as the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia, and more.
Soros believed that artistic culture should be a part of every society, so in 1992, he started creating art centers throughout most of Europe.
The horrors of Sarajevo stay with anyone who lived through that time, including George Soros. In 1993, the Open Society Foundation flew a group of people to provide relief and supply basic needs during the conflict. The Open Society still keeps a presence in the region advocating for democracy and the recognition of each person as an individual.

Children will Shape the Future

Soros believes that children will shape the future and, in 1993, put $100 million behind educating them in the countries formerly under Communist control in Europe. Young people had more access to education programs which are still in operation today.
Despite Communist control in Russia, Soros knew that the country’s scientists brought immeasurable value to the entire world. The Open Society Foundation gave $200 million to provide grants and aid to scientists, elevating their status to be able to perform research.
Since George began his philanthropic career in support of black South Africans, it makes sense that his financial aid would return in 1994. More than $150 million was provided to the post-apartheid nation to help promote democracy, improve living conditions, education, and more.
Soros had a different take on the global drug problem and launched the Lindesmith Center in 1994 to back his approach to drug policy. Instead of legal problems for drug use, George believes that care and treatment will be far more effective than incarceration or probation.

This list is a small selection of the countless contributions George Soros’ Open Society Foundation has made throughout most of the world. This foundation has proven itself to be committed to bringing fairness and equality nearly anywhere, regardless of potential dangers.

Does George Soros Give Charity in the United States?

The U.S. has been the standard for other countries to try and emulate for many years, but George Soros knows that the government isn’t perfect. Therefore, the philanthropist has taken several opportunities to try and improve conditions and situations for the underprivileged and marginalized in society.

Some of his charitable contributions to the U.S. include the following:

The Open Society Foundation started its work in America by focusing on immigration policies, reproduction rights, and a discriminatory justice system in 1996.
After the devastation of 9/11, the Foundation began to fight against the discrimination and hostility that Muslims faced. This included providing legal representation, education, and employment opportunities.
In 2014, the Open Society Foundation made it their responsibility to confirm that there were undocumented prisons run by the CIA. The European Court of Human Rights took that confirmation and publicly confirmed their existence.
The Open Society Foundation played a role in helping the United States to make all marriages legal in 2015.
In 2019, the Open Society gave the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund a 15 million dollar grant for fighting for racial justice.
During the pandemic in 2020, the Open Society gave sizable grants and relief money to those in the U.S. who did not qualify for government support.
Also in 2020, the Washington Examiner reported that George’s foundation committed to spending more than $200 million to eradicate social injustice in the U.S.
The U.S. government and an Open Society Foundation donation were sent to Latin America, aligning politics and charitable funding for the greater good. The Biden administration is sending funding to help give Latin American workers rights and fair treatment.

There have been many more instances of support and funding for many causes and needs throughout the United States. Regardless of bias or motivation, the Open Society Foundation has and continues to donate large sums of money to charity.

One of the Biggest Donors in the World

According to Forbes.com, George Soros is included in the top 25 people who donate to charity. The philanthropist has an estimated net worth of $8.6 billion and has donated more than $16 billion during his lifetime.

During the last several years, CNBC reported that Soros moved a considerable portion of his wealth into the Open Society Foundation. The money is now in place to be used in line with the Foundation’s objectives and worldly needs.

Charity Is a Way of Life for George Soros

George Soros witnessed some of the worst times in the world’s history as a young man. He survived Nazi occupation in Hungary, where hundreds of Jewish people were murdered. This experience, alongside others, secured a drive in the future philanthropist to make lasting changes worldwide.

George took every tool available to him to solidify his vision of fairness and fundamental human rights, leading to his creation of the Open Society Foundation. With George Soros and his charity, the world has a better chance of becoming a better, safer place for all.

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