Philanthropy
We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give –Winston Churchill |
We teach students three concepts: learn how to learn, learn how to make money, and be a good person and live a life of meaning. Students learn how to learn –by asking questions to understand problems. If the question can't be answered, entrepreneurs discover or create the solution. Students learn to make money; sales and profits differentiate a business from a hobby or interest. however, the most important concept we teach is be a good person and live a life of meaning.
We instill philanthropic values in our students from the very beginning. Students are inundated with the concept of service. The First Fidelity IBC program makes philanthropy a cornerstone of entrepreneurial studies. Since the inception of the First Fidelity IBC program, over $700,000 and 30,000 hours of community service have been donated to local charities. this is an amazing accomplishment!
The philanthropic spirit is felt throughout the program. limbs for life, make a Wish, habitat for humanity, leukemia & lymphoma Society, Salvation army, Cystic fibrosis foundation, Community after School program, positive tomorrows and the red Cross are just a few of the charities students have supported in the past. Two new programs are being created to supplement our philanthropic culture. The first is a high school program. The second is a social entrepreneurship program.
We are developing programs for oklahoma high school children. High school juniors and seniors will come to the university of oklahoma campus and participate in a one-week entrepreneur boot camp. High school students will learn from teachers and college students how to start, run and grow their own business.
The social entrepreneurship program will focus students on solving social issues on both global and local levels. Faculty and students will focus on large-scale issues, such as clean water and famine. Courses will move the agenda for social entrepreneurship forward to help students launch and support global social ventures that will bring about real and enduring change while moving the economy forward. These courses will teach how both nonprofit and for profit socially responsible businesses attract venture capitalist to socially responsible ventures and harness the power of bringing market oriented solutions to global problems.