Not only was he prosperous and successful in his industry, he used his profit and wealth to benefit society, engaging in and becoming an indispensable constituent in several philanthropic practices, believing in upholding these principles and beliefs in both his social and business practices. As our recipient gained wealth and prosperity from his business ventures, he gained good will by becoming a philanthropist and altruist for several key organizations and managements, upholding the doctrine that the prosperous should use their wealth for the benefit of society. In 1898, he offered $20 million to the government of the Philippines, and was an opponent of the American acquisition of the islands, hoping that the Filipinos could gain their independence. He embodied a Captain of Industry by using his wealth to contribute to society in a positive way, using his money not only for personal gain, but for the good of others, and with good intent. He also upheld the principles and foundations of using wealth and power for charitableness and the greater good, asserting that the rich are “merely trustees of wealth, and that they have a duty to use their resources to benefit society.” He took this admonishment to heart, and spent the final two decades of his life giving away most of his …show more content…
Philanthropy is a critical part of our society, focusing on eliminating and dedicating itself to the betterment of social problems that face our society today. It supports projects and endeavors from which we all can benefit, such as libraries, museums, and scientific research, and supports efforts that can gain widespread support for the development and progress of our society. By entrusting the prosperous with their industries, we are also confiding them with the trust to use their prosperity in a way that can benefit all, not only a singular individual. Their philanthropy ensures that our nation can continue to propagate the necessary organizations and foundations that are needed for making us successful and prosperous, and provide us with the opportunity to focus our efforts and funds into the projects and endeavors that we believe in. As a result, those who do use their wealth for the betterment of our society hold a special place at this gathering tonight, embodying the basic principles that allow us function as a whole and using their talent for the progress of our race. It is due to this, consequently, that the winner of the Industrial Innovator Award tonight is none other than entrepreneur, industrialist, and businessman Andrew Carnegie, a man who