Timothy Ogden, executive partner of Sona Partners, examines the Flint water crisis and asks what role philanthropy should play. He explores the work of the foundations who have already pledged $125 million to Flint over the next few years, but ultimately argues that philanthropic funds fall far short of actual need.
Through stunning incompetence from public officials in Michigan and the US Environmental Protection Agency, the people of Flint were poisoned for over a year by the water being piped into their homes. At least 14 people died from Legionnaire’s Disease, and as many as 8,000 children aged six and under may have suffered permanent brain damage.
Ogden writes, ‘Still, the philanthropic funds fall far short of actual need. Locals estimate that the children of Flint will need $100 million in new spending on healthcare alone over the next 20 years’. Continue reading