In the manifesto of "The Giving Pledge," Brazilian Elie Horn and his wife reaffirm the fact that, as human beings, they will not take anything with them "to the other world" and add that "the only things that matter are the good deeds we do."
The businessman recalls that his father gave 100% of what he had, and that's why the feeling that he too did everything possible to give meaning to his mission "in this world" is so important to him.
One of his great causes is helping the Israeli community. How does a philanthropist choose what to focus on?
“Philanthropists should follow their common sense. Everyone has their own priorities, everyone has their own neighborhoods, their own beliefs, so we should try to adapt the desires of our minds and hearts to the needs of the world. No one will do anything without first being convinced. The way I see things, everyone has their own religion, country, city, family values, job, friends; we should try to reach a consensus on everything and move forward, it's just a matter of doing it. The main problem is the 'doing,' not the 'where' or the 'how,' it's the 'doing.' If nobody does anything, we have a problem. So let's do something and then the rest is easy.”
How do you view Latin America and philanthropy, and why do you think it's not as common on this continent?
"Latin culture probably doesn't allow people to give much; it's a very materialistic society. People think a lot about themselves, their families, and their possessions, forgetting that there are other people in the world. I believe that when we identify a problem, we immediately have the solution. We need to focus not on the difficulties, but on how much we care and how much we are doing, raising awareness about the solutions and helping the world. One day this will happen; I just hope it's not too late."
What challenges have you faced as a philanthropist?
“I didn’t have any problems, from that point of view. On the contrary, I always heard positive things and saw people willing to help. I would say there was no confrontation with anything. We need to do more, not confront more.”
How much money does a person like you need to live comfortably if you are willing to give up your fortune to help others?
“It’s not about how much you spend, but what you give. That’s what’s important. The word ‘dispossess’ isn’t correct; the word is ‘invest.’ Looting is when you throw something away. When you invest in philanthropy, you make money and don’t lose it; then you’re not looting, on the contrary, you become rich. It’s the opposite of what you might think. If you lead a normal life, it’s not difficult to live; it’s difficult to have excessive pleasures and luxuries. You can live well with little money and without problems.”
In your experience, how has philanthropy evolved in recent years?
“I think philanthropy is advancing because more people are aware of the problem. Everyone wants to help, but unfortunately that's not enough to rid the world of poverty and injustice and guarantee fair rights. We need to act collaboratively, not just individually. I know that one day we will get there. I just hope it won't be too late.”
Housing has also been a pillar of support for him, so why is he particularly interested in this area?
“I’m not particularly interested in this subject. I have many topics that interest me, housing is one of them, but it’s not the main one. Given my experience in the real estate sector, we decided to take on the challenge, together with Gerando Falcões, a well-known Brazilian NGO, of repairing 1 million homes in the favelas. It may be easier said than done, we’ll see. But I won’t say that housing is my priority, housing is one of our priorities.”
How much has philanthropy changed with the advent of a pandemic, that is, how much have the largest and most impactful areas of need changed in society when viewed from a philanthropic perspective?
“I think philanthropy is growing, integrating, and evolving faster. I think the pandemic accelerated things; everything is so connected now because of technology, e-commerce, and apparently philanthropy is moving faster too. How long it will last, I don't know, but it's faster, and the changes are positive.”.
Is it possible to live in Latin America as a philanthropist?
"Why not? Of course it is.".
BY CLAUDIA ARANGO HOLGUÍN | Free translation
This interview was originally published on the website of the newspaper El Colombiano.
">
