
Leading Women Philanthropists Changing Lives
9/8/2017 | 25m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
Continuing our women thought leaders series, we speak with women changing lives globally.
We speak with three leading philanthropists about how they are changing the lives of women across the world. Bonnie Erbé interviews Jacki Zehner of Women Moving Millions; Lynda Weinman, co-founder of Lynda.com; and Dr. Mary Lake Polan, who helped women in Eritrea suffering from fistula.
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Funding for TO THE CONTRARY is provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, the Park Foundation and the Charles A. Frueauff Foundation.

Leading Women Philanthropists Changing Lives
9/8/2017 | 25m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
We speak with three leading philanthropists about how they are changing the lives of women across the world. Bonnie Erbé interviews Jacki Zehner of Women Moving Millions; Lynda Weinman, co-founder of Lynda.com; and Dr. Mary Lake Polan, who helped women in Eritrea suffering from fistula.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipWE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A VERY INCLUSIVE MOVEMENT, RECOGNIZING THE LACK OF FUNDING GOING SPECIFICALLY TO GENDER.
>> IT'S WHATEVER SPEAKS TO MY HEART.
I TEND TO GIVE IN LOCALLY QUITE A BIT.
>> IF YOU ARE GOING TO WORK LIKE THIS, FIND OUT WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP THEM ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO, WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY" THIS WEEK WE SPEAK WITH THREE LEADING WOMEN PHILANTHROPISTS WHO ARE CHANGING THE LIVES OF WOMEN ACROSS THE WORLD.
I'M JOINED BY ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT WOMEN IN THE FIELD, JACKI ZEHNER.
WELCOME.
YOU KNOW WE HAVE BEEN WAITING TO TALK TO YOU FOR A LONG TIME SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
>> SO HONORED TO BE HERE BONNY.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> FIRST OF ALL, YOUR BACKGROUND YOU ARE PARTNER AT GOLDMAN SACHS , THE FIRST WOMAN.
>> THE FIRST WOMAN TRADER.
TECHNICALLY THE YOUNGEST WOMAN AT THE TIME BUT THAT WAS BACK IN 1996 SO I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT'S 20 YEARS AGO.
>> WHAT WAS THE SPARK THAT INITIATED YOU INTO THE WORLD OF WOMEN AND PHILANTHROPY, NOT EVERYONE WHO MAKES A LOT OF MONEY ON WALL STREET BECOMES PHILANTHROPIC.
>> MY PASSION FOR WOMEN'S ISSUES , IRONICALLY REALLY DID START AT GOLDMAN GOLDMAN SACHS.
I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE A GREAT JOB.
I LOVED MY JOB AS A TRADER BUT WE WERE NOT IN THE MAJORITY IN TERMS OF WOMEN ON THE TRADING FLOOR.
I LOVED MY JOB.
I LOVED THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT IT CREATED FOR ME.
BUT I KEPT ASKING THIS QUESTION WHERE ARE ALL THE OTHER WOMEN IN SO I GOT VERY, VERY INVOLVED IN THE RECRUITING EFFORTS AT GOLDMAN SACHS AND WORKED WITH OTHER AMAZING WOMEN AT GOLDMAN'S TO SET UP OUR FIRST WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP AND INCLUSION EFFORTS WAY BACK IN THE EARLY 90s AND STARTED TO GET OBSESSED WITH THIS QUESTION OF WHERE ARE THE WOMEN?
SO IT'S REALLY THERE THAT MY PASSIONS WERE IGNITED.
>> YOU CO-FOUNDED WOMEN MOVING MILLIONS.
TELL OUR VIEWERS ABOUT WHAT THAT IS AND WHAT YOU DO AND AGAIN THAT'S TAKING IT TO QUITE ANOTHER LEVEL TO START, TO HELP OR CO-FOUND AN ORGANIZATION OF THAT SIZE.
>> JUST THIS SEPTEMBER WE CELEBRATE THE TENTH YEAR SINCE THIS INITIATIVE WAS STARTED AND IT WAS STARTED BY TWO AMAZING WOMEN.
HELEN HUNT AND SWANNY HUNT, TWO SISTERS FROM DALLAS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ANOTHER WOMAN CHRIS OF THE WOMEN'S FUNDING NETWORK.
IT WAS STARTED IN 2007 BEFORE I BECAME FORMALLY INVOLVED.
AS THIS AMAZING SPARK OF AN IDEA TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO MAKE GIFTS OF A MILLION OR MORE TO WOMEN- LED ORGANIZATIONS AND HELEN, WHO WAS REALLY THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS IDEA, HAD BEEN DOING SOME WORK IN WOMEN PHILANTHROPY AND WOMEN LEADERSHIP AND NOTICED THERE WERE VERY FEW MILLION DOLLAR G ISTS TO WOMEN-LED CAUSES DESPITE WHAT WE WERE HEARING AT THE TIME NOW 10 YEARS AGO THIS HUGE WEALTH TRANSFER THAT WAS HAPPENING OF WOMEN STEPPING INTO AMAZING CAPACITY AND OF COURSE BIG GIFTS WERE BEING MADE BUT OFTEN TO MORE TRADITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ONE THAT WE SAY NOW THAT DIDN'T NECESSARILY EMPLOY A JEND ARE LENS-- GENDER.
HELL ESPECIALLY HAD THE IDEA TO PUT MILLION, WOMEN AND GIVING, THREE WORDS ALL TOGETHER AND IT WAS CALLED WOMEN MOVING MUSEUMS.
SO 10 YEARS LATER I BECAME A MEMBER AS PART OF THE FIRST CAMPAIGN AND HAVE REALLY TAKEN A LEADERSHIP ROLE FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS TO GROW THIS COMMUNITY AND TO WHAT WE ARE SAY ING NOW IS A MOVEMENT TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN TO MAKE BIG AND BOLD GIFTS IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.
>> TELL ME ABOUT THE WORK.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE MONEY THAT YOU GET FROM THE DONORS?
>> WE ACTUALLY DON'T GET THE MONEY.
IT DOESN'T COME THROUGH US OR TO US.
EACH MEMBER DESIGNATES WHICH ORGANIZATIONS GET THAT GIFT.
SO IT CAN BE ONE.
IT CAN BE 100 IT'S A MILLION FOR A MAXIMUM OF A 10-YEAR PERIOD.
FOR ONE WOMAN IT COULD BE ENDING TRAFFICKING AGAINST WOMEN OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR BREAST CANCER OR WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENTS FOR ANOTHER IT MAY BE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PORTFOLIO.
EACH MEMBER BRINGS WITH HER HER UNIQUE PASSIONS AND SKILLS.
THEY CHOOSE WHERE THAT MONEY GOES AND OUR WORK IS TO SUPPORT AND REALLY DEVELOPMENT AND AMPLIFY THEIR INDIVIDUAL AND OUR COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP, YOU KNOW, GETTING DOWN TO LIKE THE STREET LEVEL.
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK THE MOST AMAZING THINGS ARE THAT WOMEN HAVE DONE WITH THIS MONEY TO HELP WOMEN AND GIRLS.
>> OBVIOUSLY THE STORIES OF IMPACT ARE INCREDIBLE.
I GUESS ONE THAT I WOULD LIFT UP IS BOTH AN INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE STORY OF IMPACT, AND AGAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF THESE, BUT I'LL LIFT UP A STORY.
THIS ORGANIZATION CALLED TOAST ON.
SO TOAST ON IS A NON-PROFIT BAS ED IN SENEGAL, AFRICA BUT FOUNDED BY AN AMERICAN WOMAN 40 YEARS AGO WHEN SHE MOVED TO SENEGAL AND SENEGAL USES SORT OF HUMAN CENTER DESIGNED BUT COMMUNITY ORIENTED EMPOWERMENT BUT HAS BEEN FOCUSING ON ENDING THE PRACTICE OF FEMALE GENITAL CUTTING ACROSS WEST AFRICA.
A FEW OF OUR MEMBERS HAVE DONE INCREDIBLE HOME WORK, FOUND THIS ORGANIZATION, HAVE BEEN SUPPORTING THEM AND SAID WE ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER TO GROW OUR DONOR BASE OF INDIVIDUALS FOR TOAST ON.
SO THE HEAD OF TOAST ON CAME TO SPEAK AT A WOMEN MOVING MILLIONS EVENT.
I WAS IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM, LIKE CHILLS WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW THEY DO THEIR WORK.
SIX MONTHS LATER I WAS IN SENEGAL WITH THEIR 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, REALLY VISITING THEM ON THE GROUND AND I'VE SINCE BECOME A DONOR AND NOW WE HAVE MANY, MANY MEMBERS THAT ARE MILLION DOLLAR DONORS TO TOAST ON.
SO THAT'S WITHOUT EVER REALLY BEING PITCHY OR FORCEFUL.
YOU JUST OPEN UP THIS INCREDIBLE ORGANIZATION TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND MAGIC HAPPENS.
>> THAT'S SOUNDS SPECIAL.
>> THAT'S A GREAT STORY.
>> DO YOU EVER GET PUSH BACK BECAUSE YOU ARE SO FEMALE FOCUS ED?
>> MANY OF US SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE CENTER FOR MEN AND MASCULINITY BY MICHAEL KIMMEL AT SUNY COLLEGE AND A CALL TO MEN STARTED BY TED AND TONY.
THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF GENDER NORMS ASSOCIATED WITH MASCULINITY IS HAVING A DIRECT IMPACT AND INTERSECTION WITH THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS BUT WE ARE TRYING TO RIGHT AND IM BALANCE IN THE WORK THAT WE DO PEOPLE SAY WHY NOT JUST A MILLION DOLLARS TO ANY ORGANIZATION?
J DOES IT HAVE TO BE FEMALE FOCUSED?
IT GETS BACK TO THE ROOTS OF WHY WOMEN MOVING MILLIONS EXIST WHICH IS THAT SUCH A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OVERALL PHILANTHROPIC DOLLARS RECENTLY MEASURED 15ISH PERCENT ALTHOUGH I THINK IT HAS INCREASED ESPECIALLY DUE TO EFFORTS LIKE OURS.
BUT A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF FUND ING ACTUALLY GOES TO WOMEN AND GIRLS DESPITE US BEING HALF THE POPULATION AND ARGUABLY HAVING MORE OF A NEED GIVEN ISSUES LIKE GIRLS EDUCATION, MATERNAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OBVIOUSLY MUCH HIGHER THAN WOMEN AGAINST MEN.
SO WE HAVE A HUGE NEED AND YET CAPITAL COMING TO THE MARKET TO ADR.
ES THESE IS NOT BALANCED.
SO SO WHEN THAT IS MORE BALANCED PERHAPS WE'LL BACK OFF OUR EFFORTS.
AND OF COURSE ANY MEMBER IS FREE TO GIVE TO ANY CAUSE SHE WANTS OUTSIDE OF HER COMMITMENTS OR HIS COMMITMENT THROUGH WOMEN MOVING MILLIONS AND BEING FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IS NEVER ABOUT BEING AGAINST MEN AND BOYS.
WE SEE PARTNERSHIPS EVERYWHERE AND WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A VERY INCLUSIVE MOVEMENT, BUT REALLY RECOGNIZING THE LACK OF FUNDING GOING SPECIFICALLY TO GENDER AS IT RELATES TO FEMALES.
>> RIGHT, WHEN WE DID A STORY MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO ABOUT HOW WOMEN GIVE VERSUS HOW MEN GIVE, MEN WERE MORE LIKELY TO GIVE TO THEIR ALMA MATER OR, YOU KNOW, SOME SPORTS TEAM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHEREAS WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO GIVE TO EDUCATION , HEALTH, CHILDREN, EVEN BEFORE THE WOMEN FOCUS PHILANTHROPIC MOVEMENT.
DOES THAT STILL EXIST TODAY?
>> I THINK IT DOES, YEAH I MEAN AGAIN, I'M SORT OF LEANING ON SOME RESEARCH AS WELL AS MY OWN EXPERIENCE.
I THINK IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE THERE TENDS TO BE A REALLY WANTING TO HELP MARGINALIZED PEOPLE AND OFTEN WOMEN, AND I THINK IT'S VERY TRUE IN OUR COMMUNITY, COME FROM SUCH A PLACE OF PERSONAL NARRATIVE AS BEING PERHAPS VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN PARTICULAR AND SEE ING, YOU KNOW, THE NEED TO SUPPORT VICTIMS FRANKLY AS SUCH A BIG PART OF, YOU KNOW, THEIR CONNECTION INTO THE PHILANTHROPIC SPACE ONCE THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES.
BUT, YES, I THINK, YOU KNOW, AGAIN OUR MEMBERS FUND SUCH A WIDE VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS BUT THERE TENDS TO BE A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THAT DIRECT FOCUS ON HEALTH, ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER, ACCESS TO SAFETY.
A LOT OF WORK NOW HAPPENING AROUND EVEN THIS INTERSECTION OF SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AND WIN'S-- WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.
NOT JUST BE A CHARITY-ORIENTED MENTALITY BUT A DEEP COMMITMENT TO HELP BUILD WOMEN'S AGENCY AND THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE MONEY AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.
>> YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT A NEW FRONTIER FOR WOMEN AS ANGEL INVESTORS.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT, PLEASE.
>> YES, IT'S ONE OF OUR MEMBERS THE NEW FRONTIER OF FEMINISM BECAUSE IT'S SAYING LET'S NOT JUST SHOW UP WITH OUR TIME AND TALENTS BUT ALSO WITH FINANCE AND THE TOOLS OF FINANCE AND OF COURSE ONE OF THE TOOLS OF MONEY IS TO GIVE ANOTHER TOOL IS HOW WE SPEND OUR MONEY WITH DAILY PURCHASES AND THE THIRD ONE IS INVEST.
WHERE DO WE PUT OUR INVESTMENT CAPITAL.
SO THIS WHOLE EMERGING AREA NOW, WHICH I'M SUPER PASSIONATE ABOUT , THE GENDER LENS INVESTING OR GENDER IMPACT INVESTING IS SOMETHING OUR COMMUNITY AND INDEPENDENTLY I'M PUTTING A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT INTO NOT JUST PERSONALLY HOW DO I PERSONALLY EMPLOY A GENDER LENS ACROSS MY INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO BUT HOW TO BUILD THE PLATFORM AND BUILD THE KNOWLEDGE BASE WITHIN OUR WOMEN MOVING MILLIONS COMMUNITY AND MORE BROADLY FOR ANYONE TO INVEST WITH GENDER IMPACT BECAUSE OF COURSE THAT ACCESS IS LITERALLY TRILLIONS AND TRILLION S OF DOLLARS VERSUS MORE LIMITED PHILANTHROPIC POOL.
>> IF I CAN INTERRUPT FOR A SECOND, EXPLAIN GENDER LENS.
ANYBODY CAN IMAGINE WHAT THAT MEANS BUT WHAT DOES IT SPECIFICALLY MEAN TO YOU?
>> YES.
FOR ME WHAT THE GENDER LENS SPECIFICALLY RELATES TO IN INVESTING IS BEING MINDFUL OF THE IMPACT OF MY INVESTMENT CAPITAL TO THE LIVES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.
SO WANTING TO USE IT AS A FORCE OF POSITIVE CHANGE IN EMPOWERING AND ADVANCING AND SUPPORTING FEMALES.
ONE MIGHT SAY IN THE SIMPLEST FORM, IF YOU ARE BUYING PUBLIC EQUITIES WITH A GENDER LENS BE MINDFUL OF THE WORK LIFE POLICIES THE COMPANY HAS OR WHAT PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN THEY HAVE ON CORPORATE BOARDS AND PERHAPS CHOOSE NOT TO INVEST IN A COMPANY THAT DOES NOT HAVE A CRITICAL MASS OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP POSITIONS SPECIFICALLY ON THEIR BOARD.
THAT'S ONE WAY.
THE OTHER WAY YOU MENTIONED IS THINKING ABOUT HOW WE SUPPORT WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS THROUGH ANGEL INVESTING SO SADLY I'M KIND OF A RESEARCH GEEK BUT WOMEN VENTURE CAPITAL SEEKERS GET LESS THAN 10% OF VENTURE CAPITAL DOLLARS.
THERE MAY BE A LOT OF REASONS TO EXPLAIN THAT BUT NOT ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY WHAT IS INEVITABLY A GENDER BIAS AGAINST WOMEN IN RECEIVING VENTURE CAPITAL.
ONE THING WE AS WOMEN CAN DO IS THINK ABOUT DEPLOYING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CAPITAL IF WE HAVE THAT ABILITY, INVESTING IN WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS TO RIGHT THAT IM BALANCE.
>> YOU SAY THAT IN GENDER INVEST ING, NOT ALL IMPACT CAN BE MEASURED.
IT HAS TO BE JUDGED.
>> I THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT IN TERMS OF WHAT IS APPROPRIATE GIVEN A CERTAIN ORGANIZATION, RIGHT AND WHAT IS THE RIGHT TIMEFRAME AND YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I WORK SO MUCH OF THE WORK OF GENDER AND WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT IS LONG-TERM SOCIAL CHANGE WORK SO YOU TRUST THE LEADER OF THE ORGANIZATION A LOT OF THE TIME AND YOU JUST, YOU KNOW, PAUSE TO JUST THINK.
I THINK SOME OF US ARE SO BUSY LOOKING AT NUMBERS, A LOT OF TIMES THAT WE DON'T PULL BACK AND STRETCH OUR IMAGINATIONS IN TERMS OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
AND YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT ABOUT ARTIST SUPPORT THESE DAYS.
I DO A LOT OF WORK ON SOCIAL ISSUE DOCUMENTARY AND STORY TELLING IS ABOUT CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS.
YOU THINK ABOUT THE POWER OF STORIES.
IT'S WORTH THINKING WITH YOUR HEART AND YOUR HEAD AND IT'S TIME WE PUT THOSE TWO JUST MORE STRONGLY TOGETHER AND PUT THEM BACK INTO PHILANTHROPY IN EQUAL MEASURE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SPENDING TIME WITH US.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND BEST OF LUCK TO YOU IN EVERYTHING YOU DO FROM HERE ON OUT.
>> THANK YOU BONNY, SO LOVELY TO BE HERE.
>> ANOTHER FEMALE PHILANTHROPIST CHANGING THE GAME IS LYNDA WEINMAN.
IF YOU EVER NEEDED HELP LEARNING A COMPUTER GRAPHICS PROGRAM OR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING DIGITAL, YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE MEGA SITE LYNDA CO-FOUNDED WITH HER HUSBAND PURCHASED BY LINKED IN FOR 1.$5 BILLION AND MUCH OF THAT WENT TO INVESTORS.
BUT SHE HAS USED HER SHARE FOR GOOD.
>> I STARTED IT IN ACTUALLY AT AGE 40, SO I KNOW THAT IS ENCOURAGING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STARTING LATER IN LIFE.
WE NEVER DREAMED THAT IT WOULD BE WHAT IT BECAME.
IT STARTED REALLY AS A BOOK AND THEN THE BOOK IT WAS BRICK AND MORTAR AND THEN ONLINE VIDEO BEFORE YOUTUBE.
WE WERE VERY EARLY BUT WE WERE ABLE TO COLLECT A HUGE PASSIONATE AUDIENCE.
>> AFTER SELLING LYNN DA.COM, WEINMAN AND HER HUSBAND DECIDED FOCUS THEIR EFFORTS TO GIVING.
MY HUSBAND GOT US INTO FLANDZ BY WITH SEXUAL ABUSE NOT JUST A WOMEN'S ISSUE BUT WE ARE HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF AN ORGANIZATION IN LOS ANGELES SOBERED WITH UCLA, THE L.A. RAPE.ORG AND STEWART HOUSE WHICH IS A CHANGE IN THE WAY THAT SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIMS ARE TREATED IN HOSPITALS AND INTAKE SITUATIONS AND ESPECIALLY CHILDREN WHO GET REPETITIVELY INJURED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO KEEP RETELLING THEIR STORY AND OVER AGAIN AND IT'S HIGHLY TRAUMATIC AND SO IT'S A VISION ARY PROGRAM THAT WE SUPPORT AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY MY HUSBAND THAT GOT US INTO THAT.
>> MANY DONORS SET UP FAMILY FOUNDATIONS BUT WEINMAN SAYS THAT WASN'T THE RIGHT MODEL FOR HER AND HAVEN.
>> IF YOU HAVE A FOUNDATION, THEN YOU ARE TIED TO BYLAWS, BOARD APPROVALS AND HOW IT'S BEEN EXPLAINED TO ME IS YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE A FOUNDATION IF YOU HAVE A MISSION AND YOU WANT TO RUN IT AND YOU WANT TO CONTROL IT AND, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO HAVE ALL THE LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT AROUND THAT IDEA AND THE EXECUTION OF THE IDEA.
AND I THINK FOR US BECAUSE WE HAD ALREADY DONE THIS MAJOR COMPANY, THAT WAS NOT APPEALING.
>> SHE WANTED MORE FLEXIBILITY AND TO SUPPORT A VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONS AND CAUSES.
>> WE CHOSE TO OPEN INSTEAD A DONOR ADVISEMENT WHERE YOU GIVE THE MONEY IN ADVANCE OF WHEN YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE IT AWAY.
YOU ARE ALLOWED TO GIVE IT AWAY AT ANY POINT IN YOUR LIFETIME.
YOU CAN SET MONEY ASIDE.
YOU GET THE TAX DEDUCTION WHEN YOU SET THE MONEY ASIDE BUT THEN IT CAN BE GIVEN AWAY AS LONG AS IT IS ULTIMATELY GIVEN TO A 501 C 3.
IT CAN BE GIVEN AWAY AT ANY POINT IN TIME, SO WE SORT OF HAVE A HOLDING FUND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, VERY ACCESS TO ACCESS.
YOU JUST WRITE A GRANT AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH BOARD APPROVAL OR HAVE A GIVING GUIDELINE OR A LOT OF THE OTHER BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE INVOLVEMENT IN OTHER KINDS OF FUNDS AND INSTRUMENTS.
>> WEINMAN SAYS BEING A WOMAN DEFINITELY INFORMS HER GIVING.
>> I HAVE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE WE SOLD LYNDA.COM BECAME VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT INDEPENDENT FILM MAKING AND I'VE ALIGNED WITH SUNDANCE AND GONE THROUGH A COUPLE OF THEIR WORKSHOPS WHERE THEY HAVE TEAMED POTENTIAL INVESTORS WITH INDEPENDENT FILM MAKERS WHO ARE IN NEED OF FUNDING AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE DONE WITHOUT MY HUSBAND BUT HE IS SUPPORT OF OF IT.
>> MANY OF THOSE FILM FOCUS ON WOMEN'S ISSUES.
>> EITHER HUMAN RIGHTS OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE AROUND LEARNING.
BUT I ALSO, I THINK IT'S JUST WHATEVER SPEAKS TO MY HEART.
I TEND TO GIVE IN LOCALLY QUITE A BIT, YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN SANTA BARBARA SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE WE SUPPORT THERE.
EVERYTHING FROM PLANNED PARENT HOOD TO WOMEN ECONOMIC VENTURES WHICH IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT TRAINS, DOES A LOT OF EDUCATION HELPING WOMEN TO START BUSINESSES.
THERE'S GIRLS, INC.
I FIND THAT WHEN I'M GIVING MONEY TO FILM MAKERS, THAT'S A VERY PERSONAL AND DIRECT INFLUENCE THAT I CAN HAVE OVER SOMETHING LIKE TO REALIZE THAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING A FILM INTO THE WORLD.
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT'S EXTREMELY GRATIFYING AND IT REMINDS ME A LOT OF LYNDA.COM BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THOSE COURSES INTO THE WORLD AND ,YOU KNOW, SHEPHERDING SOME OF THE FILMS ALONG.
>> FUNDING HAS BEEN A BARRIER FOR WOMEN FILM MAKERS SO WEINMAN FINDS IT GRATIFYING TO HELP PROPEL FEMALE FILM MAKERS INTO THE INDUSTRY.
>> WE ARE STARTING TO SEE IT HAPPEN AND QUITE A FEW OF THE FILMS I'VE SUPPORTED ARE FIRST TIME WOMEN DIRECTORS OR WOMEN DIRECTORS AND WRITERS.
WOMEN HAVE BEEN PRODUCERS FAR LONGER BUT I THINK THERE IS A GREAT NEW GROUP OF WOMEN FILM MAKERS AND THEY'RE GETTING THE FUNDING THAT THEY NEED WHICH IS GREAT.
>> SINCE THE INAUGURATION OF DONALD TRUMP AS PRESIDENT, MANY FOUNDATIONS AND PHILANTHROPISTS HAVE STEPPED UP THEIR GIVING TO WOMEN, GIRLS AND THE UNDER SERVED.
WEINMAN HAS MADE THAT PART OF HER PHILANTHROPIC MISSION.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT HAS FULLY KICKED IN.
I DEFINITELY INCREASED OUR DONATION TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD THIS YEAR.
JOINED THE AK A.C.L.U., JOINED THE A.D.L.
AND, YOU KNOW, IMAGINE THAT WILL INCREASE OUR FUNDING TO BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AND GIRLS, INC. AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT UNDER SERVED COMMUNITIES IN OUR LOCAL AREA.
BUT IT IS ALSO WE HAVE BEEN WITNESSING THE DECLINE OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
AND EVEN UNDER THE OBAMA YEARS AND BEFORE, WE WERE SEEING CUTS TO HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND THERE HAS BEEN THIS, WHICH I THINK IS A VERY FORTUNATE MOVEMENT AWAY FROM THE ARTS IN SCHOOLS AND SO, SUPPORTING THE ARTS IN GENERAL, I THINK, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT AND IT DOES FALL ON THE SHOULDER OF PHILANTHROPISTS RIGHT NOW.
>> NOW, HOW ONE PHILANTHROPIST IS ALSO A DOCTOR IS USING HER PHILANTHROPY TO HELP CURE AFRICAN WOMEN OF 50 FISTULA.
>> MARY LAKE POLE AN TEACHES AT YALE AND HAS A BOOK OUT BECOMING A FORCE TO HELP FEMALE VICTIMS OF FISTULA IN AFRICA.
SHE FLEW TO TALK TO A HEALTH SERVICE OFFICIAL THERE ABOUT HELPING TO HELP WITH BREAST CANCER.
>> I FLEW TO ERITREA AND HE SAID WE HAVE NO MAMMOGRAM UNITS SO LOOKING AT BREAST CANCER IS NOT REALLY POSSIBLE AND WE HAVE NO PATHOLOGIST TO READ PAP SMEARS SO THAT'S OUT, TOO.
WHAT WE DO NEED IS SOMEONE WHO CAN REPAIR HOLES BETWEEN YOUR BLADDER AND YOUR VAGINA OR RECTUM AND VAGINA FROM CHILD BIRTH DAMAGE.
IF YOU CAN DO THAT, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU HELP.
>> SHE WENT BACK TO STANFORD TO ASK HER TEAM ABOUT PERFORMING FREE FISTULA SURGERY FOR THOUSANDS OF WOMEN WHOSE LIVES ARE RUINED BY DIFFICULT, USUALLY FIRST DELIVERIES.
>> THEY OCCUR BECAUSE REMEMBER WHEN YOU DELIVER A BABY, THE HEAD COMES DOWN INTO THE PELVIS AND THE PELVIS IS RINGED BY BONE S AND THE BABY'S HEAD PUSHES AND IF FOR SOME REASON YOU CAN'T DELIVER, THE BABY IS TOO BIG, THE PELVIS IS TOO SMALL, THEN THE PRESSURE AGAINST THE AREA KILLS THE TISSUE AND YOU HAVE WHAT IS LEFT IS A HOLE AND A LEAK BETWEEN THE BLADDER AND THE VIRGINIA VAGINA.
IF THE PRESSURE IS ON THE RECTAL SIDE THEN YOU HAVE A RECTAL VAGINAL FISTULA AND YOU LEAK STOOL.
>> IT IS NOT A PROBLEM JUST IN AFRICA.
>> IT'S WOMEN IN RESOURCE LOW SETTINGS WHERE THERE IS NOT AN ADEQUATE OBJECT AT THE TIME RICK AL CARE AND LABOR AND DELIVERY CARE.
IN FACT IN NEW YORK CITY BEFORE WE HAD SURGICAL PROCEDURES TO DELIVER BABIES, THERE WAS A FIST ULA HOSPITAL.
IT IS NOT REALLY RELATED TO WHERE YOU LIVE BUT WHAT YOUR MEDICAL RESOURCES ARE.
100,000 OF THESE OCCUR ANNUALLY, MOST OF THEM IN AFRICA, SOUTHEAST ASIA AND SOME IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.
>> IT DESTROYS MARRIAGES AND THE WOMAN'S ABILITY TO EARN A LIVING EVEN TO GO BACK TO HER FAMILY FOR SUPPORT.
>> YOU CAN IMAGINE IF YOU LEAK URINE AND FEES FECES, YOU SMELL, YOUR CLOTHES ARE DIRTY.
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND YOU.
YOU CAN'T GO TO WORK BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS TO BE WITH YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND MAY NOT WANT TO BE WITH YOU.
MOST OF THE WOMEN WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, FOR EXAMPLE, IN ERITREA , 80% OF THE WOMEN DELIVERED IN THEIR HOMES, OUTSIDE OF ANY PHYSICIAN OR MIDWIFERY CARE AND THE WOMEN ARE THEN OSTRACIZED.
THEIR HUSBANDS LEAVE THEM.
IN MOST CASES THE BABIES DIE SO THEY DON'T HAVE CHILDREN.
AND THEY'RE A BURDEN TO THEIR FAMILY.
>> DR. POLAN AND HER TEAM WERE ABLE TO SAVE 1,000 WOMEN OVER THE MORE THAN 15 YEARS SHE TRAVELED TO IY RITIA ONE WOMAN REALLY WARMED HER HEART.
>> THE WOMEN COME FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
IT IS A COUNTRY OF FOUR TO FIVE MILLION PEOPLE.
THEY TAKE BUSES, COME ON DONKEYS IF YOU GO OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL YOU SEE WOMEN RIDING CAMELS.
SHE CAME FROM A DISTANCE AWAY.
SHE WAS LEAKING.
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX THE HOLE SO THE SURGEONS DID A DIVERSION PROCEDURE ON HER.
WE KEEP THE WOMEN FOR SEVERAL WEEKS OR A MORE ON TWO UNTIL THEY'RE HEALED AND THEN THEY GO BACK TO THEIR HOMES.
SHE WENT HOME AND SHE CAME BACK THREE YEARS LATER WITH A BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY.
SHE HAD NOT ONLY GOTTEN PREGNANT ONCE, AND HAD A MISCARRIAGE.
SHE GOT PREGNANT AGAIN AND DELIVERED THAT BABY VAGINALLY AFTER THE BIG ABDOMINAL SURGERY SHE HAD.
>> DR. POLAN BECAME SO INVOLVED WITH FISTULA PATIENTS SHE RAISED MONEY FOR THE WOMEN WHO WAIT FOR SURGERY.
>> WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BUILD ENOUGH MONEY TO BUILD A WAITING HOME IN THE HOSPITAL.
WE WORKED WITH UNFPA AND FRIENDS OF UNFPA.
YOU NEED THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND THE PHYSICIANS FROM THE UNITED STATES BUT YOU NEED A U.N.
PARTNER DO ANYTHING IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD AND WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE ENOUGH MONEY AND WE BUILT A 40-BED WAITING HOME.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK.
THAT'S IT FOR THEY DIGS.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE PBS.ORG/TO THE CONTRARY.
AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEWEEKEKEK... >> FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ONLINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF THE "TO THE CONTRARY" PLEASE VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG /TO THE CONTRARY.

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