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Topshop boss Sir Philip Green gives £100,000 to help London's Dispossessed
Chris Blackhurst29 Jul 2010
Fashion chain billionaire Sir Philip Green has made one of the biggest donations to the Standard's Dispossessed Fund to help London's poorest and has urged others to follow his example.
The Topshop, Topman and Bhs owner personally gave £100,000 to the Fund and acknowledged it was sometimes hard to appreciate just “how bad” life can be on the bottom rung.
Sir Philip, 58, has deep London roots — his father was from the East End and he was brought up in Croydon and Hampstead Garden Suburb.
He said: “I must have 4,000 to 5,000 people employed in London. It's one of the most important centres in the world. If we can all put our elbows to the pump we can help everybody — we can give them the same chances that others have received — and that can only be to London's gain.
“We've got to start somewhere. The Evening Standard has done a great job in highlighting some of the situations that exist for some people — probably we don't know how bad it really is for them. By putting up this money we're making a start.”
The Fund is now well on the way to hitting its target of £1 million — which will be matched by the Government.
Other business leaders have backed our campaign, with British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh saying: “Poverty shames us all and as a global airline we have a responsibility and a duty to tackle deprivation in countries we fly to around the world.
“But we must never forget charity begins at home, so I am determined we should make our contribution and support the Evening Standard campaign.”
Click here to donate to the Dispossessed Fund
Reader views (8)
Andrew , what on earth has this got to do with him being a Jew. Are you not showing a bit of a persecution complex. Next you might say any critism of a man is anti sametic.
- Adam, New Denham UK, 13/08/2010 10:57
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I do agree Charities for many good causes - regardless of religion - need lots more Mr Greens, Mr Beadles and Mr Lagranges! However the question of publicity is a difficult one; often the publicity is at the bequest of the charity who find it useful as a marketing tool.
- mg, London, 29/07/2010 18:01
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MG, would you also agree that it is a shame that this kind of thing ends up being public knowledge. Phillip Green and other such philanthropists such as Jeremy Beadle(æ"ì), contribute massively to charity without saying a word about it. It amounted to over 100 Million GBP! A remarkable man, who did this in conjunction with the Phillip Green charitable trust. Jeremy donated to Jewish Care, and did alot of work with Nightingale, a London based religious organisation for elderly people. We need people like Mr Green and Mr Beadle.
- Andrew, Tel Aviv, Israel, 29/07/2010 15:12
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My company have just announced a 1% increase on the pathetic wage they are paying.That works out 17 pounds a month which does not even cover the increase in bus fare.So much for a so called blue chip company.
- DAVE, london, 29/07/2010 14:28
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Andrew stop playing the race card exactly the same comments appeared after Pierre lagrange's £100,000 donation last week.
Though I agree with your sentiments - whether its tax deductible, whether its a drop in the ocean compared with their overall wealth, its still a great gesture and to be encouraged and admired.
- mg, London, 29/07/2010 13:52
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Funny. When someone such as a pop star gives a bit of money, or the lefty government gives benefit and welfare, nobody complains.
But if a Jew gives money to a cause (which he is nothing to do with, and doesnt have to) then people start crowing about it. 100,000 GBP may not be alot to Mr Green but it is a huge amount to someone who is struggling. Yes its tax deductable and so forth - but what is the problem?
If it was a lottery winner, everyone would be bleating about how kind they are.
- Andrew, Tel Aviv, Israel, 29/07/2010 13:18
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Tax deductable.
- mickinlondon, london, 29/07/2010 12:57
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Is that all?? Peanuts to him!!!
- Karenf, London, 29/07/2010 12:27
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