A Group Donation from Paris

THE BAA CHAPTER IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL HAS DECIDED TO SUPPORT GLOBAL CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP FUND, WHICH GIVES SCHOLARSHIPS TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS. ANDREA GOLDSTEIN, THE GROUP'S LEADER, EXPLAINS THE REASON WHY

The whole Paris Chapter of the Bocconi Alumni Association (BAA) has decided to give its contribution to the Global Conference Scholarship Fund, which supports international students enrolled in masters of finance in International Management and Finance. The chapter is led by Andrea Goldstein, in charge of global relations at the Investment Division of the OECD, who encouraged the group to respond to the call for help launched at the third BAA Global Conference, held in London last March.

“It’s a symbolic gesture,” says Goldstein. “The idea is that our collective donation will encourage individuals to be more generous in supporting their Alma Mater.” The Bocconi Alumnus provides two reasons to donate to higher education: “Firstly, because it’s only fair to give the University something back in return. Secondly, because education has spillovers benefiting the whole of society, even more than single individuals. A well-functioning higher education system improves the entire social environment.”

There is also a third, and very practical motivation. In France and in Anglo-Saxon countries, where this kind of public generosity is more frequent, collective donations reinforce the virtuous circle of giving to academic institutions: “There is an effective and widespread system of tax breaks for academic donations”, Goldstein remarks. In the meantime, the Paris Chapter continues to work in other areas to support Bocconi’s mission. Among the various activities in conjunction with Expo Milano 2015, the Paris Chapter has organized a conference on food waste on May 28 at the city section of Alliance Française.
 

by Andrea Celauro
Translated by Richard Greenslade