Words to give by: George Kaiser discusses moral obligations

 

George Kaiser speaks to Sara Waggoner, executive director of the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, after his speech at the Rotary Club of Tulsa on Wednesday. Kaiser talked about why he is motivated to give back to the community. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World

By MIKE AVERILL World Staff Writer
Published: 7/9/2009  2:25 AM
Last Modified: 7/9/2009  3:52 PM

Local philanthropist and businessman George Kaiser spoke to the Rotary Club of Tulsa on Wednesday about his motivation for philanthropy and the ways the George Kaiser Family Foundation works to break the cycle of generational poverty.

"It starts with a sense of guilt we all should feel. We got to where we are by dumb luck. It's what Warren Buffet calls winning the ovarian lottery," he said. "Most of us were born in an advanced society with loving and caring parents. I think we all have a moral obligation to those without these advantages."

Because not all children are born with an equal chance to succeed, early education is central to breaking the poverty cycle, he said.

Kaiser said his interest in high-quality education from birth to 3 years old began when he started following stem cell research, where he learned that brain cells start forming functionality at birth with sensory stimulation.

"Your future in life depends on how early the brain's architecture is structured," he said, adding that it is one reason that programs like Tulsa Educare are so important.

Tulsa Educare serves 200 low-income children and their families with education and family support services, including medical care and mental health support. The center opened in 2006.

Kaiser led the fundraising effort and secured more than $10 million from private philanthropists to build the center.

A second Educare center is being built in north Tulsa, next door to Hawthorne Elementary.

"Oklahoma has built a national reputation for early child education," Kaiser said. "It's nice to be known for something other than a Sally Kern proclamation."

Kaiser also mentioned the importance of health care in breaking the poverty cycle.

"We're the only state to have a reduction in life expectancy in the last 15 years," he said.

He also pointed out that the state has the fewest number of doctors and ranks poorest in many surveys.

"If you live in 74106 or 74126, your life expectancy is 14 years lower than if you live in 74105," he said.

In 2008, the foundation gave the University of Oklahoma a $50 million grant to create the nation's first School of Community Medicine, a program focused on training physicians in the context of community health problems, health care disparities and health care trends.

The state's high rate of incarcerated women is another issue.

"The real victims are the kids — 95 percent of women in jail have kids and unfortunately, Oklahoma ranks No. 1," he said, adding that no other state incarcerates a greater proportion of women for nonviolent crimes.

"It's a lose-lose-lose situation. The women aren't restored to productive lives, the kids suffer irreparable damage and the public is not protected from violent crimes," he said.

To help with these and other issues, Kaiser said the foundation helped bring $40 million in additional federal stimulus funds to Tulsa.

"Never before has more money been shoved out the government door," he said. "Our selfish goal is to get as much for Tulsa and Oklahoma as we can."

Kaiser is president, CEO and primary owner of GBK Corp., parent corporation of Kaiser-Francis Oil Co., which he has managed for 40 years. He is also chairman of the board and majority shareholder of BOK Financial Corp. and a major shareholder in several energy, oil and gas, mining and technology companies.

The foundation is also active in civic initiatives including the Arkansas River Trails Enhancement Project, the Tulsa Beautification Foundation and other projects designed to revitalize Brady Village into an arts and cultural district.