Koch Chairman and co-CEO and founder of Stand Together Charles Koch was honored with the Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy at the Forbes Impact Summit in New York on September 25 for a lifetime of philanthropic giving. Charles has donated nearly $8 billion toward philanthropic causes throughout his life. In 2003, he founded Stand Together, a philanthropic community that partners with diverse changemakers to empower individuals to realize their potential and work together to overcome some of the country’s biggest challenges.
“Our vision and culture are guided by principles of human progress,” Charles told the audience at the Forbes Impact Summit. “When I've applied these principles, I’ve been able to contribute and succeed. And when I haven’t, I’ve failed.”
Credit: Jamel Toppin for Forbes
Credit: Jamel Toppin for Forbes
During the summit, Charles participated in a keynote conversation alongside Stand Together Chairman and CEO Brian Hooks. Brian has led Stand Together since 2018, implementing its vision of moving toward a society of equal rights and mutual benefit where everyone has the opportunity to live a life of meaning.
“We find meaning in our lives by contributing to the lives of others,” Brian said. “When you work hard, you treat people well and you succeed by helping others succeed, there’s no problem we can’t tackle.”
Charles, now approaching 90 years old, was asked what he believes will be the lasting impact of his philanthropic work. “My hope is that we have helped move the country to more fully live up to the promise of the Declaration of Independence,” he said, reiterating the vision of “bottom-up empowerment, where everyone has the opportunity to contribute and succeed.”
The Forbes 400 Lifetime Achievement Award for Philanthropy honors individuals who have dedicated their lives to addressing major societal challenges through transformative philanthropic initiatives. Past recipients include David Rockefeller, Bill and Melinda Gates, Ted Turner and Warren Buffett.
