Our region would be very different today, less socially and culturally rich, if not for philanthropy. In the North East, wealth generated from land, mining, shipping, industry and trade has been invested philanthropically over successive historical eras in community assets that continue to enrich our lives today. Acts of generosity in the past significantly impact on our everyday lives in the present. Many of our schools, libraries, hospitals, universities, churches, parks and gardens and community organizations are rooted in philanthropy, inspired across generations by care for others and desire for a better society. Philanthropy has never been the exclusive domain of the wealthy; social activism, volunteering and collective philanthropy have also been pivotal in delivering meaningful social change and in creating institutions we continue to hold dear.