2. Who is Bill Drayton?
William “Bill Drayton” is a social entrepreneur. He is responsible
for the rise of the phrase “social entrepreneur” and was named by
US News and World Report as one of America’s 25 Best Leaders
in 2005.
Drayton is the founder and current chair of Ashoka: Innovators
for the Public, an organisation dedicated to finding and fostering
social entrepreneurs worldwide. Drayton is also the chairman of
two other organizations, namely “Youth Venture” and “Get
America Working!”
3. Contributions
Bill Drayton and Ashoka: Innovators for
the Public, have been funding and
supporting social entrepreneurs since
1981. These social entrepreneurs create
innovative solutions and improve the
lives of millions of people. By funding
over 3,000 social entrepreneurs
worldwide, Drayton has impacted
problems ranging from the abuse of
human rights to poverty and climate
change.
4. Inspiration
He was blessed be his family and wanted to do the
same to help others. Due to exposure to the civil rights
movement, he was compelled to make a difference in
the world and enable others to do the same. He is
revolutionary in that he is always drawn to see new
issues, new solutions, new patterns and new paradigms
regarding social entrepreneurship.
5. Impact on Society
Bill Drayton was the founder of social entrepreneurship. He funded and
started many organizations which each played different roles that helped
to find solutions to society’s most pressing problems,such as poverty and
homelessness. Till today, his efforts have inspired many people to become
social entrepreneurs and Ashoka has left a mark in society history of
social entrepreneurship, allowing others to continue to help the less
fortunate.
6. Combating Poverty
Bill Drayton popularised the term “social
entrepreneurship”
➔ Establishing the company Ashoka, he
motivated himself and others to think
and act as change makers to society
➔ He also funded other social
entrepreneurs which also worked as
non-charitable organizations
➔ Likewise, he also contributed by
donating to the poor and needy
7. How YOU can help
It is important to realise that despite the
fact that our wealth comes nowhere near
to that of Bill Drayton’s, we can still make
positive impacts on the lives of people
around us via means such as
volunteering at charity organisations and
donating items and materials such as
canned food, used textbooks, clothing,
etc. It is through these small acts of
charity that we can help other in need.
