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Real life Philanthropist inspires new TV Drama
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Philanthropist Bobby Sager
is the inspiration for the new NBC prime time drama called “The Philanthropist”. Sager peaked the the interest of a producer two years ago while giving a speech at his son's bar mitzvah. While he was describing the way his "eyeball-to-eyeball" philanthropy had impacted his family, a producer friend in the audience took notice.
Sager was once the President of a a century-old liquidation firm in Boston.Over the years he experienced a gradual transformation in his thinking and had a growing sense that collecting cars and real estate wasn't the way he wanted to spend the rest of his life.
Sager: "It wasn't like I had this moment of awareness or I said, I've been fortunate and now I want to give back,It was about me in my quest for fullness in my life, looking at my situation and saying, more money isn't going to give me more return on investment because I already have all that I want that money can buy.”
He took his two children, ages 8 and 5, out of school and began on a yearlong trek around the world. Durig their travels the family lived in South Africa, Australia, Bhutan, Brazil, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, and Sri Lanka always with a goal of helping local charitable groups and programs.
The family lived in Australia, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Brazil, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Rwanda, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, with the goal of finding and supporting charitable programs. He started this journey 9 years ago, yet Sager is still at it. He spends most of each year visiting and helping non profit groups and even asking his fellow businessmen to help them on how to maximize their potential. All of these efforts turned in to a official Foundation called “ The Sager Family Traveling Foundation and Roadshow” which will spend around $1.8 million dollars towards donations this year.
One of the projects they are assisting is one that introduces Tibetan monks to modern science This project came about after a conversation between Mr. Sager and the Dalai Lama at Brandeis University. Sager is also sponsoring a program in Iraq that teaches Iraqi children soccer, and skills they will need as adults; another that pushes a network of international business leaders known as the “Young Presidents' Organization to embrace giving.”
Sager is also a talented photographer whose images were featured throughout the “Police World Tour”.
Many of his photos are of children dealing with war, conflict, natural disaster,abuse, and displacement.
The images are of children from Afghanistan,Rwanda, Pakistan,Sri Lanka, and Tibet.
Sager:” The power of the photos is that even in some of the most desperate places in the world children still have a smile in their eyes- the human spirit finds a way to preserve and overcome”
All of the above was inspiration enough for the new series “The Philanthropist” starring actor James Purefoy, who plays Bobby Sager via the fictional name Teddy Rist. The character Rist becomes a real life hero. He’s a man who grows past a personal tragedy in the death of his son. He comes to realize the joy of helping others. His character doesn't just write a blank check but actually gets involved on the issues. The show was not shot on back lots but actually filmed in remote locations such as Africa and Haiti. His character Rist insists on doing the giving himself.
In these times of financial woes, unemployment, and record foreclosures a show like this could be just the RX the Doctor ordered. NBC has faith in “The Philanthropist” which is slotted for a PRIMO spot on NBC at 10:00 pm eastern time, following “America’s got Talent”. Be sure to tune in for a dose of the Philanthropist tonight, and who knows maybe the good will and pay it forward actions will inspire some more REAL Philanthropy.
James Purefoy ( WIKI)
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