Ben Affleck on Fatherhood

“I love being a father. It’s wonderful. It’s changed my life. It all sounds like platitudes and clichés, and that’s because they’re the truth.” - Ben Affleck

Ram Shriram elected to Stanford Board of Trustees

The Stanford University Board of Trustees recently elected Kavitark "Ram" Shriram, founder of Sherpalo Ventures LLC, a Menlo Park venture fund, to a five-year term. The board used electronic ballots to conduct the election, which took place in November. Shriram will take his seat at the board's Dec. 7-8 meeting.

Including Shriram, the board will have 32 members, three fewer than its limit of 35.

"Stanford is fortunate to welcome Ram Shriram to the Board of Trustees," Leslie Hume, chair of the board, said in an email message.

"Through his involvement in the Education and Engineering schools, and the Parents Advisory Board, Ram has proved an exceptionally thoughtful and generous volunteer, with a deep commitment to Stanford's mission. His expertise in business and technology and his broad global perspective will be of great value to the board."

Shriram is the founder and managing partner of Sherpalo Ventures, which he established in 2000.

The venture fund, whose website features a photograph of Mount Everest, takes its name from the Nepalese mountaineers – known as sherpas – who guide visiting climbers to the top of the highest peak on Earth. Shriram combined "Sherpa" and Palo Alto – home to venture capitalists and startups alike – to create "Sherpalo."

He said the mountain represents the heights entrepreneurs must climb to succeed in the rugged business of developing and commercializing early stage technologies.

"Young companies face numerous challenges as they seek to grow and gain traction," the Sherpalo Ventures website says. "For founder leaders, it is invaluable to have an experienced Sherpa guide to share the load and make success come a little easier, perhaps a little faster and with fewer mistakes."

Sherpalo has invested in a variety of startups, including Bump Technologies, which allows people to swap contact information, photos and music files by simply "bumping" their phones together; StumbleUpon, which helps people discover and share websites; FlightCaster, which predicts flight delays; and ZumoDrive, which uses "hybrid cloud technology" to provide unlimited storage on computers and smart phones.

Currently, Shriram is focusing some of his funding efforts in India, where his interests include social entrepreneurship, education, energy, sanitation, and telecommunications infrastructure.

He is married to Vijayalakshmi "Vijay" Shriram, and the couple has two daughters, both of whom are students at Stanford.

The couple has served on Stanford's Parents Advisory Board since 2006. In addition to various philanthropic programs in India, they have endowed the Shriram Family Professorship in Science Education in Stanford's School of Education.

Cancer Research Foundation Receives Major Gift from Irwin and Joan Jacobs

Philanthropists Irwin and Joan Jacobs of La Jolla, CA have made an additional major gift to the Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Research Foundation (ACCRF) to foster rapid advances in the understanding and treatment of adenoid cystic carcinoma. The Jacobs' most recent donation brings their cumulative support for the foundation to $1.65 million. "The remarkable generosity of the Jacobs has permitted the foundation to act much more quickly in approving and undertaking cancer research projects that use leading-edge technological platforms," noted Jeffrey Kaufman, ACCRF's Co-Founder and Executive Director. "Irwin and Joan share our goals of identifying ACC's vulnerabilities and moving quickly toward targeted clinical trials for patients in need."

Irwin Jacobs founded the telecommunications firm Qualcomm, where he served as CEO until July 2005 and Chairman of the Board of Directors until March 2009. A graduate of Cornell University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dr. Jacobs taught electrical engineering at MIT and the University of California, San Diego before pioneering the commercial development of digital wireless technology.

Dr. Jacobs was diagnosed with ACC in 2007 after noticing a bump near his left ear. He was treated at the University of California, San Francisco and remains in very good health. Following his surgery and radiation therapy, he read about ACCRF in the Wall Street Journal and contacted the organization. Beyond offering their financial support to the research effort, Dr. and Mrs. Jacobs also hosted an ACCRF Scientific Forum of leading cancer researchers at the Salk Institute, where he serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

"Joan and I have been very impressed with the research program organized by Marnie and Jeff and with the researchers that they have attracted and sponsored," noted Irwin Jacobs. "We believe that this is a very important research and (soon) clinical effort, not only because I have suffered from ACC as have many others, but also because I believe this program provides a valuable model for organizing attacks on other rare cancers."

The Jacobs will be the first inductees into ACCRF's Circle of Sustenance, major donors who lead the mission to cure ACC. In addition to funding ACCRF's largest research projects, members of the Circle of Sustenance cover the foundation's administrative expenses, thereby ensuring that all other donations are applied directly to research programs.

Joel Madden on Fatherhood

“Being a father is nothing you can plan for. You’ve got to take it one day at a time, and there’s no manual or anything like that. It’s not a conscious change, it just happens to you all of a sudden. We had Harlow, and suddenly our priorities changed.” - Joel Madden

Brendan Fraser on Fatherhood

“The other day, when my 4-year-old saw a flowering tree and said, “Daddy, it’s raining petals,” that was poetry that just melted my heart into a mushy, yummy Fudgsicle.” - Brendan Fraser

Fashion Week 2009

Our Daughters modeled at Fashion week; Marlana was flicking all the 'celebrity front row legs' with her feather like a kid with a stick and a corrugated iron fence.... No one seemed to mind... they all seemed to 'know' who she was..... Marlana the marketing expert...!  She's current 'writing' the book on connecting....

Robin Williams on Fatherhood

“I stopped drinking when I had children because I wanted to be awake and aware. I did not want to be going, you know, daddy loves you and then drop my head on the table. I do not want to miss anything that they do or say. It is important to me.”- Robin Williams

Congratulations Roger and Mirka Federer

Congratulations Roger and Mirka Federer on the birth of your twin girls Myla Rose and Charlene Riva. As the father of twin girls I know you are in for an adventure full of fun, joy, and lots of hugs and kisses. You could not be more fortunate. Enjoy your babies!

Tom Cruise on Fatherhood

“I’m a father, you know. I always wanted to be a father. Remember when you first held your child? It’s like wow, tremendous sense of responsibility.” - Tom Cruise

Stewart and Lynda Resnick's Gift to Caltech

As the U.S. Secretary of Energy and hundreds of graduates and their families looked on, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) president Jean-Lou Chameau began today's commencement ceremony by announcing $30 million in gifts as the first phase of a proposed $90 million initiative for a new institute. The funds will go towards the creation of the Resnick Sustainability Institute at Caltech. The initial gift of $20 million was made by Stewart and Lynda Resnick, and an additional $10 million came from the Gordon and Betty Moore Matching Program. The plans include a second phase of funding to be initiated next year as part of a challenge grant. Ultimately, the endowment for the new institute will exceed $90 million.

The vision of the Resnick Sustainability Institute is to provide a path to sustainability by focusing on innovative science and engineering developments required for groundbreaking energy technologies. Such technologies may one day help solve our global energy and climate challenges. With the support of the Resnick Sustainability Institute, some of the brightest minds in the world will apply Caltech's unique approach to interdisciplinary research toward high-risk, high-return energy science and technology.

"I have enjoyed many conversations with Stewart and Lynda on exciting developments in science and technology and their potential for addressing many of our environmental and economic challenges," says Chameau. "This generous gift from the Resnicks reflects their extraordinary desire and courage to make a difference. With their support, we are poised to launch an initiative at Caltech that will herald a new era in energy research."

"We are passionately committed to finding alternative and sustainable energy solutions," say Stewart and Lynda Resnick. "We're making this investment because Caltech is truly one of America's greatest research universities, and we are confident that this new institute will develop the breakthrough technologies we need to address the daunting challenges of energy security, rapidly accelerating energy demand, and climate change."

The new institute will leverage prior grants from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and work being done by Caltech researchers such as Harry Atwater, the Howard Hughes Professor and professor of applied physics and materials science, who leads Caltech's Energy Frontier Research Center, recently funded by the Department of Energy; and Harry Gray, the Arnold O. Beckman Professor of Chemistry, and Nate Lewis, the George L. Argyros Professor and professor of chemistry, who lead Caltech's Center for Chemical Innovation, funded by the National Science Foundation.

The Resnicks' existing relationship with Caltech includes Stewart Resnick's role as a member of the Board of Trustees. He is also chairman and, with his wife, Lynda, owner of Roll International Corporation, a private holding company he founded in 1962. The company has diverse interests including Paramount Citrus, Paramount Farming, and Paramount Farms, growers and processors of citrus, almonds, and pistachios; POM Wonderful, the largest grower of pomegranates and makers of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice; Teleflora, the floral-by-wire service; FIJI Water, a leading premium bottled-water brand; and Suterra, one of the largest biorational pest control providers in the world.

The Resnicks have a long history of giving to Los Angeles institutions, including a 2008 pledge of $55 million to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

The announcement of the gift was made during Chameau's opening remarks at Caltech's 115th annual commencement ceremony. This year's keynote speaker, Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu, remarked that the timing of the gift announcement was especially appropriate, as it involved energy science and sustainability, two of his programmatic efforts at the energy department.

Family Adventures In Health Care

Had a crazy time since leaving the States! Marlana in hospital ER for a day in Arizona...everything fine in the end.

Left US a week late to make sure she was fit to fly back to New Zealand

We are now caught up tin the flu thing... We can't leave the house...though none of us has any symptoms of any note.

International Competition Offers World's Largest ARTPRIZE

ArtPrize invites artists of all kinds from around the world to participate in an unprecedented competition that will award nearly one-half million dollars to prize winners, including $250,000 to the artist who receives the most public votes. Details of ArtPrize, which will run from Sept. 23 through Oct. 10, were announced today from the competition’s host city of Grand Rapids, Mich. ArtPrize will have no formal jury, curator or judge. The public will decide who wins the prizes by voting, using mobile devices and the web.

“It’s time to reboot the conversation between artists and the public. ArtPrize will be a celebration of art, design, and innovation that will bring artists and the public together like never before,” said ArtPrize creator Rick DeVos.

The city of Grand Rapids will become art gallery. ArtPrize art works and performances, professional and amateur, will be exhibited at hundreds of venues, all within a three-square mile area in Grand Rapids’ downtown riverfront district. The city has offered up parks and bridges for outdoor venue displays. Scores of businesses will convert lobbies and public space for displays.

“Our family sees ArtPrize as a new and innovative way to engage and support the arts for the future,” said Betsy DeVos. The Dick & Betsy DeVos Family Foundation is underwriting ArtPrize. “Dick and I share our son’s vision for encouraging everyone to explore the arts in a truly democratic way.”

Grand Rapids, a city of about 200,000 amidst a metropolis of more than a million people, has an impressive cultural urban core and a rich history of supporting public art. It is home to Alexander Calder’s “La Grand Vitesse,” the first community sculpture project funded through the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as major works by Mark di Suvero, Robert Morris and Maya Lin.

“It is increasingly important to find new ways to engage people, especially young people, in the arts,” said Michael Kaiser, president of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. “ArtPrize is a dynamic and creative way to use technology to engage people of all ages.”

ArtPrize is expected to draw thousands of entries, and art enthusiasts from across the globe are expected to attend. The ArtPrize team directly communicated with about 10,000 artists, design schools, art schools, museums and galleries worldwide as part of today’s launch. “This is a bit of an art revolution,” said Jeff Speck, former director of design for the National Endowment for the Arts and author of Suburban Nation. “It will be exciting to see a city use its downtown area as an art gallery to share with the world.”

“I’m astounded by the potential for social networking, community involvement, and the expanded view of the role of art,” said Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell. “ArtPrize will excite the world, and the world will look at our city differently because of it.”

Douglas Myers in NZ Will Take Senses To The Baltics In Summer

International Opportunities for Kiwis has become a well-worn subject with Sir Doug. London-based Sir Doug remains involved with the Business Roundtable, which he once chaired and his primary business interest here is now investing in young students. Sir Douglas Myers is home this week to present the Douglas Myers Scholarship to Cambridge University in England. The scholarship, worth $100,000 a year, is for academically distinguished Kiwi students with leadership potential.

No Myers scholars have returned to New Zealand. Sir Doug used to hope they would bring their success back to New Zealand, he is now au fait with it – his children live overseas.

“That’s the New Zealand experience now – we export people.

“There’s advantage to be had with young people dotted around the place that think well of New Zealand and can be drawn on to give opinions – if Kiwis are willing to listen.”

Sir Doug is not yet returning to New Zealand just yet.

“I may well. It’s more likely this year than five years ago.”

This summer his plans are to take his yacht, Senses to the Baltics. Then fishing in Alaska and Iceland.

A Hole In One

Both of our daughters are in love with reading although one is more fluent and the other still more interested in the pictures.  Anything creative she's sort of 'genius level'. They are beautiful people ...supporting them and encouraging them without spoiling them continues to be a challenge! But one we love!

A week ago with friends (thankfully) I shot a hole in one over two small lakes (180m) at Remuera golf course....my game has sunk completely into levels of sham since...however I get a trophy at some point...but allas no car!

That Friday night I did 'seem' to shake about 200-300 strangers hands...thanks to the club 'shout' 'one me'! I did ask a Scotsman ...how many holes in one had he done...'5'! ...since 1952!....Keep aiming for the pin and you'll do another one...he told me!