The Acropolis Club
Who are we?
The Acropolis Club is a NYC-based perpetual charity organization focused on children, education, and financial literacy.
What makes us unique is the “perpetual” part. Instead of constantly asking for donations, our patrons donate large sums of capital which is then prudently managed to generate constant stream of gifts. That way, we ensure that our impact is everlasting and can focus on giving.
We believe in equality of opportunity, freedom of choice, and meritocracy. We believe that the greatest gift is helping one fulfill their potential – not only for that individual but also for the society. We believe in providing the tools and the coaching to do so, but that ultimately the drive has to come from within and the outcome is up to the individual.
In terms of our structure, think of us as a cross between a charity and an endowment fund.
Etymology
In short, Acropolis represents the gift that keeps on giving, standing the test of time, and the root of democracy, philosophy, and the Western civilization.
In Greek mythology, there once was an ancient, prosperous city ruled by King Cecrops. The city was so impressive that even the gods noticed his city’s greatness. Athena and Poseidon wished to brig the city under their protection, name it after themselves, and claim its glory. The two gods were so determined that Zeus intervened to ensure no fighting erupts. The solution was a contest of gifts.
Athena and Poseidon met on the hill of Acropolis (the highest point of the city; akron “highest point” and polis “city”).
Poseidon moved first. He struck his trident on the ground and water sprang from the hole on the ground and created a spring. But to people’s disappointment, the spring water was salty (as Poseidon ruled over the ocean) and the city already had access to plenty of rivers and close to the sea. Poseidon’s gift was impressive, but not useful or needed.
It was now Athena’s turn. She simply kneeled and planted something on the ground. Within moments, a fully grown olive tree rose from the earth. The tree was a high-quality timber source, while its fruit was nutritional and could be used to make olive oil. Athena was the clear winner.
Following the contest, the hill of the Acropolis became a sacred space devoted to Athena and the city took on the name Athens.
Around 447 B.C. (more than 2,500 years ago), the Athenians started building the Parthenon (name stems from Athena Parthenos – or Athena the Virgin). It was part of a rebuilding program by Pericles following the Greco-Persian Wars. Although the Parthenon atop Acropolis is a shell of what was a magnificent structure, it still stands today. And there is a “sacred” olive tree on the hill that represents the original tree and stands roughly in the same spot. Of course the influence of the City of Athens in history needs no explanation – it is the birthplace of democracy, philosophy, and the Western Civilization.
“uh-KRAA-puh-luhs”
Noël Hallé. “Dispute de Minerve et de Neptune pour donner un nom à la ville d'Athènes”. 1748, Musée du Louvre
FAQs
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Children, education, and financial literacy
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We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to live up to their potential
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We believe well-rounded education is key in providing the essential tools in life and the ability to make high quality decisions
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Unfortunately, personal finance burdens and the lack of knowledge often limit one’s ability to break out of the cycle of poverty. Various polls show that the vast majority of teachers do not feel qualified or comfortable to teach personal finance. And most of those who grew up in less advantaged circumstances do not have the support or the know-hows. Simple concepts such as how to build a credit, how to plan a budget, or how compounding interest works can dramatically alter one’s life trajectory
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Think of the most impactful people you can remember (e.g. Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Marie Curie, Lee Kuan Yew, Adam Smith, Voltaire). Whomever you are thinking of, now imagine that they were trapped in the cycle of poverty, never had the chance to be properly educated, and nobody gave them a shot. Think about the impact to society. Not just at a point in history, but those ripple effects (or the lack thereof) are felt for generations. On the other side, the beauty is that when done right, the act of living to one’s potential becomes a self-fulfilling, reinforcing, and compounding effect
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No
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No, the namesake is simply an homage to the concept of a perpetual gift and the rich history of Athens