John Caudwell: Giving Pledge

Monday, 18 November 2013

HEART OF GOLD AWARD GOES TO JOHN AND CLAIRE CAUDWELL.

November 18, 2013.

HEART OF GOLD AWARD GOES TO JOHN AND CLAIRE CAUDWELL.

Entrepreneur and philanthropist John Caudwell spends most of his time and effort, and money, helping change lives, but last Friday he was the recipient: recognition from key figures in the music industry for his efforts to support charities and good causes.

John was presented with the Heart of Gold Award at the Global Angel Awards dinner at the Roundhouse in Camden on Friday, November 15, 2013, and he was joined on stage to receive it by his partner Claire Caudwell, who, John says, really does have a heart of gold and is very passionate about helping others, especially the charity John founded, Caudwell Children.

"The awards honour inspirational organisations and individuals who are game changers in transforming our world," said founder and CEO of the Global Angels Foundation, Molly Bedingfield, mother of pop icons Daniel and Natasha Bedingfield.

"The Heart of Gold Award is presented to an individual or couple who use their influence and generosity to significantly empower and support philanthropic endeavours. These are people who embody the spirit of giving."

John Caudwell said: "Philanthropic work in helping orders gives me the most amazing sense of satisfaction and pleasure and that is the reward in itself. In fact the reward is so great, that many years ago I pledged to give at least 50% of my wealth away during and after my lifetime. Whilst I do not need awards and accolades, I do feel very honoured, alongside my gorgeous Claire, to be receiving the Heart of Gold award.

"Global Angels is a fantastic organisation, and we need to ensure it continues its great work - a crucial element of which is that 100% of money raised goes directly to the causes it supports."

John Caudwell sold his mobile telecoms business, which included high street retailer Phones 4u, for £1.5 billion in 2006, and has since concentrated his efforts on philanthropic work supporting charities and good causes. He is the founder of Caudwell Children, which concentrates on providing treatment for desperately ill children, and support for them and their families.

John has pledged to give away at least half his wealth to charities and good causes during his lifetime and after his death.

Ends

Further information:

Iain Macauley

im@pressrelations.co.uk

07788 978800

www.caudwell.com

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

JOHN CAUDWELL

@johndcaudwell

PRESS RELEASE

February 19, 2013.

JOHN CAUDWELL HELPS BRING THE GIVING PLEDGE TO EUROPE.

Entrepreneur and philanthropist John Caudwell is amongst a handful of high-net-worth individuals to bring the life-changing Giving Pledge (www.thegivingpledge.org) to Europe.

John, who sold his telecommunications business for £1.5 billion in 2006, joins the likes of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett in pledging to donate significant tranches of their wealth to philanthropy - and collectively changing the lives of many generations to come.

"The Giving Pledge is a simple principle, a pledge for extremely wealthy people to give away the majority of their wealth during - or after - their lifetime to charitable causes," said John Caudwell.

"The collective worth of those committing to The Giving Pledge is hundreds of billions of dollars. That sort of resource can help countless millions of people.

"It is in the culture of north Americans to adopt such an approach - that's where The Giving Pledge started and thrived - but I contacted Bill Gates about trying to drive such an approach in the UK and Europe, and this is our breakthrough.

"I've already discovered the pleasure of giving my wealth to worthy and charitable causes that genuinely make a difference to the lives of the least fortunate. Those of us who have yet to find philanthropy may find there is a far greater reward from it than from wealth creation.

"I will give away at least half my wealth during my lifetime and after my death. In the meantime I'll continue to grow my wealth as much as possible so that the amount I bequeath to charities and worthy causes can be as substantial as possible."

In 2006, John Caudwell sold his 10,000-employee mobile phone business, which included Phones 4u, for £1.5bn. John now concentrates on charitable and philanthropic work including Caudwell Children @caudwellkids.

@johndcaudwell