George Childs: The Superlative Philanthropist

My essay about one of Philadelphia's greatest citizens, George Childs, is running in the December issue of Main Line Today, which is out on newstands today. Childs wasn't just the judicious editor of the Public Ledger (a guy who cared about getting the news right, as opposed to, say, salacious and juicy). He isn't just the guy who, along with his friend Anthony Drexel, created one of the first suburban outposts ever (I lived my whole adult life wishing I could live in one of the houses that erupted from his gracious suburban planning). He was also perhaps the greatest philanthropist Philadelphia ever knew—a man who devoted hours of every day to listening to the dreams of young people and then making them happen.

There's so much about the way that this man lived that deserves to be remembered. So many lessons for today. And so I say thank you today to Hobart Rowland for making room for my small tribute.