Charitable Giving: How much did you give?

Eleven leading philanthropists spoke with The Washington Post’s Tom Heath about how much they have given in the past year, and their approach to charitable giving.

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Debbie Marriott Harrison

Debbie Harrison is the senior vice president for government affairs of Marriott International. She is also on the board of the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation. "Last year, Marriott International donated $23.8 million in cash and in-kind contributions," according to Harrison.

Elizabeth Dausch /

Wendy Thompson Marquez

Wendy Thompson Marquez is the president and chief executive of EVS Communications, a nonprofit that uses media to reach underserved Latino communities. She is also president of Onyx Media Group, which creates socially relevant films and television programs. For Marquez and her husband, Dario, the amount given is not important. "It's not the amount we give," Marquez told The Post, "but the groups we give to."

Courtesy of Wendy Thompson Marquez

Martin Weinstein

Martin Weinstein is a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher. He has donated more than $1 million over the past five years on behalf of the Willkie Foundation.

Bachrach Photography

David Falk

David Falk is the founder of FAME Basketball, and is one of the sports industry's leading figures and most talented innovators. He has been representing athletes since 1974, including NBA superstars Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing. In addition to other donations, Falk gave $15 million to Syracuse University for the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics.

MBK Photo / MBK Photo

Cal Ripken

Cal Ripken is a Hall of Fame shortstop. He played for the Baltimore Orioles for 21 seasons. He is also a best-selling author. The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation is slated to spend nearly $5 million on youth development park construction sites, while cash operating grants will total $2 million. Equipment grants will total $500,000.

Bill Wood Photography

Patty Alper

Patty Alper is president of Alper Portfolio Group, a marketing and consulting company. She gives roughly $25,000 a year.

Freed Photography

Dr. Jaylee M. Mead

Jaylee M. Mead is a board member of The Studio Theatre and theatreWashington. She is also a Life Trustee at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. She supports Signature theatre and the Atlas Performing Arts Center. She established the Mead Family Foundation in 1989. She gives approximately $1-2 million a year of her personal funds for annual giving and pledges.

Courtesy Jaylee Mead

Craig Ruppert

Craig Ruppert is chief executive of Ruppert Landscape. The company gives 5 percent of its profit annually to charitable causes.

/ Courtesy of Craig Ruppert

John M. Kane

John Kane is president and chief executive of Kane Co., a Maryland-based firm specializing in commercial transportation, office re-location and records archiving. Through his company, he is "on track this year to give $200,000," he told The Post.

Robert Smith Photography

Jeffrey Z. Slavin

Jeffrey Slavin is the mayor of Somerset, Md., and a second-generation leader of the Sanford and Doris Slavin Foundation. "Last year, through our family foundation, we donated more than $180,000 to roughly two dozen nonprofit organizations that provide services to Montgomery County residents," Slavin told The Post.

Daniel B. McNeill

Michelle Freeman

Michelle Freeman is the founding president and chairman of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation. She has also served as president and chairman of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation since 2007. The latter gives grants of over $1.5 million a year.

By Doug Phillips

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