Philip Berber (1958- ) – Businessman & Philanthropist
Philip Berber is an Irish millionaire and philanthropist. Berber attended University College Dublin and graduated with a Business Communication degree. In 1984, he set up a high-tech London-based company, Financia, which was bought in 1991 by Frontier Financial of Houston. Berber set up CyberCorp in 1995, and it was one of the first online trading firms for retail investors. In 2000, he sold the firm to Charles Schwab in 2000 for $488 million.
Berber and his wife, Donna, founded A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, using $100 million to fund it. The Glimmer of Hope Foundation focuses on Ethiopia, and they have financed 3,600 water wells, 400 schools, and 6,500 micro loans, reaching an estimated two million Ethiopians. In 2003, the Berbers founded The Glimmer of Hope Austin. A Glimmer of Hope Austin is focused on making a significant and sustainable difference in the lives of at-risk youth (up to age 25) and seniors (over the age of 60) in economically disadvantaged parts of the city. In 2004, the foundation committed $5 million toward supporting local programs over the ensuing 10 years. To date, it has funded more than 70 projects around the city that have had a direct impact in the lives of thousands of people. The foundation was named the city’s Outstanding Philanthropic Foundation of the Year for 2006 by Austin chapter of the Association of Fund-Raising Professionals.
We honor Philip Berber because his philanthropic work makes him a Legacy Champ. If you want to be a Legacy Champ in your own special way, then contact The Mendel Law Firm, L.P. for a free initial consultation on estate planning, trust planning, and/or probate issues.
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