La Jolla Real Estate Agent Partners with Innovative Non-Profit.
A recent partnership between local non-profit Benefunder and Pacific Sotheby’s Amber Anderson & Associates look to change the face of philanthropic giving.
On most days, cutting edge scientific innovation and luxury real estate are about as homogeneous as a peanut butter and tuna fish sandwich. These seemingly inconsistent industries are tied together in what is positioned to be an influential movement in San Diego. On February 6, 2014 the principles from both groups teamed up to launch Benefunder’s unique concept to the market at a luxurious estate located at 1660 Torrey Pines Road.
Despite less than favorable weather conditions, over 75 attendees braved the A-typical Southern Californian down pour to be part of the first Benefunder Innovation Showcase. The inaugural event featured a local UCSD researcher, Dr. Todd Coleman, whose work focuses on “Wearable Smart Skin Sensors and Cloud Analytics”, which have numerous and far reaching medical applications, from monitoring the fetal heart rate of newborns, to reducing time in the Intensive Care Units (ICU).
Benefunder is the brainchild of local entrepreneur Christian Braemer and Co-founder and Academic Advisor Gert Lanckriet. Braemer believes that, “University research has come under a considerable funding squeeze that threatens the future competitiveness of this country. Individual philanthropy has the potential to make a significant impact on future innovations and commercialization that will support the future outlook of nearly every aspect of our everyday lives including the economy, therapies & cures, humanities, and new technologies to name a few”. In short, BeneFunder wants to do its part by facilitating access between donors and researchers and create a marketplace to efficiently direct funds to specific research causes. This notion of premeditated and personalized philanthropy, versus the tried, tested and true methods has gained traction with traditional wealth managers, and individual donors alike.
Where’s the connection between the worlds most recognized luxury real estate brand Sotheby’s and Benefunder? Anderson has said “as a team we felt that participating in this series of events is an honorable cause, worthy of our collective attention. In the process we are able to expose our luxury estates to the right demographic of qualified individuals in a simple, yet powerful fashion. Originality and creativity is what truly sets us apart”.
The private, invite only showcase events will be held monthly throughout San Diego County at luxurious estates.