Bill Townsend and The Amati Foundation named America's Leading Philanthropist by Asia Alliance

Oct. 12, 2010 - PRLog -- The Asia Alliance of Excellence in Philanthopy has named American entrepreneur Bill Townsend and chairman of The Amati Foundation, a Pasadena, California based music education charity, a Leading Global Philanthropist Philanthropist for 2010-2011.

Townsend, a cofounder of Internet search engine Lycos, YouthStream Media Networks, and numerous other Internet ventures, started The Amati Foundation in 2000 with the goal of providing professional violins, violas, and celli to oustanding young performers. Exceptional musical instruments are often priced out of reach for young performers with violins by Antonio Stradivari for example selling between $2,000,000 and $8,000,000. The Amati Foundation provides these essential "Tools of the Trade" on loan or outright donation.

"We have recognized Mr. Bill Townsend for his contributions to expanding classical music both in his home country of America, but also in China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea, where many young performers have been connected to high quality musical instruments through the efforts of The Amati Foundation," said Edward Cheng, director of AAEP. "Mr. Townsend's ideas for The Amati Foundation began while working in the People's Republic of China in 1999 and the charity operates an office in Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.

The Leading Global Philanthropist award is given to the individual who best exemplifies the ideals of promoting education, social services, or community empowerment through philanthopy. The award carries with it a donation of media and services valued in excess of $1,000,000 NT to be used to promote the winner's organization in Asia.
The next recipient of the Leading Global Philanthropist will be named in October 2014.

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The Asia Alliance for Excellence in Philanthopy is a trade organization dedicated to recognizing outstanding contributions by individuals and organizations that provide programs or services for the betterment of humanity.