EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine February 2019 | Page 13

USINESS
Philanthropy At Its Finest
by Danielle Anderson
As a second generation resident of Volusia
County, Preston Root, board member of the
Community Foundation of Volusia & Flagler,
has seen the Root Company’s business expand
to include the hospitality and real estate
industries, and how the family’s philanthropic
giving of resources has benefited the
community in which he and his children
call home.
According to Root, it’s tangible results and
access to information that are playing
key roles in driving the next generation
of families and businesses to get
involved.
“The difference between
our parents’ generation and
my generation and my
children’s generation
Preston Root
is the access to information, access
to the facts and figures,” he said.
“Whether it’s the United Way and
their Community Impact Report,
the Museum of Arts and Sciences
and a visit to the website and then
the campus and museum, or an
educational institution locally, (like)
Daytona State College or Embry-
Riddle (Aeronautical University),
you can see what your impact
through philanthropy is providing,”
he said.
Identifying the philanthropic
needs of an arts, cultural or
humanities nature allows those
looking to make a difference
visualize their contribution’s direct
impact on the community.
“(It’s) a coordinated assessment
of the need, and you combine that with the opportunity to
help – for young people that’s their motivation to donate and
help. Most people don’t consider themselves philanthropists,
they consider themselves people that are helping,” said Root.
A similar philosophy is echoed by philanthropists Cici and
Hyatt Brown.
As the second generation of the Brown family to take the
helm of the insurance business Brown & Brown, Inc., started
in 1939 by Hyatt’s father Adrian Brown, the company has
grown to become a leader in their industry.
Success has enabled the Browns to give back to the
community in a meaningful way.
Adding to the allure of the Museum of Arts and Sciences,
the couple opened the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of
Art in 2015, offering a look inside one of the largest private
collections of Florida art in the world.
FEBRUARY 2019 | 13 |