THE NEXT
GENERATION
ETHAN MORGAN, ��
SENIOR WEALTH ADVISOR, SVP,
WELLS FARGO WEALTH MANAGEMENT GROUP
C: How did you get involved in experience, such as children’s charities, family C: What is one piece of advice you’d
philanthropy? What or who was services and education, to name a few. Also, give to aspiring philanthropists?
your inspiration? living in the information age, I think we do more EM: Just do it, whether you know your philan-
Ethan Morgan: Ultimately, my inspiration was research and really dig into information, and hav- thropic passion today or not. Initially, I didn’t
family showing the way and friends inviting me ing an immediate impact and maximizing results know about the Orange County Community
in. My parents were active in the community as is important to us. Foundation, which has great people to help get
far back as I remember and my wife’s family is you started identifying strong and well-aligned
active as well. They were all phenomenal role C: Recent philanthropic event you charities. So, it was a honing process where I got
models. Also, within Wells Fargo, we have a were involved in that exemplifi es the to positively impact some charities that I didn’t
strong culture of giving to the community, both idea of the modern philanthropist... ultimately stay with, but who helped me get to a
with team member time and as one of the fi ve EM: This summer, after many people’s work place today that I can easily identify and where I
largest corporate givers nationally. over 13 years, we opened the doors of Pretend will be most passionate and personally invested.
City in Irvine. Having worked toward that goal When you are in that space, you will always have
C: What are some of the ways that for seven of those years, it was an incredibly the most impact and fun.
the “new generation” of philanthropists satisfying experience to see all the children
is different from their parents? fl ood into the facility... and have it work
EM: I feel like our generation is aware of their perfectly. [Pretend City] is teaching every child
general surroundings and community’s needs tools they will have for life. It’s exemplary in that
earlier in life. Naturally, your stage of life and the board is very young, the museum is youth-
daily interests infl uence where you focus your focused, we did something new and different,
energy and resources. My friends and I appear we overcame challenges, and the model itself is
to differ from prior generations by being involved very forward-thinking.
more in areas that relate to our current life
MARCH 2010 :: COAST 67
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