[NEWS] Philly's little-known history of philanthropy rings true today

From: The Inquirer

A little-known trust the city administers is a reminder of the importance of philanthropy for promoting the common good. It’s especially timely this time of year, when many Philadelphians face great needs. And it offers a reminder of what it takes for our nation to rebuild its frayed culture.

The provision is called the Boudinot Fund, and it’s named after a Philadelphia native and Founding Father, Elias Boudinot, whose life demonstrated public service in action. Boudinot served the Army as a commissary of prisoners — caring for American prisoners of war, whose British captors often kept them in wretched conditions. He later became president of the Continental Congress, and he was the official who received the news that the Peace Treaty with Great Britain had been signed in Paris. After the Constitution was ratified, he served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, then followed David Rittenhouse as director of the U.S. Mint.