Private passions

Mary Wakefield talks to John Studzinski about philanthropy and the importance of art

On the 22 February 2011, Natalie Carter and Hayley Stobo, two British students studying at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy thanks to support from the Genesis Foundation, were featured on BBC Breakfast along with Natalie's mum, Sue Carter. You can watch the excerpt on the BBC News website.

Glasgow-born Hayley Stobo, 16, has become the first Scottish girl to secure a place at the world-renowned Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. Celebrating her success is the Genesis Foundation, the UK-based charity which is supporting Hayley’s professional development by funding this early stage of her career. Only two British girls have ever been taken under the wing of the esteemed Bolshoi Ballet Academy in order to train for a full diploma, both of whom are currently being developed and nurtured by the Genesis Foundation.

Britain's largest one-day conference for third sector leaders is called Raising Funds from the Rich.  Attended by 1,200 people last year, the conference is attended by some of Britain’s most generous charity donors, and leading experts on how to secure major donors - the fastest growing source of charity funding in the UK. One of this year’s key speakers was Genesis Founder and Chairman, John Studzinski. Here is the transcript of the presentation by John Studzinski to Raising funds from the Rich conference for charity leaders, organised by fundraising consultants, Action Planning, and the Association of chief executives of Voluntary Organisations and held at Central Hall, Westminster, London on 8 October 2008.