M. Nicholas Burke and Susan Slattery Burke

With four children in their family, Dr. Nicholas and Susan Burke are deeply interested in how families can develop and encourage philanthropy from generation to generation.

As the 2008 co-chairs of United Way Tocqueville Society, one of the new programs they will be spearheading is Philanthropy University, an innovative program to help families just like their own consider their philanthropic goals.

"Sue and I are committed to philanthropy because of who our parents are and were," says Nick, senior consulting cardiologist at the Minneapolis Heart Institute. "We’d like to see this become a vehicle whereby entire families develop a philosophy of and an action plan for philanthropy."

Philanthropy U, like other Tocqueville programs, will combine education with hands-on experiences, but with something new: a special emphasis on activities for adults and children, so each has the opportunity to experience what’s needed in our community in ways that make sense.

Both Sue and Nick were raised in families with strong caring and philanthropic traditions.

"Our parents led by example—by who they were and by living their lives concerned about and committed to the well-being of people around them," says Nick. Today, in their own family, this tradition continues. Sue says they talk a lot about world issues and responsibilities with their children. "We expect them to be forces for good in the world and to use the gifts they have been given," she says. "Philanthropy U is something I want my family to take part in."

The Burkes point out that the Twin Cities already has a great philanthropic tradition which they hope to build on and extend. Since its launch in 2005, the Tocqueville Society has grown to over 520 members.

Nick says, "We want Tocqueville to be an experience through which people who are more fortunate really get to see first-hand what needs to be done in the community and to help develop plans for dealing with it—not to be just a vehicle to raise money."

• View past society chairs.