Comments (12) Best Tattoo-Sporting, Banjo-Playing Philanthropist - 2008
Warren Hellman
Sporting a green frog tattoo, Hellman is an unconventional businessman and philanthropist. As the chairman and co-founder of the private-equity investment firm Hellman & Friedman, Hellman not only sits on the board of various Bay Area academic and art institutions, he also funds the San Francisco Free Clinic and the San Francisco Foundation. But perhaps his greatest contribution is the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park. Hellman foots the bill for the annual event, which is free to the public. Taking place on a potentially balmy weekend in October with hardly a gut-bucket or jug band in sight, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass showcases a bevy of musical talent — from Willie Nelson to Billy Bragg, from Emmylou Harris to Elvis Costello. This festival has emerged as an enormous boon to the Bay Area, and one of the best parts of the weekend is witnessing the 74-year-old Hellman gleefully live out his bluegrass fantasy as he gets up onstage to jam with his favorite bands. Now here's the sort of generosity everyone can enjoy!
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