Maslow strikes again: Steve Kirsch

Steve Kirsch has been a long-time philanthropist and also staunch supporter of philanthropy. The vision listed on his foundation's web site is:

We want a safe and peaceful world, one without the threat of destruction. We want a healthy world, one without disease and without pollution of our air, water, and land, and one in which all species have the ability to survive and flourish.

But now that's all changed. Steve was recently diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer affecting less than .0005% of the population. Here's the statement posted on the foundation's web site:

In early October 2007, the Kirsch Foundation announced a major change in direction for the organization. After extensive deliberation, the Foundation's Board of Directors made a decision to invest a substantial portion of its assets into research associated with Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia. The Board came to learn about this rare blood cancer through Founder Steve Kirsch's diagnosis with the disease in August.

So basically as a result of this diagnosis, Steve has decided to close his foundation turning his back on it's vision and divert most of the remaining assets to research for an extremely rare form of cancer with a median age of onset between 60-65 with a median survival rate of 5 years after diagnosis. According to the CDC, the average life expectancy for males in the US is now 75.4, so here is an illness that affects a miniscule portion of the population, and for those who do get it, it reduces their lifespan by 7-15%.

It's really too bad, Steve. You had big, hairy, audacious goals, and then you just gave them up for something that's none of the above and feels more self-centered than charitable.