Britain’s New Charity ‘Ambassador’ Says Wealthy Don’t Give Enough

Dame Stephanie Shirley, who last week was appointed Britain’s philanthropy “ambassador,” told The Sunday Times that she is approaching financial advisers about pressuring wealthy people to give more.

“We have to take the concept of philanthropy far, far wider,” said Ms. Shirley, an information-technology magnate who to date has donated $80.4-million, much of it to autism-related causes in honor of her late son. She said philanthropy should become part of school curricula and scolded “high-net-worth people” who give “trivial amounts” or nothing at all.

Ms. Shirley, who was named to the post last week by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, plans to assemble a team of charity “emissaries” to target British regions and business fields.