For the Greater Good

Published on: October 10, 2008

Written by: WDNStaff

WDN member Friedrike Merck's photographic project features the portraits and stories of inspiring women who are working for the greater good. Each woman's photograph is followed by her response to these three key questions: What were the significant conditions of your childhood that affected the development of your character? What was your first experience in working for the greater good? What is your work right now and what do you hope it will accomplish?

Friedrike Merck has been a philanthropist for over thirty years. In her work for the greater good she has served on numerous boards including The Merck Family Fund, The New York Women's Foundation, The Gill Foundation Advisory Board, The Professional Children's School in New York City and as a locally elected school board representative in New Hampshire. Ms. Merck has been politically active since high school and considers contributions to candidates and political entities a natural and necessary extension of her philanthropy.

In an effort to live out Robert Ylasker's insight that "philanthropy should wag the tail of the future," Ms. Merck has focused her attention in recent years on the health and well being of humanity's future, concentrating on the areas of women's/civil rights, reproductive justice and education.

A mother, a photographer and sculptor, Ms. Merck received a BA from the University of New Hampshire, lived and carved marble in Italy, and now lives in New York City. She currently she serves on the Planned Parenthood of New York Action Fund Board. She has been a member of WDN since 2004.

We invite you to visit forthegreatergoodwomen.com to enjoy this wonderful piece. Congratulations, Friedrike, on such inspiring work!

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