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FILE- In this July 7, 1984, file photo, Sam Walton talks to reporters in Little Rock, Ark. The namesake foundation of Walton of the Walmart retail empire has been the largest supporter of privately-run, publicly-funded charter schools that have become politically polarizing. Walton joins Andrew Carnegie, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, who have all been crowned the world's richest man, and then spent much of that fortune on education philanthropy. (AP Photos/Danny Johnston, File)

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In this photo taken Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, a library patron stands outside an Andrew Carnegie-built Seattle Public Library, one of six in the city still in use that were built with funds from the philanthropist, in Seattle. Carnegie, whose funding built hundreds of libraries a century ago, is the founding father of big-ticket, full-time philanthropy. He was already outspoken about giving away his vast wealth by the time he retired from his steel empire in 1901. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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In this photo taken Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, the Carnegie name remains on what was the first major branch of the Seattle public library system, built with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, in Seattle. In service until 1963, the building now houses a variety of private enterprises. Carnegie, whose funding built hundreds of libraries a century ago, is the founding father of big-ticket, full-time philanthropy. He was already outspoken about giving away his vast wealth by the time he retired from his steel empire in 1901. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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In this photo taken Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, library patrons look over books in view of a plaque honoring the Andrew Carnegie-built Seattle Public Library, one of six in the city still in use that were built with funds from the philanthropist, in Seattle. Carnegie, whose funding built hundreds of libraries a century ago, is the founding father of big-ticket, full-time philanthropy. He was already outspoken about giving away his vast wealth by the time he retired from his steel empire in 1901. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

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In this photo taken Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018, construction goes on at the site of a new Amazon building, where space will be provided for a Mary's Place Family Shelter, in downtown Seattle. Amazon.com boss Jeff Bezos' plan to fund preschools in poor communities puts him in the company of America's richest people who have dedicated some of their wealth to education, a legacy that has long challenged the role of poverty and capitalism in philanthropy. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Bezos' preschools come as rich get richer, more generous

By Associated Press AP

PUBLISHED 2:19 PM ET May. 09, 2019

SEATTLE (AP) — From Jeff Bezos' free preschools to Andrew Carnegie's public libraries, education stands out as a favorite cause among America's wealthiest people.

As the rich get richer this legacy of so-called investment philanthropy has also shaped government priorities and fueled policy changes.

But with such high-profile giving fueled by both capitalism and poverty, critics have thrust that dichotomy into the spotlight, challenging how the system that allowed these philanthropists to amass such fortunes ultimately contributes to the social problems they're trying to address.

Bezos announced this fall he's dedicating half of his new $2 billion Bezos Day One Fund toward creating free preschools for children in low-income communities nationwide, which could make him the top philanthropic funder of early education. It's Bezos' firmest foray into philanthropy.

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