WEALTH, POWER AND VISION

An article in the SF Chronicle about Don Fisher, who's been the primary backer of KIPP's expansion.  While some may disagree with his politics or particular projects, he's an exemplar -- our nation would be so much better off if every person like him were as engaged in trying to make this country better.

Donald Fisher was a 40-year-old commercial real estate agent with no retail experience when he landed on the simple idea of making it  easier for people to find a pair of jeans.  

He parlayed the concept - the first Gap store opened on San  Francisco's Ocean Avenue in 1969 - into an apparel icon that today is Gap Inc.  and includes the Banana Republic, Old Navy and Baby Gap chains. Along the way,  Fisher, a native San Franciscan who attended public schools and was known for  his competitive spirit, attained enormous wealth and power.  

Today, the bespectacled billionaire is using his clout and  fortune to advance a personal and political agenda that both awes and rankles.  He takes on contentious issues, such as privatizing public education and  backing a San Francisco ballot measure that would override the city's  long-standing "transit first" policy to allow the construction of more parking  spaces.  

At 78, Fisher is one of the nation's biggest political donors.  In the Bay Area, he and his wife are known as philanthropists who give  generously, selectively and privately - and expect results.  

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WEALTH, POWER AND VISION
Gap founder Don Fisher gives generously, expects results for his personal, political agendas
Julian Guthrie and Erin McCormick, Chronicle Staff Writers <mailto:jguthrie@sfchronicle.com>

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/08/MN1CRETK72.DTL

Donald Fisher was a 40-year-old commercial real estate agent with no retail experience when he landed on the simple idea of making it easier for people to find a pair of jeans.