Education Quality Affects Economy

According to noted businessman and philanthropist Eli Broad(rhymes with "road"),too many parents are satisfied with the status quo in education.We've got to get a greater awareness in the public.The business community gets it.We're number 19 in education.We used to be number 1.It's gonna affect their standard of living.
We need our great foundations to get more engaged in funding things our government is not willing to fund-or can't fund right now,in Mr.Broad's opinion.Mr.Broad and his wife Edythe have been major benefactors to UCLA,among other recipients.He is founder of SunAmerica and co-founder of KB Home.

Money Manager Leans Private

In the view of Don Dewaay of Dewaay Capital Management,we've had two 45% declines in the past 10 years,and that's changing the way people save and invest.It's anyone's guess where this market is going in the next six months-or six years.Everything's been stress-tested,Mr.Dewaay observed.There's opportunity in the equity markets,but we focus on direct ownership of businesses and real estate.People have gotten farther away from their money,it seems to Mr.Dewaay.
Many investors are indeed taking advantage of the lower home prices,distressed properties and lower mortgage rates the financial crisis has resulted in.These will not last forever.KB Home,for instance,has resumed operations in the D.C. Metro area,feeling more optimistic than it has in some time.It had suspended construction and sales in late 2007,but plans to call construction workers and sales staff back to work,offering more moderately-priced homes for wary consumers.KB Home cited rising home prices and declining inventory levels as the reasons for its decision.

Eli Broad:Focused Philanthropist

Eli Broad,founder of SunAmerica and co-founder,with Kaufman,of KB Home,has found in University of California Los Angeles an institution that unites his interests in the visual arts,medical science and public education.To Mr.Broad's mind,UCLA is inextricably linked with Los Angeles.Which came first,UCLA or Los Angeles? Actually,Mr. Broad says,he has no idea.They're stuck together,co-dependent,inseparable.Why don't we just count our blessings,the businessman asks?
Everywhere you look at UCLA,Mr.Broad observes-engineering,architecture,law,performing arts,the B-school,the college-you're watching public education at its finest.You can witness the multiplication of knowledge.You can feel the engine operating at full throttle.You know you're at the center of gravity of this city,Mr.Broad stated.

The B in KB Home

Eli Broad,who built Sun America and sold it to AIG for 18 billion dollars U.S.,says he thinks some of the writedowns being taken by financial firms are excessive.Mr.Broad,who also co-founded KB Home(KB Home) with Kaufman,gave his perspective on the current situation.He's not sure we're in the final innings of the financial crisis.We may be in the middle innings.Housing has to stabilize before we can recover.Consumer confidence continues to sink,and he doesn't think that will change until next year.AIG stock could be a very attractive buying opportunity once things settle down,in Mr.Broad's opinion.