Following the death of Steve Jobs, many have began to wonder who he really was.  He was an extremely private person and the same his true for his wife, Laurene Powell.  Powell met Steve in 1990 when he was giving a speech on the campus of Stanford University.  She was working on her MBA, and he was a guest lecturer in one of her classes.  They exchanged phone numbers and were married a year later.  Steve and Laurene have three children together ranging in age from 14 to 20.

When the official biography of Steve Jobs is published next week, it is certain we will learn a great deal about him and his life.  But we are not likely to learn a great deal about Powell.  Although she is a very private person, she is a very active philanthropist as well.  I was surprised to learn of her activism.  She is the co-founder of an organization called College Track, which helps under privileged children get through college.  Powell is also a member of the board for: Teach for America, New Schools Venture Fund, Stand for Children, New America Foundation, and Conservation International.  In addition, she was selected by President Barack Obama to serve on the White House Council for Community Solutions.

It is clear that Powell is a very active person and I hope that she continues, and expands, her activism following the death of her husband.  Her work is extremely important and has gone largely unnoticed.  I think we will learn this about Steve Jobs as well, but Powell has an opportunity now to expand her philanthropy.  Apple has not had the best reputation for charity work, but Tim Cook has already begun to change that by announcing that Apple will match all employee donations to any charity, up to $50,000 per year.  Let’s help Powell continue to make difference by supporting the organizations.  You can do so by clicking on their name above.