Newsletter publisher puts a human face on capitalism with philanthropic activism.

While corporate greed, malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance dominate today's headlines, as well as rob shareholders and employees and erode confidence in the stock market, let's be reassured in knowing that the vast majority of American businesspersons run their companies with probity and civility--and still turn a profit.

Case in point is Ed Satell, president of the aptly named Progressive Business Publications. PBP, founded in 1989, currently publishes 27 b-to-b newsletters in the areas of regulatory, financial management, human resources, medical, sales and marketing, and non-profits.

Despite his business success, Satell derives most of his satisfaction from the extensive philanthropic activities he and his company are engaged in, he said. "Our philanthropy covers four basic areas: civic/cultural "to make our community a better community to live and work in"; health care; education and disadvantaged children; and my own heritage.

Satell and employees actively work with many organizations

Rather than just write checks, he and his employees actively work with the recipients of their largesse and Satell serves on a number of the organizations' board of directors. For example, in the area of disadvantaged children, they have adopted a school program in the inner city of Philadelphia whereby PBP provides 35 mentors to spend time with school-selected third or fourth grade students, helping them with reading, working on computers, playing games or simply fostering a relationship. PBP also takes the students to ballgames and other outings. Most of the time spent is during working hours.

"Our work there has resulted in enormous gains in standardized tests," Satell said. "It has turned an inner-city school into an exceptional one."

PBP senior editor Ken Dooley added, "The results of the mentoring program have been well documented, both in the test scores of the students involved and in the tremendous feeling of accomplishment reflected in the mentors. While the after-school program is not as well publicized, its success is just as impressive as the mentoring program.

"I didn't realize the positive aspect that this program had on both students and parents," Dooley said, "until I attended the luncheon that is held at the conclusion of the program each year.

"I sat at a table with three 'single' others who had a total of 13 children enrolled in the program. Each told a similar story. Prior to the after-school program, all three mothers had been on welfare. Considering the costs involved in sending their children to daycare, it simply didn't pay for them to work. All three got jobs and were removed from the welfare rolls once the after-school program opened," Dooley said.

Coriell Institute for Medical Research

"Although none of PBP's charitable activities is connected with anything concerned with our own business," Satell said, "the employees often benefit greatly beyond the satisfaction of doing good. The Coriell Institute is a good example."

PBP generously donates money to the Coriell Institute for Medical Research, which is a leading independent, non-profit biomedical research institution. It is renowned in the scientific community for maintaining the world's largest collection of cells in its cell repositories.

Periodically PBP employees receive a "private update" from the Coriell staff on disease prevention.

Satell also serves on the Institute's board of directors and he has established the Richard D. Satell Center for Cancer Research.

In addition to working with several smaller nonprofits, Satell serves on the boards of the venerable Walnut Street Theater ("which has 50,000 season ticket holders and its own producing, theater and school and outreach programs") and of the World Affairs Council.

For the Council, which is one of the nation's top public policy forums, PBP has endowed the Distinguished Newsmakers Award, which has drawn as many as 1,000 people to honor recipients such as Ted Turner, William Safire, and Andy Rooney. PBP has also sponsored several Council programs featuring notable speakers.

At the International House in Philly, which brings people together from 60 different countries and cultures, Satell has endowed the the Satell Study Center, which is open 24 hours a day.

Further community activity includes PBP employees' handson work with Junior Achievement. "Many of our people are actively involved with that, and a key PBP executive is on the board. The Greater Philadelphia United Way is one of the organization's most successful in the country," Satell said, and PBP is a member of its Tocqueville Society, which is open only to those who give at least $10,000 a year.

Jewish and Israeli projects

As for "my own heritage," Satell has supported two Israeli projects: Yemin Orde, a national educational children's youth community serving at-risk children, and the Jaffe Institute, an orphanage serving more than 4,000 both Arab and Israeli students.

PBP also sends every graduate of Broomall, Penn. Temple Shalom's confirmation class to Israel for four or five weeks.

Satell and PBP also donate funds and are actively involved with the Israel Democracy Institute, the United Jewish Appeal, and the Israel Emergency Fund.

Asked about his motivation for all this philanthropic, handson work, Satell said, "I want to give something back to the community in which we live and work--in a targeted kind of way."

PBP CFO Tom Schubert said, "We believe that giving back to the community enriches our lives, too. It's a win-win situation all the way around."

370 Technology Dr., Malvern, PA 19355, 610-695-8600, fax [phone]. www.pbp.com.