The Important Role the Tech Industry Plays in Fighting Poverty

[Commentary] SF Gives was born out of the strife and opportunity facing San Francisco and the Bay Area. We all have to take responsibility for the future of our region; tech and business leaders are not exempt.

We are blessed with economic prosperity thanks to the tech boom, but this boom also brought with it tens of thousands of new neighbors and growth. The change we are experiencing is undeniable, and it’s the already marginalized among us -- the one in five people living in poverty in our community -- that suffer most.

There are misunderstandings on both sides of the rising tide of prosperity. It’s good for companies to want to be here, to thrive and to inspire risk-taking and entrepreneurship. But those companies must recognize the indelible nature of their footprint, not only on the business sector, but also on housing and the overall cost of living. In that growth, we need to ensure that all of our residents have access to a better life, but it will take investments and it will take leadership.

[Lurie is CEO and Founder, Tipping Point Community]