Peter Thum
Encyclopedia
Peter Alan Thum is an American
social entrepreneur
, business executive
, and humanitarian
. He is the founder of the social venture Ethos Water
and the non-profit organization
Giving Water.
Thum is married to the American
actress and writer Cara Buono
, and lives in New York City
, New York
.
on a project in South Africa
where he saw water issues firsthand. Thum led Ethos as President through its acquisition by Starbucks
in 2005. From 2005 to 2008, he managed Ethos and other businesses as a vice president
of Starbucks
and guided its philanthropy as a Director of the Starbucks Foundation.
Starbucks donates US$
0.05 per bottle sold to the Ethos Water mission. To date, Ethos Water has generated more than $6.2 million for water programs around the world, helping more than 420,000 people get access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.
Thum previously worked at McKinsey & Company and Gallo Winery in the United States and Europe
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
social entrepreneur
Social entrepreneurship
Social entrepreneurship is the work of social entrepreneurs. A social entrepreneur recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to organize, create and manage a venture to achieve social change . While a business entrepreneur typically measures performance in profit and return, a...
, business executive
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
, and humanitarian
Humanitarianism
In its most general form, humanitarianism is an ethic of kindness, benevolence and sympathy extended universally and impartially to all human beings. Humanitarianism has been an evolving concept historically but universality is a common element in its evolution...
. He is the founder of the social venture Ethos Water
Ethos water
Ethos water is a brand of bottled water with a social mission of "helping children get clean water." Ethos began in 2001 when Peter Thum had the idea after working in communities in South Africa that lacked access to clean water...
and the non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
Giving Water.
Thum is married to the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and writer Cara Buono
Cara Buono
Cara Buono is an American actress, screenwriter and director, probably best known for her role as Dr. Faye Miller in the fourth season of the AMC drama series Mad Men.-Early life:...
, and lives in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Ethos Water
Thum had the idea for Ethos Water in 2001 while working for McKinsey & CompanyMcKinsey & Company
McKinsey & Company, Inc. is a global management consulting firm that focuses on solving issues of concern to senior management. McKinsey serves as an adviser to many businesses, governments, and institutions...
on a project in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where he saw water issues firsthand. Thum led Ethos as President through its acquisition by Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
in 2005. From 2005 to 2008, he managed Ethos and other businesses as a vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
and guided its philanthropy as a Director of the Starbucks Foundation.
Starbucks donates US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
0.05 per bottle sold to the Ethos Water mission. To date, Ethos Water has generated more than $6.2 million for water programs around the world, helping more than 420,000 people get access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene education.
Other work
Thum is involved in business and social missions. He advises for-profit and not-for-profit organizations on social venture creation and corporate social responsibility programs. Thum speaks about social and business topics at conferences and in the media. He serves on the boards of The Center for Human Rights Leadership; The Dean’s Council of the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and Impossible to Possible Ultra-Athletic Adventures.Thum previously worked at McKinsey & Company and Gallo Winery in the United States and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.