Steve Jobs (1995 – 2011) changed the world from how companies market and package their products to how we interact, do our work, and entertain ourselves. He was a brilliant leader who brought everyone along on his amazing journey of innovation. But did you know that Steve Jobs was one of the first Seva supporters? Seva was inspired by the global eradication of smallpox that took place in the mid-1970s. Dr. Larry Brilliant (currently President of the Skoll Global Threats Fund) and his wife Girija, a public health specialist, had both worked with the World Health Organization (WHO) on the eradication effort in India and had been deeply moved by the experience. The effort resulted in the unprecedented total elimination of smallpox, a devastating disease. Prior to Seva being formed, Dr. Larry Brilliant and Girija published an article, Death of a Killer Disease, on their personal account of their decade in South Asia as travellers and as part of the WHO’s smallpox eradication team. The article concluded with an appeal to readers to find the compassion and understanding to support international health problems to benefit those struggling with poverty. Readers were so moved by the article that donations totalling $20,000 began to arrive to the Brilliant’s mailbox – with the first $5000 donation coming from the not-yet-famous computer inventor, Steve Jobs.

Steve’s compassion and generosity did not end there. When Seva created the first fellowship to plan and set up the Nepal blindness project, it was Steve Jobs who helped to fund it. He also inspired Dr. Brilliant to start his own technology company to help fund Seva’s programs.

Seva’s tagline at the time, from the Hindu spiritual teacher Sri Aurobindo, perfectly summarizes this melding of technology and charity -“Intellect in the service of the heart, technology in the service of compassion.”

Steve Jobs will be missed but his legacy of innovation and compassion will not only be remembered and enjoyed by billions but will inspire generations to come.