Alex Darrow

Alex Andrew Darrow (born October 4, 1993) is an American entrepreneur best known for founding the fiscally sponsored non-profit organization PictureTheWorld.[1][2][3] As of February 2010, he is one of the youngest executive directors of an established non-profit organization in the world.[4]

Alex Darrow
Born
Alex Andrew Darrow

(1993-10-04) October 4, 1993
Santa Clara, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationEntrepreneur
Years active2010–present

Personal life

Darrow was born in Santa Clara, California to Landy, a civil engineer, and Andrew, also a civil engineer. Darrow, along with his younger brother, was raised in Auburn, California.[5]

The young entrepreneur began forging innovative concepts, and inventing high-tech gadgets when he was 13 years old, including a silicon mat which used a capacitive system to turn any computer monitor into a touch-screen—in pursuit of which he presented the invention to venture capitalists and received good advice, and a social application for MySpace—in pursuit of which he went as far as signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), and speaking with the Vice President of MySpace Music, and the COO of MySpace.[6]

Before attending Placer High School, beginning in his sophomore year of high school, Darrow attended the private Jesuit High School (Sacramento) during the regular school year of 2007–2008, and the prestigious Phillips Academy Andover during the summer of 2008. Darrow says, after graduation, he plans on majoring in business.[1][6]

On March 3, 2011, Darrow, at age 17, spoke on a panel about social entrepreneurship and social innovation at Harvard Business School.[5] At the event, he addressed students and faculty of both Harvard Business School and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.[5]

PictureTheWorld

Founding

Darrow officially launched PictureTheWorld in February 2010; however, the website was not launched until May 2010. The idea came to him when he decided "to start a project that really represented a large community--thousands and thousands of people coming together to support a worthy cause."[2] He explains, "But I also wanted a project that was fun, innovative, and kind of epitomized the global community. And would allow donors to be able to participate. Not just make a monetary donation, but actually join the movement."[2]

However, it took Darrow nearly two years to raise the funds for the launch of PictureTheWorld.[1] Darrow earned the money by washing dishes at a pizza place, and saving all cash received for Christmas and his birthday.[1] Eventually, he was able to establish the organization, and launch its website. Darrow, PictureTheWorld's founder and executive director, does not take a salary.

About

PictureTheWorld is a fiscally sponsored non-profit organization creating the world's largest photo-mosaic using photos submitted by people from all over the world, using the organization's website.[7] All funds are disbursed among ten beneficiaries, including: Doctors Without Borders, 88 Bikes, the World Food Program, and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital.[1][2] PictureTheWorld will require at least 112, 896 photo submissions in order to break the current world-record for largest photo-mosaic.[1][2][7][8]

The current world record for the world's largest photo-mosaic is held by The Big Picture, which was created by Helen Marshall in England in 2008. The Big Picture came through the Arts Council England, West Midland, and was supported by the BBC.[2][6]

References
  1. Breitbart, Stephanie (September 26, 2010). "Mosaic outreach spans the world: Placer High's Alex Darrow launches fundraising website". Auburn Journal. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
  2. CNN Newsroom (October 4, 2010). "Terrorist Plot Traced Back to Germany; President Obama Brainstorms on Economic Recovery (transcript)". CNN News. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
  3. Young Money staff (November 17, 2010). "California Teen Founds Charity Website". Young Money. Archived from the original on November 28, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2011.
  4. "Alex Darrow". Kidsareheroes.org. Kids Are Heroes. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  5. Jones, Bridget (February 27, 2011). "Familiar Faces: Alex Darrow – 17-year-old executive director of PictureTheWorld". Auburn Journal. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  6. Hopkins, Elizabeth (March 4, 2011). "Photo-mosaic project: Picture the World". FOX 25 Morning News. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved March 16, 2011.
  7. "Creating World's Largest Photo-Mosaic". Good Day Sacramento. September 29, 2010.
  8. "Teen Aims To Create World's Largest Photo Mosaic For Charity". The Huffington Post. October 4, 2010. Archived from the original on 8 October 2010. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
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