Mike Milken's career has mirrored his three main professional passions: medical research, education and finance. In each, he has been uniquely successful in creating value whether measured in saved lives (Fortune magazine called him "The Man Who Changed Medicine"), inspired students or job creation. Between 1969 and 1989, he financed more than 3,200 companies that created millions of jobs. His philanthropy began in the 1970s and paralleled his business career. In 1982, he co-founded the Milken Family Foundation. He also heads FasterCures, a Washington-based think tank that works to remove barriers to progress against all life-threatening diseases; the Melanoma Research Alliance, which supports research on the most-deadly skin cancer; and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. He is chairman of the widely respected and influential Milken Institute, an economic think tank whose annual Global Conference brings more than 3,000 thought leaders from 60 nations to Los Angeles each spring. A Berkeley graduate (summa cum laude), Mike earned his MBA at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. He and his wife, Lori, have three children and three grandchildren and celebrated their 40th anniversary this year.

"Mike Milken's crusade - how it's changing medicine" was a Fortune magazine cover story. Learn more here.

This Washington, DC-based think tank is removing barriers to progress against all life-threatening diseases.

A non-profit, non-partisan economic think tank whose scholars publish research papers and conduct conferences on global and regional economies, human capital, demographics, and capital markets. The Institute's 12th annual Global Conference is April 27-29, 2009.

Now in its 27th year, the Foundation is one of America's leading charitable organizations supporting education and a broad range of medical research.

The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) was launched in 2007 to support innovative translational studies that advance the diagnosis, staging and treatment of melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer.

The Milken Scholars Program provides outstanding high school graduates with a commitment of four years of college financial assistance, counseling, volunteer opportunities and preparation for graduate studies.

The world's largest philanthropic source of funds for prostate cancer research, the Prostate Cancer Foundation is working to reduce the death rate from one of the most-common cancers.

Mike's three decades of philanthropy include many other programs in the areas of medical research and education.