When you have a name like Kate Pattinson, it’s only fair that you are followed by another great name: Yale. Born in England and raised in the U.S, Pattinson is known for her philanthropic endeavors and large social circle. She has been described as a princess, a socialite, and an entrepreneur. Let’s take a closer look at her fascinating life so far!
Early Life And Education
Kate was born in London in 1933 and spent her early life living in both England and the U.S. She was educated at Oxford and Yale universities and worked with George Clooney and Warren Buffett on a children’s environmental education project in Africa. In 1960 she married the businessman and fellow philanthropist George Pattinson and moved to Lagos, Nigeria, where she started a foundation to help fight the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people in Africa. The couple had four children and later divorced.
Career And Philanthropy
After her divorce from George, Kate worked in PR for a couple of years and then moved back to the U.S. In 1981 she founded the Pattinson Group, a San Francisco–based public relations agency, with her two children from her first marriage. In 2008 she partnered with a friend to found the L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science to encourage more women to enter STEM careers. In 2016 she was appointed as a non-executive director of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in recognition of her significant impact on the global information society. She has also been a prominent figure in the fight against climate change, and in 2017 she was honored with the Women in Action organization’s Champion of Change Award for her commitment to sustainability. The former socialite is known to have a strong connection to Yale University, where she is an alumnus. In 2011 she established the Pattinson School of Sustainability at Yale University to educate the next generation of leaders in science, technology, and environmental activism. She also created the Green Project, which organizes volunteer activities at Yale, as well as a scholarship in her name that provides full tuition and room and board to an undergraduates majoring in sustainability studies.
Interests And Lifestyle
Kate reportedly has a large social circle and is interested in fashion, philanthropy, and sustainable living. She has been described as “one of the most recognizable figures in fashion” and was named one of the “50 most powerful women in business” by Fortune in 2013. In 2017 she was listed as the 79th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes. She is known to enjoy traveling, attending art galleries, and meeting new people. She has a passion for yachts, and in 2018 purchased a 116-foot monochrome super yacht called Tatoeba. In the same year she became the owner of a 120-foot motor yacht, aptly named Sustainabilita, with an additional $25 million worth of yachts in her fleet.
Marriage And Children
Kate is married to Chris O’Neill, an Irish financier and businessman. The couple were married in 1980 and have four adult children. They live in both England and the U.S. and maintain a close relationship with their children from their first marriage. O’Neill and his wife have both been major supporters of various sporting events and have backed a number of start-ups and entrepreneurs. They are known for their support of various cancer research initiatives and have created the O’Neill endowment for cancer research at City, University, and State in New York. In 2017 they purchased a residence in the ritzy London neighborhood of Knightsbridge for £30 million.
Sustainability And The Environment
Kate has a track record of supporting sustainable causes and the environment. In addition to creating the Pattinson School of Sustainability at Yale, she established the environmental non-profit organizations Water for Life and Great Nature. She also serves as a non-executive director of Terra Firma Capital Partners, a leading environmental law firm.
Water for Life works to protect African water sources and provide clean drinking water to the region. The organization has built a pipeline from Zambia to Lusaka, providing clean water to 1.8 million people. In 2011 Water for Life established the Kate Pattinson Graduate scholarship in partnership with Yale University. The scholarship supports graduate students from around the world who are committed to advancing environmental justice in Africa.
Great Nature is dedicated to conserving biodiversity and has planted millions of trees throughout the world. The organization uses a network of forest guards and sustainable harvest methods to manage its sprawling rainforest and other types of protected lands in Bali and Indonesia. Kate is also a member of the board of trustees for Rainforest Trust, a nonprofit committed to protecting tropical forests around the world. In 2010 she founded the World Wide Web Consortium, offering a certificate of completion for those who sign up for a 40-hour-a-week course in web development and design. The goal is to encourage more people to enter and develop careers in the field.
Key Facts
• Kate was born in London in 1933 and grew up in the U.S. She is an alumnus of Yale University and was educated at both Oxford and Yale universities. She has been described as a “self-made woman” and “princess”. She is the founder of multiple organizations, including the Pattinson School of Sustainability at Yale, which offers a four-year bachelor’s degree in sustainability; the Green Project, which organizes volunteer activities at Yale; and the L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science, which are designed to encourage more women to enter STEM careers.• In 2009 she founded the non-profit organization Plant a Row, which aims to get people planting gardens in their backyards.• In 2011 she partnered with a friend to found the L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science, which are designed to encourage more women to enter STEM careers.• Kate has an impressive record of supporting sustainable causes and the environment, and in 2017 she was honored with the World Wide Web Consortium’s Champion of Change Award for her commitment to sustainability.• In 2018 she purchased a 116-foot monochrome super yacht called Tatoeba, with an additional $25 million worth of yachts in her fleet. The same year she became the owner of a 120-foot motor yacht, aptly named Sustainabilita, with an additional $25 million worth of yachts in her fleet.• In the summer of 2019 Kate purchased a mansion in the ritzy London neighborhood of Knightsbrige for £30 million.
Forbes has ranked the top 50 most powerful women in business globally, and among them is Kate Pattinson. According to the U.S.-based publication, Pattinson is one of the most recognizable figures in fashion and business, and her agency, the Pattinson Group, is among the top 100 public relations agencies in the world. Her close connection to Yale University is also reflected in her agency’s namesake, the Pattinson School of Sustainability, which she co-founded with Warren Buffet’s daughter Susan in 2008.
It would seem that Kate is certainly capable of making a difference. Whether you’re passionate about fashion or not, you can’t help but be inspired by someone who has done so much for the planet. With her large social circle, impressive career, and exciting interests, it’s sure to be an interesting and influential year for Kate.