06:30, 23 May 2025
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
"We grew up with this distinct value of serving, of service."
Speaking is M. Amber Tyson, MD, an American doctor turned philanthropist living in Pasadena, California. Amber, the youngest of four children, has been involved in philanthropy for the greater good since birth.
Born to a physician father who was heavily involved in the civil rights movement, and a mother who immigrated from Jamaica, giving back to their community was just something Amber’s family did. It was like eating or sleeping - just part of family life.
"Philanthropy has also always been embedded in our lives, mostly because of our father... it was always important to him to serve people,” says Amber, explaining that her father would see patients for free, or take alternative payments in the form of produce. “It may not be organised philanthropy as we might think of it now, but it was very much philanthropy."
Acts of kindness like these are the bones of philanthropy. You don’t need to be a billionaire to be a philanthropist; just giving within your means can make a huge difference.
"Philanthropy does help on every level,” says Amber. “Even when I started out of college, [I was] giving a small amount... it just builds momentum. It feels good to be a part of these causes."
Today, Amber gives back in a multitude of ways. She has already given over $100,000 to pay the tuition of young, black women studying medicine at Stanford University, and has even endowed scholarships of over $100,000 to minority women to help them throughtheir education.
"I am in touch with a lot of the women. They will write me emails. They'll send me updates,” says Amber, with a smile. It is clear just how touched she is to hear back from the young women she has been able to help. “That’s been a very rewarding experience."
Though Amber still has a private practice, through which she sees patients, in many ways, this is just what enables her to keep giving back.
"I’m a specialist. I do sports medicine and pain management, but we all kept a commitment to the Medi-Cal population,” says Amber, speaking of herself and her two other siblings who went into healthcare. “It was ingrained in us to stay true to that."
Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid healthcare programme, enabling Amber to reach patients who otherwise may not be able to see a doctor, usually because of financial concerns.
Healthcare is, inherently, a philanthropic career path - whatever you are getting in return, you are still giving so much care, so much of yourself. By making sure to see patients who would struggle to get the care they need otherwise, you are doubling that gift and directly contributing to a better, more equitable healthcare system.
Additionally, the Tyson family have an endowment through the Pasadena Community Foundation, enabling them to help those in their local communities.
Since the LA Wildfires that struck in early 2025, Amber and her family have been even more involved in their community.
Three of the clinics built by Amber’s late father were lost to the fires, though their own homes were thankfully untouched. Still, Amber has helped to house families who lost everything in apartments owned by her or her friends, including covering expenses to help them get back on their feet.
She has also been very involved in donating to fire relief funds of organisations close to her heart, including the school she went to as a child, and that her children now attend.
Amber is a staunch supporter of a few charities very close to her heart, including Mama2Mama, which assists mothers and birthing people through the post-partum stage, and Living Beauty, which empowers and uplifts women with cancer.
“Living Beauty is a foundation that helps cancer survivors,” Amber tells me. “It was started by my dear friend Amy Satchu [for] her mother. She lost her mother to cancer, but she started this wonderful organisation.”
Living Beauty connects women with cancer, those in the trenches and those who have come out the other side, so that they can be surrounded by powerful women who share their experiences.
Though philanthropy has evolved to be something we associate with those who are financially well off, throughout my conversation with Amber it becomes clear that it is not a hard and fast rule.
In fact, philanthropy is something that hides in the quiet places; in treatment traded for okra, or an email to your sponsor, or in laying the path for those who come after you, so they don’t need to fight so hard.
You can learn more about the work Amber is doing by following her on LinkedIn.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
The Fore. This charity is transforming lives and society by turbo-charging exceptional small charities and social enterprises. Support them here.
The Brother’s Trust. This charity is run by Tom Holland’s family, aiming to shine a light on charities where generous donations can be used to maximum effect. Find out more.
The Henry Smith Charity. This is a grant giving charity that aims to use its resources to help people and communities in the UK. Learn more here.
