According to a newly issued Google press release, Dr. Larry Brilliant is the man that will be in charge of Google.org, the group that will oversee Google's new philanthropic efforts. Dr. Brilliant is a founder and director of The Seva Foundation, a Policy Advisory Council Member at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, and a member of the Strategic Advisory Group of Kleiner-Perkin's Pandemic and Bio-Defense Fund.

Compliments and praise flew back and forth from Brilliant and Google's founders.

For those not yet familiar with the idea behind Google.org, here's how they describe themselves:

Google.org includes the work of the Google Foundation, some of Google's own projects using Google talent, technology and other resources, as well as partnerships and contributions to for-profit and non-profit entities. While we continue to define the goals, priorities and approach for Google.org, we will focus on several areas including global poverty, energy and the environment.