By Tim Saunders on
Warren Buffett's Giving Pledge, which asks billionaires to donate the majority of their wealth to charity, has garnered some high-profile followers.
Among the world’s elite who have signed up include Bill Gates, Ted Turner and Star Wars creator George Lucas. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has also made a pledge worth hundreds of millions of dollars for charity.
“We’ve really just started but already we’ve had a terrific response,” said Buffett. “The Giving Pledge is about asking wealthy families to have important conversations about their wealth and how it will be used.”
“I am dedicating the majority of my wealth to improving education,” says George Lucas. “It is the key to the survival of the human race. We have to plan for our collective future – and the first step begins with the social, emotional, and intellectual tools we provide to our children. As humans, our greatest tool for survival is our ability to think and to adapt – as educators, storytellers, and communicators our responsibility is to continue to do so.”
“We want to make sure lifesaving vaccines reach everyone who needs them, and that the world develops new vaccines,” said Bill and Melinda Gates in their pledge. “By joining the Giving Pledge effort, we’re certain our giving will be more effective because of the time we will spend with this group. We look forward to sharing what a wonderful experience this has been for us and learning from the experience of others.”
To find out more and read the pledges of the other 40 billionaires, visit GivingPledge.org.
Copyright © 2010 Look to the Stars
