humbling philanthropism

most of you probably already know about this recent news story, but if not...

warren buffet, the world's richest man, is giving away between 37 and 44 billion american dollars to charity, most of which will be held by the bill and melinda gates foundation (bill gates himself has promised that he'll give 95% of is fortune to charity before he dies, which isn't hard to believe considering he began the foundation with 26 billion dollars of his own money).

of course, when you have 40-odd billion to your name, what could you really do with most of it anyway? yet, despite the bewildering magnitude of the amount itself, most people with money seem to want more than anything to hold on to it, and to have more of it.

some will disagree, of course, but when the two richest men in the world decide to give away the vast majority of their wealth to those least fortunate and most vulnerable, i find it hard to say that they're not genuinely good people. philanthropism on that scale is truly humbling, and i can't help but feel grateful that someone out there is willing to make such a strong statement.


so big ups to both buffet and gates; that's on some one love, for real real.