Heartening news today about Zuckerberg

[cave76]

"Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, are pledging to give $120 million to support San Francisco Bay Area schools."

"[...]is one of the youngest members of The Giving Pledge, which is a promise to give at least half his net worth to charity."

Although I personally don't like Facebook---- there's no doubt that a lot of Zuckerberg's money is going to the right places.

Mark Zuckerberg and Wife to Give $120 Million to California Schools - Nation - Boston.com

[LPBeier]

I am impressed by this wonderful gesture; however, if 120 million is half of your wealth (and you are continuing to make money by the second), is it really that much of a sacrifice?

Sorry to be so negative.

[Steve Kroll]

Yes. That does sound rather negative.

Zuckerberg is worth more than $10 billion, so $120 million is not anywhere near half his fortune. He has pledged to give more than half of his fortune to charity, but not all at once.

In 2012, Zuckerberg and his wife donated almost $500 million to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which makes grants to low-income families to prevent foreclosures, to teacher training programs, to after-school and summer math training programs, and to aid for immigrants, like English instruction and legal services. The foundation also helps build affordable housing and supports services for the homeless like shelters and food banks.

Then there is Warren Buffet, who has pledged donate 99% of his $46 billion net worth to charity. And Bill Gates, who has also donated billions.

I admire people like that. To put it another way, these guys could simply choose to be like most multimillionaires and instead hide their wealth in offshore accounts.

[mmyap]

I applaud the gesture. You may feel the ultra-wealthy are morally obligated to donate to charities, as do I. However, they don't have to. $120 million is a nice chunk of change. Maybe it will start a trend.

[cave76]

If someone offered me a million dollars I wouldn't ask "why not more, since you have so much more"?

I'd take the money and run.

[Mad Cook]

Originally Posted by cave76

"Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, are pledging to give $120 million to support San Francisco Bay Area schools."

"[...]is one of the youngest members of The Giving Pledge, which is a promise to give at least half his net worth to charity."

Although I personally don't like Facebook---- there's no doubt that a lot of Zuckerberg's money is going to the right places.

Mark Zuckerberg and Wife to Give $120 Million to California Schools - Nation - Boston.com

That confirms my decision not to be involved with Facebook. If they can afford to give away $120 million they must be making it somewhere, which sort of bears out the suggestions that have been made about Facebook selling "members" details to the highest bidder, among other rumours about their activities! (No names, no pack-drill.)

[Mad Cook]

Originally Posted by Steve Kroll

Yes. That does sound rather negative.

Zuckerberg is worth more than $10 billion, so $120 million is not anywhere near half his fortune. He has pledged to give more than half of his fortune to charity, but not all at once.

In 2012, Zuckerberg and his wife donated almost $500 million to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which makes grants to low-income families to prevent foreclosures, to teacher training programs, to after-school and summer math training programs, and to aid for immigrants, like English instruction and legal services. The foundation also helps build affordable housing and supports services for the homeless like shelters and food banks.

Then there is Warren Buffet, who has pledged donate 99% of his $46 billion net worth to charity. And Bill Gates, who has also donated billions.

I admire people like that. To put it another way, these guys could simply choose to be like most multimillionaires and instead hide their wealth in offshore accounts.

Very nice of them all. However, if you have squillions of £s or $s you have a duty to do good works and they do get a very comfortable tax break on charitable donations.

What happened to "Do good by stealth and blush to find it fame"?

[cave76]

I'm not sure that the high rollers have a 'duty' to do good works. But I do believe that the tax breaks received are considered.

[jennyema]

It is sad, however, that public schools are in such dire need.

Good on him though. And Buffet and Gates.

[Aunt Bea]

When I read these things I always think of Blanche DuBois in the Tennessee Williams play "A Streetcar Named Desire", her famous line was: "I've always depended on the kindness of strangers."

I think it's an extremely sad state of affairs when this country has to depend on "the kindness of strangers" to provide for its basic needs. We as a nation need to rethink our priorities, it's time to wake up America!

Now back to the kitchen!