Hearts of Gold August 5, 2010
Posted by nrhatch in Gratitude, Happiness, Life Balance, Magick & Mystery, People, Sustainable Living.trackback
I read some awesome news this morning:
Hearts of Gold: Forty Billionaires Pledge to Give Bulk of Wealth To Charity
While I recommend reading the entire article, here are a few highlights:
Famed investor Warren Buffett today announced the names of 40 of America’s wealthiest families and individuals who have signed on to the Giving Pledge, a charitable project that targets billionaires to pledge to donate the bulk of their wealth:
“At its core, the Giving Pledge is about asking wealthy families to have important conversations about their wealth and how it will be used. We’re delighted that so many people are doing just that — and that so many have decided to not only take this pledge but also to commit to sums far greater than the 50% minimum level.”
The Giving Pledge is a moral commitment to give, not a legal contract. It does not involve pooling money or supporting a particular set of causes or organizations.
At an annual event, those who take the pledge will come together to share ideas and learn from each other.
See full article from DailyFinance: Hearts of Gold (by Carrie Coolidge)
Related story: Billionaire Recruits to the $600 Billion Challenge
What a fine example being set by these individuals! Kudos!!!
If you click on the Giving Pledge link, you can see those who’ve already signed up. In addition to Warren Buffett, the list includes Bill & Melinda Gates (co-founders of the Giving Pledge), Ted Turner, George Lucas, David Rockefeller, and other notables.
Notably absent from the list . . . the two Richest Women in the World:
Alice & Christy Walton (of WalMart fame and fortune)
Why am I not surprised?
* * * * *
Now, here’s Neil, singing a favorite Golden Oldie of millions . . . Heart of Gold:
Success in life is more than racking up dollars in your bank account . . . it’s about being the best YOU that YOU can be.
Joy is sharing the best parts of yourself with the world.
Related blog: Benediction of Billionaires: Transformation Ho!
Spirit Lights The Way 
Well Bill Gates is well known and I certainly appreciate his philanthropy.
But this article came up for discussion in the cafe where I go for coffee every morning, and the reaction amongst everyone was rather cynical.
Mind you, they are a very different people, artists, etc. who are my ‘regular’ friends, and thus I appreciate the contrast with bloggers I meet on these various sites. But it was a topic of ‘humor’, and nobody took it really seriously. They’re artists, after all. We’ll believe it when we see it! Just so you know.
But when it comes to Neil Young’s song, I suppose the feeling is not that quite different. Giving away money – well I’ll wait and see. But, I like Neil Young, most often feel like the miner searching for the heart of gold.
And Neil Young takes a good look at himself within those lyrics, too. RikScott exemplifies, to some extent, the openness that I would expect from someone with a heart of gold. But it is certainly difficult to find golden nuggets.
I prefer optimism and hope to cynicism and despair, but you should be guided by your own preferences. : )
And, yup, Rik’s a gem!
When I saw your title, I figured I’d see Mr. Young down here.
Nice choice. Amazing thing they’re doing, but then, how much money can you spend in a lifetime, anyway?
Exactly. Much better to be Scrooge after his reclamation. : )
As I scrolled through the list, I hoped to find some indication that the Waltons finally had woken up from their greedy slumber.
Still nothing. : (
On lists like this it is always interesting to see who isn’t listed.
Also notably absent: Oprah Winfrey
Unlike The Waltons, her absence surprised me a bit . . . especially since she attended some of the planning dinners.
Doesn’t surprise me at all!
Actually, I don’t know much about Oprah ~ I just knew she gave cars to everyone in her audience once.
I guess that made me think she was inherently generous. : )
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A good initiative, hope the right charities benefit.
(I don’t like Oprah myself, but she does quite a lot of charity in South Africa, notably to educate underpriv girls.)
I’m hoping for a trickle down effect . . . not just of the $’s but the sentiment behind them.
Enough is enough.
Thanks so much for sharing this post, Nancy, and your profile is fabulous! I’m so glad I found you via Souldipper 🙂 Reading the Gates, Buffet and Rockefeller letters is profoundly enlightening. This brings Napoleon Hill’s book “Think and Grow Rich” immediately to mind, and a powerful message of hope and inspiration along with it. Thanks again, I shall share in turn 🙂
Every now and then, I see evidence that the tide is turning away from greed and profit as the pre-eminent focus of life. This seems like an enormous step in that direction.
Thanks for swinging by and sharing your thoughts.
[…] What a pleasure to read about The Giving Pledge on fellow bloggers’ sites: Souldipper and Spirit Lights The Way. In a nutshell, Warren Buffet, together with Bill and Melinda Gates, has initiated a project to […]