Bill Gates pledges 500 million dollars to global AIDS fund

[deadparrot]

GENEVA (AFP) - The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged half a billion dollars to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

The promise came in the runup to the 16th International AIDS Conference, opening in the Canadian city of Toronto on Sunday.

The money will be paid in annual amounts of 100 million dollars, with 2006 as the starting year.

"The Global Fund is one of the most important health initiatives in the world today," Bill Gates, the world's richest man, was quoted in a Fund press release as saying Wednesday.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/healthaidstbmalariafund

[Donnachaidh]

1. and gets a great tax write-off

[Rude Horner]

3. So let me get this straight

If he donates, he's only doing it for the tax write-off. But if he doesn't donate, he's a greedy rich jerk.

He should be applauded for this. Gates and his foundation have worked very hard at causes like AIDS. Which is more than a lot of rich people do.

[Dora]

5. What's the problem with that?

Seems to me that Gates is redistributing some of his ample wealth to those that need it.

A tax deduction is fair and legal.

[Megahurtz]

2. That's nice but

I wonder how much of this money will go in someone'(s) else'(s)s pocket(s)?:shrug:

[kimmerspixelated]

4. I think their donations are great and worthy.

I, too, wonder what really happens to the money. Maybe,hopefully it will be closely monitored. What we need now is a similar rich guy to donate a huge amount for the makings of a big alternative fuel industry, and pronto!

[BootinUp]

6. That will surely help.