Is there another "billionaire" who gives as much as Oprah?

[jumpstart33]

I know that Jonny Carson was a great "secret" giver. I have no problem with Oprah giving away cars to her audience. She also gives a lot that does not get publicized. I love that woman!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. She gave ALOT of free airtime to Gropenfuhrer too.

:eyes:

[miss_kitty]

7. so when you have a talk show you can give whoever you want airtime.

i can't stand that she did that, but she's the boss.
:)

[PROGRESSIVE1]

24. I don't watch her then!

[Beaverhausen]

2. There is a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

not sure where they give, though.

Warren Buffett is also very philathropic.

Teresa Heinz Kerry is too but I don't think she is a billionaire.

[miss_kitty]

13. The Gates Foundation gives A LOT

From the site "The foundation was created in January 2000, through the merger of the Gates Learning Foundation, which worked to expand access to technology through public libraries, and the William H. Gates Foundation, which focused on improving global health. Led by Bill Gates’ father, William H. Gates, Sr., and Patty Stonesifer, the Seattle-based foundation has an endowment of approximately $27 billion."

[LynneSin]

16. and the gates are solid Democrats to boot

bitch all you want about Microsoft - I'm glad they are on our team!

[Deja Q]

3. Pity we're not all billionaires.

n/t

[REVOLT823]

4. If all billionaires, millionaires,

business leaders, and rich folk were as "compassionate" as her, our world would be a better place.

[Quixote1818]

5. Ted Turner gave the UN a Billion Dollars

I think that was the biggest ever contribution from anyone but I could be wrong.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

6. Wait...Didn't that check bounce?

Or didn't he only give them half?
I really think I heard that he renigged on part of that.
Duckie

[mark414]

8. as mentioned above, bill and melinda gates

gave $1 billion towards worldwide vaccinations for children

[comradebillyboy]

10. the gates' are very generous

even though he is a ruthless monopolist, i have the highest regard for bill gates. he and his partners went out and created something from nothing- the real all american success story

[northzax]

15. actually, it's a lot closer to 20,000,000,000

than one. The Gates Foundation is the largest in the world, with roughly 30,000,000,000 (er, that's BILLION) dollars in assets (http://philanthropy.com/free/update/2004/07/2004072101.htm) given that charitable foundations must give away 5% of their assests in four out of five years. So the Gates foundation will have to give away 1.5 billion next year alone to meet IRS requirements. And that's if the stock doesn't go up in value.

[northzax]

17. and don't forget 350,000,000

as part of a billion dollar pledge to the UNCF.

[northzax]

11. yeah, but he reneged

when AOLTimeWarner hit the crapper. through no fault of his own.

And Bill Gates qualifies as the largest (in sheer dollar terms) philanthropist of all time, so far he's given away (to his foundation, of course) over 25 billion dollars. His foundation works on health care in developing nations.

Teresa Heinz Kerry doesn't give away her own money, she brilliantly manages and gives away from family foundations, it's not the same.

George Soros has given away over a billion dollars to promote democracy, mostly in Eastern Europe (bet he never thought he'd have to do it here!)

The Saudi Royal family gives away close to a billion dollars a year in various countries.

Paul Allen has given away hundreds of millions.

Phil Knight has given almost $100,000,000 to the University of Oregon alone.

Eli Broad is always in the top ten in giving to his foundation.

and, closer to my heart, Gordon Moore gave 350,000,000 to Conservation International a few years back.

Here's a good list from last year alone. (chronicle of philanthropoy) Oprah's number 21.

http://philanthropy.com/stats/donors/slate_search.php?searchType=byRank

note it includes pledges. look at the real amounts given for solid numbers. And this only includes gifts to 501 (c) 3 corporations, giving a new car to someone wouldn't make the list.

[moez]

9. She's "compassionate" because she gives away a few cars?!

You're a cheap date...

[Beaverhausen]

12. Obviously you haven't paid attention to all the good Oprah has done

in the past. Yes we are pissed at her for Arnold but she has been extremely generous and had enlighted her audience (the soccer moms to state a stereotype) to many issues they may have otherwise heard about.

[gospelized]

14. that's what i think too

i bet there's 300 people down the street in the chicago projects that would LOVE a car.

but relax, everyone! the SUV driving wives in her audience will be well taken care of!

[northzax]

18. oh geez, there's no pleasing some people, is there?

first off, the people in the audience were selected because someone wrote in and told Oprah they needed a new car. I have no idea why people would write in about this, specifically, unless it was solicited. but they did.

one thing about giving things away, there are always people more deserving. I gave my girlfriend a new coat for christmas last year. did she need a new coat? nope. but I thought she looked good in it, so I bought it. does that make me a bad person because there are undeniably people in the world more deserving of one coat, instead of another one?

have you ever bought a present for anyone?

[Beaverhausen]

19. read the article- these people deserved the cars

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/news/091304_ap_ns_oprah.html

Pulling this off wasn't easy for Oprah because she had to keep it a secret. For the queen of talk, that was a challenge. Plus, Oprah pulled out all stops—even going to the Pontiac plant to help build some of the cars. She admits she couldn't have done it alone.

"My team is incredible," said Oprah, "finding the people, going online, asking people for stories, then lying to people about why they were really coming here, coming up with ideas about whatever their career was. We're doing a show on secretaries, and getting them to the show. That was really the hardest part."

snip

"My mother sacrificed her getting a car for herself for me, and I appreciate it because she has worked hard," said Sonia Hawkins.

Karli Kucera and her fiancé Nick Sherlag couldn't afford to get a new car because all their savings is being spent on their wedding.

"My dream was for him to have a car. For me to get one, too! I drive a 1991 Camry. It's really old, too. I couldn't believe it. Best day ever," said Karli.

"I'm feeling really good about myself. I'm feeling, 'Yeah, baby! What's going to happen next?'" said Oprah.

[gospelized]

22. in that case

i applaud her.

[miss_kitty]

20. "Obviously you haven't paid attention to all the good Oprah has done"

yeah really. she foots the bill for many (in the hundreds) of underpriveleged kids to go to college for starters...and that is a hand up that cannot be matched...it is giving kids who have had to stuggle a chance to do good and to experience, first hand, what philanthropy is and what it does.
they will then have a chance to go out and make good enough money to be philanthropic themselves, as long as there are still jobs to be had.

[REVOLT823]

21. Hahaha, cheap date? Good one :)

Actually I was not only referring to the cars, but she has done a lot of other things that she didn't have to. I think she's cool, despite how much money she has made, she is still apretty down-to-earth person.

[Zomby Woof]

23. Bill Gates

The Gates Foundation donates hundreds of millions for child vaccines worldwide, as well as fighting AIDS.