As you read, make a list on your answer sheet. This list ...

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Two billionaires are donating half of their money to charitable organizations and they would like others to do the

same. What do you think?

Giving money is the best way to help make the world a better place.

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Write your explanation of how and why you voted the way you did on your answer sheet.

Article

A Promise To Give

Photo credit and all related images: AP Photo

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have launched a campaign to encourage more billionaires to give to charity.

As you read, make a list on your answer sheet. This list should include the

four specific charities discussed in the article. You should explain the

purpose of each charity. You may have to check the glossary at the end of

the article for some of this information.

SEATTLE, Washington. Imagine that you were a billionaire. Would you collect expensive cars, own a fancy

home, travel the world? Well, if you were to follow the lead of investor Warren Buffett and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, you would give away the bulk of your riches. The two billionaires have both vowed to

donate at least half of their wealth to charity. They have also launched a campaign to encourage other

billionaires in the U.S. to do the same.

For the past year, Buffett and Gates have been asking their fellow billionaires to commit to donating a sizable

portion of their wealth. They should do this either during their lifetime or at the time of their death. Buffett and

Gates are friends and philanthropic colleagues. They estimate that their effort could generate as much as $600

billion in charitable contributions. Patty Stonesifer is a close friend of Gates'. She is also the former CEO of

his charity, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. According to Stonesifer, many of the billionaires who have

been approached thus far have welcomed the campaign. Already, at least 40 wealthy families and individuals

have pledged to donate. This includes four billionaire couples.

Buffett and Gates said they were inspired to launch their campaign by the efforts of others. Stacy Palmer is

editor of The Chronicle of Philanthropy. According to Palmer, Buffett and Gates' intellectual forebears are the

Carnegie and Rockefeller families. These families were the grandparents of modern philanthropy. They gave a

majority of their wealth for the improvement of society. Now, Buffett and Gates are urging billionaires to

agree to give wisely and to learn from their peers.

Buffett and Gates were inspired not only by the efforts of wealthy families, however. The two billionaires

were also encouraged by philanthropists of all backgrounds who have given generously to make the world a

better place.

Buffett himself has agreed to give 99 percent of his roughly $46 billion fortune to charity. Bill and Melinda

Gates have made a similar pledge.

Buffett earned much of his fortune as the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (BH). BH is a

corporation that owns a variety of companies. Those companies include several railroads, stores, and insurance

companies. Buffett has announced plans to divide most of his shares in BH between five charitable

foundations. The largest chunk will go to the Gates Foundation. The billionaire investor will also donate to

three foundations that are managed by his children. He also plans to give to the Susan Thompson Buffett

Foundation, which he and his late first wife founded.

Buffett and Gates are asking everyone who makes a pledge to do so publicly. They are asking for letters

explaining why they decided to give. The hope is that the visible efforts to help charitable organizations will

inspire even more people to contribute. Buffett said in a letter introducing the campaign that he couldn't be

happier with his decision to give the bulk of his wealth to charity.

Motivating America's richest people to donate may be more challenging than one might expect, however.

According to Palmer, only 17 people on the Forbes list of the 400 wealthiest people in America are also on her

news agency's list of most generous American donors. It's possible that many of the other 383 on Forbes' list

are giving anonymously. Or, they may plan to donate at the time of their death. But Palmer said that the bulk

of money raised by charities today comes, surprisingly, from non-billionaires. These people generally donate

$5, $10, or $50 at a time.

Palmer questions whether the announcement from Buffett and Gates will motivate the wealthy to give. She

cited what Ted Turner did. Thirteen years ago, Turner gave $1 billion to the United Nations. (Turner also

recently agreed to make a pledge as part of Buffett and Gates' campaign.) Like Buffett and Gates' campaign,

Turner's effort was made in part to inspire other generous donations. The effort did not achieve significant

results, however.

But Buffett and Gates are hoping that others will give as well. "The pledge is a moral commitment to give, not

a legal contract," Buffett and Gates explained.

You don't have to be a Bill Gates or a Warren Buffett to be charitable. You can give a small amount of money

or some of your time.

Even starting small can make a big difference. Select a cause and then think of ways to help. For example,

you could donate old clothes, toys, or books to a Goodwill store. You could collect canned goods for a

homeless shelter. Or you might give old pet beds and dishes to an animal shelter. If you're feeling a bit more

ambitious, gather some friends and have a bake sale or a talent show, donating all proceeds to charity.

If you do decide to raise money and you're not sure where it should go, do some research. Some charities have

a better reputation than others because they try not to spend too much on things like advertising. That way,

they can devote more of their proceeds to their causes, and they work hard to make sure that the donations they

receive go where they are needed. Check out a website like Charity Navigator. It rates thousands of charities to

make choosing the best ones easier for donors.

You can also start a charitable organization, as both Gates and Buffett did. You wouldn't be the first person to

start a charity before you even finish school. Many kids and teens have done this. Hannah Taylor started The

Ladybug Foundation, which works to make a difference for people who are homeless, when she was 8 years

old. Jean Leon Iragena was a college student in the U.S. when he founded the Isaro Foundation to promote

reading and writing in his home country of Rwanda. There are many other stories of philanthropic young

people who launched charities.

If you're thinking about starting your own charity, take your time. Learn about setting up a charitable

organization by volunteering for other such groups. Ask one of the organizers for tips on establishing your

own. Just remember to be patient. Organizers are very busy and might not be able to set aside a time to talk

right away.

Then, you should select a cause that you care about so deeply that you're willing to commit your time and

energy to it. Once you've found a cause, think about how you will address it. The Isaro Foundation collects

books from donors and ships them to Rwanda. It also organizes writing competitions and helps Rwandan

writers get published. The Ladybug Foundation holds fundraisers to help the homeless and educates children

about the problem of homelessness.

Find people around you¡ªfriends, parents, and teachers¡ªwho share an interest in your cause. Ask at least one

or two adults to help you with the details of establishing your charity. You will need someone to help you file

forms with the federal government so it is aware of your organization. You will need to be aware of the laws

regarding how charities must be set up and operated. And you or one of your volunteers will need to keep

track of your expenses as you go¡ªthe cost of fundraising events, setting up a website, and more.

Starting and operating a charity requires a lot of effort, but if you're passionate about your cause, it might not

seem like work at all.

Glossary

Anonymously (adverb)

Colleague (noun)

without a name provided

a person who is a member of one's social class or profession

Forebear (noun)

ancestor or forefather

Investor

somebody who puts money into something to make more money

(noun)

Philanthropic (adjective)

having to do with charitable work

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: We seek to unlock the possibility inside every individual. We see

equal value in all lives. And so we are dedicated to improving the quality of life for

individuals around the world. From the education of students in Chicago, to the health of

a young mother in Nigeria, we are catalysts of human promise everywhere.

Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation: The Foundation offers grants primarily for family planning

programs, and scholarships to residents of Nebraska attending Nebraska public colleges or

universities.

Activity

Write the letter of the correct answer on your answer sheet

1. The best alternate headline for this article would be __________.

Press enter to interact with the item, and press tab button or down arrow until reaching the Submit button once the item is

selected

A

Billionaires Meet To Honor Susan Thompson Buffett

B

Buffett and Gates Lose Big in Risky Business Venture

C

Billionaires Pledge To Donate Big Bucks to Charity

D

Buffett and Gates Share Tips on Becoming a Billionaire

2. The author probably wrote this article in order to __________.

Press enter to interact with the item, and press tab button or down arrow until reaching the Submit button once the item is

selected

A

Describe the campaign that Warren Buffett and Bill Gates have launched

B

Describe the ways that most billionaires make their fortunes

C

Highlight the charities in the United States that need the most help

D

Highlight the most honorable foundations in the United States

3. Which would be the closest synonym for the word colleague?

Press enter to interact with the item, and press tab button or down arrow until reaching the Submit button once the

item is selected

A

Coworker

B

Participant

C

Millionaire

D

Idol

4. This article is placed in a category of news called "Eye on People." In which other category would this article fit best?

Press enter to interact with the item, and press tab button or down arrow until reaching the Submit button once the item is

selected

A

Travel & Leisure

B

Dollars & Cents

C

Government Report

D

Real Estate Beat

5. Which of these is most important to include in a summary of this article?

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selected

A

Gates and Buffett were inspired to launch their campaign by the efforts of others.

B

Warren Buffett has children who manage three charitable foundations.

C

Gates and Buffett are asking billionaires to pledge to give money to charity.

D

Warren Buffett started a foundation with his late wife.

6. According to the article, why are Gates and Buffett asking everyone who makes a pledge to do so publicly?

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selected

A

Because the billionaires will only give money publicly

B

Because they hope the visible efforts will inspire others to give

C

Because they want to get credit for the work they have done

D

Because only billionaires are encouraged to donate

7. The article states:

Like Buffett and Gates' campaign, Turner's effort was made in part to inspire other generous donations.

The effort did not achieve significant results, however.

Which is the closest synonym for the word significant?

Press enter to interact with the item, and press tab button or down arrow until reaching the Submit button once the

item is selected

A

Meaningful

B

Ecstatic

C

Unimportant

D

Charitable

8. Which of these is a statement of fact?

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selected

A

Patty Stonesifer is the former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

B

Billionaires who give money publicly are in it for the attention.

C

Billionaires who don't pledge to give are extremely selfish people.

D

Patty Stonesifer will never find a better job than working for Bill Gates.

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