Ten more of America's wealthiest families took the Giving Pledge, begun by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates last June. The latest signatories, announced Thursday, brought the total to 69.
Buffett, Pledge cofounder and chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, said in a statement, “We are seeing great progress in less than a year. I am delighted that so many wealthy Americans are taking a public pledge that supports philanthropy. The continued energy and passion for this project, and the many philanthropy conversations it has sparked with families from all walks of life, are inspiring. We welcome our 10 new pledgers wholeheartedly.”
NYU philanthropy professor Jason Franklin, whose New York-based nonprofit Bolder Giving is credited as one of the inspirations for the Giving Pledge, called the Pledge “an important step in a cultural trend of greater giving that is gaining momentum at all income levels.” Franklin's nonprofit highlights the giving of ordinary people who have chosen to give in extraordinary ways.