Bill Gates said he hopes his passion for giving will soon start to take hold among the super-rich of India. Gates said he, his wife Melinda and investor Warren Buffett plan to come to India this year to hold a meeting with the country?s richest people to encourage them into philanthropy. The meeting will be similar to the one in China last year, where some of the small group of ultra-rich Chinese made some ?very generous? gifts
Investment company founder Nicolas Berggruen – ?Everyone is dealt a group of cards at birth. With them come possibilities and responsibilities. What one does with them is up to each one of us, and the sum of those choices, constitute our lives. I have been blessed with the chance t o build the Nicolas Berggruen Charitable Trust.?
AOL founder Steve Case and wife Jean – ?We share the view that those to whom much is given, much is expected. We realize we have been given a unique platform and opportunity, and we are committed to doing the best we can with it. We also look forward to working with the dozens of others who have made the Giving Pledge commitment to share lessons, perspectives and best practices.?
Investment fund founder Lee Cooperman and wife Toby – ?(We) feel it is our moral imperative to give others the opportunity to pursue the American Dream by sharing our financial success … In the 1930s, Winston Churchill observed that ?We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give.? … It is in this spirit that we enthusiastically agree to take the Giving Pledge.?
Investor Carl Icahn – ?Until Bill, Melinda and Warren started this project, I never considered going public with my intentions. However, I certainly see the value of a project that encourages wealthy individuals to step forward and commit to use their wealth for the common good. I hope that by adding my voice with those who are supporting this project, we will all encourage others to participate.?
Entrepreneur Sidney Kimmel – ?My thinking is rather simple: I learned as a young boy that sharing with others is the right thing to do, a lesson I observed from my father?s willingness to share even our meager means with those less fortunate. Ever since, it has never been difficult for me to continue to do the right thing.?
Duncan and Nancy MacMillan – ?We very much believe that the accumulation of wealth gets us nowhere. Money has the most value when it’s used for others and the greater good, for sustaining and enriching our world. In our minds, foundational areas like education and health are the most critical.?
