NEW YORK — Warren Buffett's contribution of about $1.5 billion a year to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will be used to seek cures for the world's worst diseases and improve American education, Bill Gates said Monday.

"There is no reason we can't cure the top 20 diseases," Gates said while appearing with Buffett during a donation ceremony at the New York Public Library.

The Buffett and Gates families, as well as onlookers, were beaming as the so-called Oracle of Omaha officially made his benevolence a reality.

"There is more than one way to get to heaven, but this is a great way," said Buffett. He presented the biggest gift to Gates, and $1 billion donations to his own foundation and the foundations run by each of his three children.

"It's easy to sign. I just signed, "Dad,'" Buffett joked while handing one of the donation documents, a stock transfer letter, to his daughter, Suze Buffett.

In a letter dated Monday, Buffett had informed Bill and Melinda Gates that the first donation of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK) stock would go to the foundation next month.

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The foundation, which has assets of $29.1 billion, spends money on world health, poverty and increasing access to technology in developing countries. In the United States, it focuses on education and technology in public libraries.

The money from Buffett, who is 75 but considered strong and healthy, comes with a significant catch. The letter says Buffett wants all his money to be distributed in the year it is donated, not added to the foundation's assets for future giving. The foundation gave away $1.36 billion in 2005, so the Buffett commitment would effectively double its spending.

Buffett had said he would give away 12,050,000 Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway stock to the five foundations. The shares fell $40, or 1.3 percent, to $3,031.01 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

The gifts would be worth nearly $37 billion, which represents the bulk of the $44 billion that Buffet's stock holdings are worth today. Five-sixths of the shares will be earmarked for the Gates Foundation.

In his letter to the Gates Foundation, Buffett said he admired the foundation and wanted to extend its "future capabilities." Until now, all the money given away by the Gates Foundation has come from the couple.

In a statement over the weekend, Bill and Melinda Gates spoke of their relationship with Buffett over the past 15 years and his influence on their philanthropy.

"Warren has not only an amazing intellect but also a strong sense of justice. Warren's wisdom will help us do a better job and make it more fun at the same time," they said. The couple said they were "awed" by Buffett's decision.

The Buffett pledge also requires that Bill and Melinda Gates remain alive and active in the policy-setting and administration of the foundation. Buffett plans to give each foundation 5 percent of his total pledge each year in July.

Bill Gates, the world's richest man, announced earlier this month that he would be stepping back from his day-to-day responsibilities at Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) in July 2008 so he can spend more time on the Seattle-based foundation. The foundation followed his announcement by saying Melinda Gates would also be taking a more active role in their philanthropic work.

Buffett, the world's second-richest man, said in an interview with Fortune magazine that the timing of the two announcements — one week apart — was just "happenstance."

Buffett's gift is "really significant," not just for its size but for its potential to encourage other giving, said Diana Aviv, president and CEO of Independent Sector, a nonprofit coalition of about 550 charities, foundations and corporate giving programs that includes The Gates Foundation.

"I'm sure there are lots of young, wealthy individuals who have made their fortunes and who are watching this very carefully," she said. "These business leaders are icons."

Thanks, MMr. Gates and Buffet for thinking about the poor and the sick.

Alas there is ONLY ONE WAY to Heaven, and this way is through our LORD Jesus Christ.

Please Mr. Buffet, don't take it bad but all the money in the world could not buy your way to Heaven... So my prayer is that if you are not saved (which I believe you are not saved) that the LORD Jesus Christ would open the eyes of your understanding so that the day you die you will meet with our God!

As for you, Mr. Gates, I hope and pray that the good LORD will open your eyes as well. I wish you all the best!

May God bless you both, Mr. Gates and you, Mr. Buffet physically, spiritually and financially. Yes, you heard it, financially. The good book says that "every good thing and perfect thing is from above and comes from the Father of Lights, by whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning"...

God bless you!

Wouldn't you like to have and extra billion or two to hand out...

Don't be to callous...you never know how God works on a mans heart.

I am pulling a couple of statements out of this story which I believe are significant.




Many eyes are on this man, these three people, Buffet and Mr and Mrs Gates. The two welthiest families in the world have just combined there financial empires and just think, it was done without a marriage. This is a significant event.





now how many young, wealthy individuals who have made their fortunes and who are watching this very carefully believe they can gift their way into heaven? This is significant.

Now how many of these folks have grown up in denominations which teach salvation by works, get enough brownie points and you get into heaven. Denominations which have accepted indulgences to pardon souls out of purgatory, same story different century. This is a significant deception being reinforced. Is it on purpose by Mr Buffet or is he just deceived, does not really matter the effect is the same.





With billions of dollars at their disposal now, the gates are in a position to make a serious run at this, but what does the bible say about the state of the world at the time we beleive we are in or very close to. Who else will make a significant contribution to this foundation, this is just the begining,


Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places.
Mat 24:8 But all these things are the beginning of travail.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.


Rev 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, Come.
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.
Rev 6:3 And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come.
Rev 6:4 And another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
Rev 6:5 And when he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, Come. And I saw, and behold, a black horse; and he that sat thereon had a balance in his hand.
Rev 6:6 And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, A measure of wheat for a shilling, and three measures of barley for a shilling; and the oil and the wine hurt thou not.
Rev 6:7 And when he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, Come.
Rev 6:8 And I saw, and behold, a pale horse: and he that sat upon him, his name was Death; and Hades followed with him. And there was given unto them authority over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with famine, and with death, and by the wild beasts of the earth.
Rev 6:9 And when he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
Rev 6:10 and they cried with a great voice, saying, How long, O Master, the holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
Rev 6:11 And there was given them to each one a white robe; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little time, until their fellow-servants also and their brethren, who should be killed even as they were, should have fulfilled their course.
Rev 6:12 And I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the whole moon became as blood;
Rev 6:13 and the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her unripe figs when she is shaken of a great wind.
Rev 6:14 And the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
Rev 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16 and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Rev 6:17 for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?


This is the "event horizon" folks, a door has opened by the hand of the Lord.

If the Holy Spirit is prompting you please bring what you have to this topic, this is a significant event.




This is not for wealth building, this is for an immediate impact and result, 20 years the money will be basically all transfered, this is built for immediate change.

Philanthropy means "the love for man"

They may be the richest men in the world, but they are far from the richest institution. Their little fund pales in comparison to a certain other um, institution.

...Wal-Mart?

Noooo...close though. They too have a history of raping and pillaging the little guy, and overwhelming them with unmatchable force and influence. They might even own some of Wal-Mart.

Good guess though. Very astute.

Oh... I get it...


Accually now you've got me even more confused...

Ya know, I just don't want to say it anymore. Railing on the Catholic Church just seems so redundant by now. I think there's a stickied thread somewhere that explains all of it. I don't hate Catholics, or even the Pope, who knows better. I hate the lie portrayed and carried on by the corrupt body running it. I actually figured in the next three guesses you'd get it too, but I'm just done with the topic. All I do when I think about it is get mad.

I'm sure the money will do some physical "good" for folks in the poorest, islamic?, countries.

Oh, that it would have been seed money for sending Christ's servants into these areas with spiritual good--the testimony of Jesus Christ. The Buffet's could have been "fellow-laborers" in the gospel, which would be a far better eternal benefit to the needy than merely curing physical ailments. Better to die at 6 and go to heaven, not being held accountable, than to die at 65 without Christ. May the Lord send his laborers.

Does anyone know if any of Gates' charities take the gospel to people?

Just think...more "peace and safety" can be bought than ever before.

May the Lord be glorified in this hour.

In Christ,

Mike

P.S. (Yes, Everwatchful, 37B does pale in comparison to what is probably the Vatican's trillions.)