The world's richest people donated record amounts to charity last year, making 2017 one of the best philanthropic years in 10 years.
The top ten donations in 2017 totaled over $ 10 billion, more than double the 2016 philanthropic result. The greatest generosity last year was shown by richest billionaire in the world - Bill Gates, whose fortune is estimated at $ 86 billion.
This is what the rating of the most generous philanthropists in the world looks like according to data compiled by the American magazine The Chronicle. The ranking is based on the top 10 publicly announced donations and does not include art donations or gifts from anonymous donors.
10. Jack and Laura Dangermond
2017 donated $ 165 million
The top 10 opens with one of the most unusual donations in the world. Its recipient is the environmental charity Nature Conservancy. And the goal is to preserve the coastline in the California region of Santa Barbara. This area is unofficially called the "California Riviera" due to its excellent climate, good seaside location and a huge number of first-class beaches.
9. Henry Samueli
Donation amount - $ 200 million
In the ninth line of the list of the largest donations in the world, there is a generous donation of $ 200 million. Broadcom co-founder Henry Samueli transferred this amount to the account of the University of California, Irvine. The funds will be spent on a new College of Health Sciences.
This is not Samuel's only charity event. He has received several awards for his philanthropic work.
8. A. James and Alice Clark Foundation
Donated - $ 219.5 million
This non-profit organization invests to help "successful workers". The foundation is looking for grantees who create direct links between efforts and opportunities - from scholarships for engineering students to top sports schools for children and veteran reintegration programs.
Last year, the University of Maryland received funds from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation for such purposes as the issuance of scholarships to students and the development of various research programs.
“This investment is historic in scale and transformational impact, and my words are not empty words,” said Wallace University President D. Law. “Access to higher education is essential if we want to tackle urgent national problems. Creating this path for the most promising students in engineering and other fields may well prove to be Mr. Clark's greatest legacy. ”
7. Roy and Diana Vagelos
Donated - $ 250 million
At the seventh line in the list of the most generous philanthropists-billionaires is the former CEO of the American pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. He and his wife, Diana, donated $ 250 million to the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.This money will go towards student payments and various scientific programs.
6. Helen Diller Foundation
Donation amount - $ 500 million
This family-run foundation, created in 1999 by Sanford and Helen Diller, promotes culture, science and the arts, primarily in the Gulf region and Israel. The priority for the organization is education and most of the grants go to well-known educational institutions.
Last year, half a billion dollars were donated to the University of California, San Francisco to fund student scholarships, recruit staff, and develop various educational programs.
5. Florence Irving
Donated - $ 600 million
As can be seen from the “rating of good deeds”, in 2017, generous charitable donations were received not only by various foundations. University medical centers and colleges have also often received millions of dollars in gifts.
So Florence Irving - the widow of Sysco Corporation co-founder Herbert Irving - donated $ 600 million to two medical centers in America, following the lead of Roy Vagelos.
4. Henry Hillman
Donated $ 800 million (inheritance)
During his lifetime, the richest man in Pittsburgh, he took an active part in the development of his hometown. Henry received significant support from his wife, who also serves on the board of the Hillman Foundations. The couple were considered the most respected benefactors of Pittsburgh.
Henry Hillman passed away in 2017 at the very venerable age of 98. According to his will, $ 800 million was donated to the Hillman Family Foundations, the administrative and programmatic office for 18 foundations associated with the Hillman family.
3. Michael and Susan Dell
Donations - $ 1 billion
The founder of Dell Corporation is estimated at $ 23.6 billion. And he donated one of his billions, with the consent of his wife, to the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.
Since 1999, this fund has committed $ 1.38 billion to nonprofit and social enterprises in the United States, India, and South Africa. “We believe that through this work we can change the lives of children living in urban poverty and improve the future for every generation,” the foundation's website says.
2. Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan
Donated - $ 1.19 billion
The co-founder of the popular social networking site Facebook and his wife have provided two of their non-profit organizations with just over a billion dollars.
The purpose of these organizations is "to advance human potential and promote equality in areas such as health, education, research and energy."
1. Bill and Melinda Gates
Donated - $ 4.6 billion
The Microsoft founder and his wife, Melinda, have donated billions of dollars in shares of the company to their private foundation, the Gates Foundation. Its activities are aimed at improving the health care system and reducing poverty around the world, as well as improving the education system in the United States.
The fund allocated funds for the immunization of children in India and Africa, for the fight against malaria, and for the program for the prevention and treatment of AIDS and tuberculosis.