Bill Gates’s Philanthropy: Giving the American Way

To the Editor:

It seemed that for months my development colleagues were telling Bill Gates that he should give or give more, or that he should be supporting this or that program.

I was puzzled, having always believed that the act of giving a charitable gift was one of free will. Otherwise, it can hardly be called “charitable” or “philanthropic.”

But I was certain that those same colleagues, upon learning that Mr. Gates had funded the country’s largest foundation from his own assets (“Gift Makes Gates Fund No. 1 in U.S.,” August 26), would be sending him congratulatory letters by way of The Chronicle. I’ve been watching closely, but have yet to see any such letters. Perhaps they’re waiting until the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation changes its priority giving to programs that they think are important.

Congratulations, Mr. Gates. You’ve done it the American way. You made the money from your own ingenuity and effort, and you are giving the money to programs and causes that you believe to be important.

David Collver
President
Maine General Health Trust
Augusta, Me.

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To the Editor:

It seems we as a society today are more interested in finding an ulterior motive when people decide to give to others. I just want to thank Bill Gates for giving to others who are less fortunate.

I don’t think my one voice will make any difference in the scope of things, but too many people let the news media speak for them by keeping silent. We all should ask, “What can I do to help?”

Twila Dalrymple
Pickerington, Ohio