From: "Simon Finnigan" 
Newsgroups: uk.finance
Subject: Re: Never Trust A Celebrity Philanthropist
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 12:24:35 +0100

Tumbleweed wrote:
>> Following these links leads to an extremely disturbing phrase from
>> Warren Buffett to his relatives : "Conversely, avoid making small
>> contributions to the multitude of worthwhile activities that have
>> many possible funders and that would likely proceed without your
>> help."
>
> maybe he is suggesting that you should make contributions that make a
> difference, eg start up a new charity, or make a big difference to an
> existing one, rather than just a few pennies in a bucket.
>
> ....Just a different POV to your jaundiced one.

And deffinately the one I`d go for.  With 10 billion you can make a serious 
difference.  £5 can get a few condoms and education for an area that needs 
help dealing with HIV infections- fine and brilliant, it`s a good gift.  But 
10 billion can fund research to produce better anti-HIV drugs and then gives 
them away across every area that needs them.  You`d need too many donors of 
£5 to be able to do that, and in the meantime who`d provide the nets?  But a 
massive cash infusion can allow you to carry on doing the basic cheap first 
aid kind of help (condoms) while working on the cure (drugs/vacine).