In a move which will stun billions of people around the world, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Pricilla Chan have pledged to donate 99 percent of their Facebook shares to charity.
The couple welcomed their first child – daughter Max – into the world early last week but it was in a public announcement of her arrival that the pair revealed their generous intentions.
“Dear Max,” the letter begins, “Your mother and I don't yet have the words to describe the hope you give us for the future. Your new life is full of promise, and we hope you will be happy and healthy so you can explore it fully. You've already given us a reason to reflect on the world we hope you live in.”
It goes on to reveal Zuckerberg and Chan’s philanthropic mission of – “advancing human potential and promoting equality” and say they will make long-term investments accordingly.
“We will give 99% of our Facebook shares – currently about $45 billion – during our lives to advance this mission,” the doting mother and father write in the letter, which they shared on Facebook.
“We know this is a small contribution compared to all the resources and talents of those already working on these issues,” they continued. “But we want to do what we can, working alongside many others.”
The pair also say they will share more details in the coming months – one they’ve settled into their “new family rhythm.”
“As we become parents and enter this next chapter of our lives, we want to share our deep appreciation for everyone who makes this possible,” they add.
“We can do this work only because we have a strong global community behind us. Building Facebook has created resources to improve the world for the next generation. Every member of the Facebook community is playing a part in this work.”
The full letter can be read
here.
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