Doris Buffett, Warren Buffett's Big Giving Big Sister

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Dec 21st 2010 at 12:02AM

Warren Buffett isn't the only philanthropist in his family. The oracle of Omaha has a big giver for a big sister too. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports on 82-year-old Doris Buffett and her Sunshine Lady Foundation. The article says that she has already given away about $120 million, about half way toward her goal of giving away all her assents in her life time. So far her foundation has helped a variety of charities offering scholarships, help for families in crisis and more on an individual hands-on basis.

The Sunshine Lady Foundation is a private family foundation founded in 1996 by Doris Buffett and each Sunshine Lady Foundation grant is considered an investment in the recipient. The Times-Dispatch article says that big projects have included construction of a Boys and Girls Club, housing for people with intellectual disabilities, college scholarships for abused women, and a college degree program for prisoners.

Warren Buffett has defined the difference between his version of philanthropy and his sister's, saying: "I'm wholesale. She's retail." He praised his sister for her method of changing individual lives saying he is very proud of her. The Sunshine Lady Foundation has volunteers who read about 100 letters a day, vetting them each individually. Check out a video with the inspiring Doris Buffett after the jump.

Tags: doris buffett, philanthropy, warren buffett