Scotland's richest man to give away £1bn before he dies

[corksean]

Source: The Guardian (UK)

The billionaire retail entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter has pledged to give away more than £1bn to good causes in one of the UK's biggest ever charitable donations.

Sir Tom, a self-made billionaire who began his business life selling trainers out of a garage in New Cumnock, Ayrshire, is Scotland's richest man and intends to give the money away during his lifetime. He has a track record of supporting projects ranging from supporting young Scottish entrepreneurs to backing development projects in Africa.

......

"My own personal belief is that with great wealth comes great responsibility," Sir Tom told the BBC. "Therefore you've got to take care of these things if wealth creation is still going to be seen as a positive force by the rest of the population,"

To date he has donated £125m to charitable causes, including $100m (£50m) to the Clinton Hunter Development Initiative, run in conjunction with the former US president Bill Clinton, which targets economic development projects, healthcare, water and sanitation projects in Africa.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2128984,00.html

[baby_mouse]

1. Now if they were ALL like that... NT

[LeftishBrit]

2. Good for him!

Now if only everyone who had the odd billion to spare would use it in this way!

[Dogmudgeon]

3. The odd billion to spare

You just reminded me -- I'll check between the cushions of the sofa!

--p!

[ClintonTyree]

4. ......."with great wealth comes great responsibility".

Oh that every corporate billionaire felt the same way. Most often it's, "I got mine, you get your own". A corporate billionaire with a conscience: about as hard to find as an honest Republican.

:applause: Kudos for Sir Thomas Hunter

[Lautremont]

8. Truly the Spiderman of the monocled set. (nt)

[AngryAmish]

5. Can I have 50 pounds to mend the shed?

[Robb]

6. LOL!

...That's good enough to deserve a YouTube link! :rofl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxpyuVWh9a8

[booksenkatz]

14. Thanks for the laugh!

I hadn't thought of that in years, brings back great memories!
:)

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. Reminds me of Andrew Carnegie

Who was, interestingly enough, also Scottish. Born into a poor immigrant family in the US, Carnegie's first job was as a telegrapher for the early railroads. He went on to found and run the Carnegie Steel Company in Pittsburgh. He sold his company in 1901 to J. P. Morgan, and used the vast fortune this sale generated for philanthropic works until his death on August 11, 1919. There are hundreds of public libraries, universities, research facilities and similar institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom which owe their existence to his fortune.

[Crowman1979]

9. You know what would be funny.

If one of these billionaires gave away their fortune to charities before they die and the will can be stated as this "APRIL FOOLS!!! THERE IS NO MONEY! HA HA HA HA!!!"

[Rambis]

10. Great Scott!

We need more selfish pricks here to do as much!

[guitar man]

11. Hey, Sir Tom!!

Over here.....I'm a good cause :hi:

[Blue_Tires]

12. i could use a few thou

i PROMISE i'm a charity case!

[trof]

13. Maybe I can get a TOARAWF* grant?

*Trof Old Age Retirement And Whoopee Fund
;-)

[shenmue]

15. Good to hear

There are still some nice people left. :loveya: :patriot:

[Courtesy Flush]

16. You don't need billions

We have written our favorite charities into our will. We'd be hard pressed to donate major funds now, but when we're dead, our savings will go to good causes.

Remember, your kids will squander your life savings as soon as they get their hands on it. Set some aside for charity. (we don't have kids, so that's easy for me to say)