Some discussion over on Shrewdm.com about whether choosing Howard Buffett as Chairman of the Board is encouraging, nepotism at its worst, or what?
For those who haven’t wandered over there and are interested:
I found this on a social media site, it seems to have met with some interest, so I reprint it here for those who stay on this board;
He is truly a great man. He has invested more in Ukraine than 185 countries combined. You know Howard Buffett, Warren Buffett’s middle son.He is 71 years old. He dropped out of college three times. He drinks Dr Pepper and looks for a McDonald’s wherever he travels.
Since the war began, his foundation has become the largest private donor to Ukraine, contributing $1.4 billion. In four years, he has personally visited Ukraine 27 times. In April 2022, he saw farm machinery destroyed by fire and called the president of John Deere:
“How many combine harvesters are available in Europe?”
“Fifteen. They were all destined for Russia.”
“I’ll take them all.”Then came all the New Holland equipment available in Europe. In total, more than 100 tractors and combine harvesters were supplied to Ukrainian farmers. He even personally tested demining equipment—on his farm in Illinois—by detonating charges under the rollers. When a Ukrainian deputy minister expressed doubts, Buffett told him:
“Stop counting my tractors. If necessary, I’ll blow up a thousand of them.”Andriy Stavnitser had initially asked him for $1 million for Superhumans. Buffett asked how much was needed to build the entire center.
“$14 million.”
“Fine. And what do you expect in return?”
“Nothing. Just build it.”Today, his support for Superhumans has reached $77 million, and the center has treated more than 1,700 patients. But his largest area of expenditure is neither farm machinery nor prosthetics.
It is food: 642 million meals. And that is just part of it:
* 344,000 windows replaced following Russian attacks;
* 9 bridges, 4 power plants, 2,500 generators, and 18 DNA laboratories;
* A large part of Bucha rebuilt using his own funds.
“I already have more friends in Ukraine than back home,” he says.He celebrates birthdays in Ukraine, visits for Christmas, and even has a Ukrainian godchild.
Friends, this is truly a great man—someone who understands that he cannot take all his money with him when he leaves this world.I simply want to thank him and wish him all the best. Whatever else might be said, this is real help from a person who had no personal obligation to Ukraine. He simply chose to help.
As I said there, I didn’t vet this for every tiny fact mentioned, Mungo put it through Ai and found that it is generally true, if exaggerated on one or two points. Anyway, here it is for your listening and dancing pleasure.