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COPYRIGHT 2006 Voxant, Inc.
Original Source: NBC NIGHTLY NEWS
BRIAN WILLIAMS, ANCHOR: Giving it away. The two richest men in the world get together to make a multibillion-dollar difference. Tonight, who will be helped by their combined fortunes?
Coming home. The mixed messages on that plan to cut back U.S. troops in Iraq. Tonight, a reality check.
Washed out. Strong and sudden storms make a giant mess of the nation`s capital and much of the eastern seaboard.
And sales drive. What some of this nation`s carmakers may do to clear off their lots this summer. And here`s a hint -- we`ve been down this road before.
ANNOUNCER: From NBC News world headquarters in New York, this is NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS.
WILLIAMS: Good evening.
The second-richest man in the world has decided to give away his fortune, and he will give most of his money to the richest man in the world to distribute.
Warren Buffett always said he would give it away, but now he`s decided he`s not going to wait until he dies. He is giving $37 billion to the foundation run by Bill and Melinda Gates, and four other charitable foundations, because, Buffett says, he`s better at managing money than deciding where it should go.
To picture what this all means, think of an African villager with a loved one dying of AIDS and surrounded by the epidemic of malaria. Think of the young, bright student in a poor American town, who may never reach his or her true potential, because of second-rate schools and substandard books and computers.
Both of their worlds may be about to change in ways they may not be able to fathom, all because a few fortunate people with more money than they know what to do with have decided to give that money to those who could do a lot with it.
It is the largest single act of financial generosity in U.S. history.
We begin our coverage of this extraordinary story tonight with NBC`s Dawn Fratangelo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAWN FRATANGELO, NBC CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Warren Buffett says it was a simple decision.
WARREN BUFFETT, BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY: We always were agreed it would all go back to society.
FRATANGELO: During a multimedia blitz today on TV and the Web, Buffett gave away most of his fortune...
BUFFETT: There we go.
FRATANGELO: ... much of it to the foundation run by Bill and Melinda Gates.
The donation alone is staggering, more than any charitable gift in history.
BILL GATES, MICROSOFT: It`ll be hard work to make sure it`s all well spent. It means doubling over the next three years up to over $3 billion a year of giving.
FRATANGELO: Gates, just two weeks ago, announced he give up day-to- day operations at Microsoft to focus on the foundation and its work in global health and education.
BUFFETT: They have a proven track record of making a difference. They`re already scaled up. They`re doing extraordinary work.
FRATANGELO: One example, a child vaccination program in poor countries. The Gateses say it has saved 1.7 million lives. Now, with the added money, Melinda Gates today was aiming for a loftier goal.
MELINDA GATES: In our lifetime, I hope that we see a solution to AIDS, a long-lasting solution.
FRATANGELO (on camera): Gates and Buffett met in 1991. They share a love of bridge, a knack for accumulating wealth, and are now the new role models of philanthropy.
DANIEL BOROCHOFF, AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHILANTHROPY: This is wonderful, if people can think that that goal is not to buy a Lexus, the goal is to make money so that you can do good and help the world.
FRATANGELO (voice-over): Buffett always intended...
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