Giving it All Away
June 23, 2010 at 10:34
Doris Buffett's life has been peppered with privilege and heartache. Born to an "ordinary" family in Nebraska during the Depression, she endured emotional abuse from her mother, thrived in Washington, D.C., as the daughter of a Congressman, and then floundered after she dropped out of college and tried to find a sense of purpose amid the constraints put on 1950s housewives.
The years brought failed marriages, depression, cancer, and near financial ruin. They also brought her a $100 million inheritance that she has spent the last 14 years giving away to those who are less fortunate. Doris was practicing "pay it forward" philanthropy long before "pay it forward" became a cultural catch phrase. Her experiences and empathy for those caught in difficult circumstances have made her a champion of abused women and children, those suffering from mental illness, prisoners, and others who are victims of circumstances beyond their control.
Case-by-case, person-by-person, cause-by-cause, Doris has been investing her millions in people she believes will work hard to change their own lives and move forward to help others in need. Her philanthropy is based not on charity but empowerment, on sending good, not just dollars, out into the world.
Doris is the reason my town has a beautiful public swimming pool, located not in the quaint and charming historic district but on the side of town seldom seen by tourists. The pool, featuring slides, fountains, and waterfalls, lounge chairs and big umbrellas, is within walking distance of a rundown part of the town that frequently appears in the city police reports. Because of Doris, admission to this pool is FREE to city residents. Every other pool in the city is "members only" but this pool is not only open to everyone but open to everyone at no cost.
Doris is a local celebrity here, but not because her brother is Warren Buffet. She has distinguished herself not by accumulating or flaunting her wealth, but sharing it.
My friend Mike, a journalist and public relations professional, has know Doris for years and has captured the ups and downs of her story and the power of her indomitable spirit in Giving it All Away: The Doris Buffett Story
It's been favorably reviewed by Publishers Weekly and Kirkus and featured on Good Morning America, CNN, Nightline, and Fox News. Released on May 1, it's already a success and is being translated into Chinese for the international market. You can read reviews and view media interviews with Doris here.
Giving it All Away is inspirational, easy to read, and engaging--the best book to take with you on your summer holiday.
Doris Buffett, Giving It All Away, Michael Zitz, Warren Buffett in Friends, Reviews
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