“We’ve really just started, but already we’ve had a terrific response,” said Warren Buffett, pledge
co-founder and chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. “At its core, the Giving Pledge is
about asking wealthy families to have important conversations about their wealth and how it will
be used. We’re delighted that so many people are doing just that – and that so many have
decided to not only take this pledge but also to commit to sums far greater than the 50%
minimum level.”

Wealthy supporters from throughout the country have come forward to join the pledge, including
the following 40 families and individuals. A full list of those taking the pledge and personal
pledge letters by many of these supporters outlining their commitment to give is available online
at www.givingpledge.org.

The Giving Pledge is an effort to help address society’s most pressing problems by inviting the
wealthiest American families and individuals to commit to giving more than half of their wealth to
philanthropy or charitable causes. The pledge is a moral commitment to give, not a legal
contract, and it does not involve pooling money or supporting a particular set of causes or
organizations. While it is specifically focused on billionaires, the idea takes its inspiration from
other efforts that encourage and recognize givers of all financial means and backgrounds.

Select Pledge Letter Excerpts
The following excerpts have been taken from letters written by pledge signatories on their personal motivation to give. Please visit www.givingpledge.org to view these letters and others in their entirety.

• Laura and John Arnold: “We view our wealth in this light – not as an end in itself, but
as an instrument to effect positive and transformative change.”

• Michael R. Bloomberg: “If you want to do something for your children and show how
much you love them, the single best thing – by far – is to support organizations that will
create a better world for them and their children. And by giving, we inspire others to give
of themselves, whether their money or their time.”

• Eli and Edythe Broad: “Those who have been blessed with extraordinary wealth have
an opportunity, some would say a responsibility – we consider it a privilege – to give
back to their communities, be they local, national or global.”

• Warren Buffett: “Were we to use more than 1% of my claim checks (Berkshire
Hathaway stock certificates) on ourselves, neither our happiness nor our well-being
would be enhanced. In contrast, that remaining 99% can have a huge effect on the
health and welfare of others.”

• Bill and Melinda Gates: “We have been blessed with good fortune beyond our wildest
expectations, and we are profoundly grateful. But just as these gifts are great, so we feel
a great responsibility to use them well. That is why we are so pleased to join in making
an explicit commitment to the Giving Pledge.”

• Barron Hilton: “It is my hope that others are inspired by my father’s story, and by our
family’s steadfast adherence to his charitable philosophy.”

• Jon and Karen Huntsman: “It has been clear to me since my earliest childhood
memories that my reason for being was to help others.”

• George B. Kaiser: “I had the advantage of both genetics (winning the “ovarian lottery”)
and upbringing. As I looked around at those who did not have these advantages, it
became clear to me that I had a moral obligation to direct my resources to help right that
balance.”

• Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest: “The ultimate achievement in life is how you feel about
yourself. And giving your wealth away to have an impact for good does help with that
feeling.”

• Lorry I. Lokey: “There’s an old saying about farmers putting back in to the ground via
fertilizer what they take out. So it is with money. The larger the estate, the more
important it is to revitalize the soil.”

• George Lucas: “My pledge is to the process; as long as I have the resources at my
disposal, I will seek to raise the bar for future generations of students of all ages. I am
dedicating the majority of my wealth to improving education.”

• Tashia and John Morgridge: “The more personally involved we have become with the
causes we support the more effective we seem to be.”

• Peter G. Peterson: “As I watched and learned from my father’s example, I noticed how
much pleasure his giving to others gave him. Indeed, today, I get much more pleasure
giving money to what I consider worthwhile causes than making the money in the first
place.”

• David Rockefeller: “Our family continues to be united in the belief that those who have
benefitted the most from our nation’s economic system have a special responsibility to
give back to our society in meaningful ways.”

• Jeff Skoll: “The world is a vast and complicated place and it needs each of us doing all
we can to ensure a brighter tomorrow for future generations.”

• Tom Steyer and Kat Taylor: “Surely the pleasure we derive from St. Francis’ active
verbs of consoling, understanding, loving, giving and pardoning far outweigh any selfish
and passive pleasures of owning, having, or possessing.”

• Ted Turner: “I’m particularly thankful for my father’s advice to set goals so high that they
can’t possibly be achieved during a lifetime and to give help where help is needed most.
That inspiration keeps me energized and eager to keep working hard every day on
giving back and making the world a better place for generations to come.”

• Sanford and Joan Weill: “Our Pledge is this: We will continue to give away all of the
wealth we have been so fortunate to make except for a very small percentage allocated
to our children and grandchildren between now and the time we pass because we are
firm believers that shrouds don’t have pockets.”

- Ted Turner has given more than $1.5 billion to date
- Donald Bren has given more than $1.3 billion as of 2008
- William and Flora Hewlett Foundation gave about $785 million in grants in 2008
- Gordon and Betty Moore give about $183 million each year
- David Gelbaum has given more than $380 million since 2005
- Robert Wilson has given more than $300 million as of April 2009
- Doug and Kris Tompkins has given about $275 million as of October 2009