Posted on 07/03/2003 5:42:19 PM PDT by invstg8r
Today Berkshire-Hathaway has announced that it will stop its shareholder-designated contributions program.
Quote from the Berkshire-Hathaway press release:
"Berkshire Hathaway has terminated its shareholder-designated contributions program, which has distributed approximately $197 million since it was begun in 1981. This program has allowed holders of Berkshire’s A shares to designate a per-share sum for the company to contribute to as many as three charities, the only requirement being that the designee have 501(c)(3) status. The program thus allowed a wide diversity of donations, some of them controversial but all outside the control of Berkshire."
The entire press release can be viewed at:
http://www.berkshirehathaway.com/news/newslist.htmlIn addition to the press release, an e-mail was sent to all Pampered Chef Consultants at 5:45 pm tonight (7-3-03). A copy of the letter follows:
Subj: Message from Doris Christopher Date: Thu, 03 Jul 2003 17:45:46 CDT From: web_mail@pamperedchef.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- We are pleased to provide you with the following letter from Doris Christopher. You are welcome to share this letter with others. This information is being communicated to you, our sales field, in the following manner. A hard copy of this letter will be mailed to you next week.
* 4:45p.m. - ExecuFlash - Exec. Directors and above * 5:15p.m. - E-mail blast - Director levels * 5:45p.m. - E-mail blast - All Consultants U.S. and Canada All times listed above are Central Standard Time.
Dear Kitchen Consultants:
I have shared with you my pride in being a part of the Berkshire Hathaway family of businesses. I knew that this was the kind of family where The Pampered Chef would thrive and grow for years to come. I have also shared with you my feelings of respect for Warren Buffett.
Today, I am even more proud to call Warren my mentor, leader and friend.
This week I went to Warren with a heavy heart. I told him that many of our Kitchen Consultants were concerned and troubled with Berkshire Hathaway's donation policies - specifically the contributions to pro-choice organizations and to the Buffett Foundation. I knew that I could speak with Warren frankly and that he would want to hear of the issues impacting your business.
It troubled him deeply that charitable donations from Berkshire Hathaway were causing you difficulty. He listened to me carefully and with great compassion. He understands that as his family of Berkshire companies expands, it becomes more diverse, and there are opinions and concerns that need to be taken into consideration. Warren Buffett made a landmark decision regarding the long-standing corporate giving policies of Berkshire Hathaway. His decision was this:
Effective immediately, Berkshire Hathaway will cease all corporate contributions of any kind to any non-profit organization. This means there will be no donations from Berkshire Hathaway to the Buffett Foundation. Let me be clear, there will be no possibility of any Pampered Chef profits being donated to any cause other than those we initiate, including our three current charitable giving programs: Round-Up from the Heart, Help Whip Cancer and the Family Resiliency Program.
Warren Buffett made his landmark decision after hearing what was in my heart and in yours. I believe that Kitchen Consultants, hosts and customers are a diverse group of individuals with different opinions and beliefs. Our business is built on trust and on personal relationships. Warren understands our business and wants you to be successful in every way, able to do business with people of all backgrounds and beliefs.
I admire Warren Buffett for his heart and his insight. He is a wise leader!
Thank you for all you do to make this company strong.
Doris K. Christopher Founder and Chairman
It's doubtful that he will.
The tally is approaching 50,000,000 dead shredded babies in the USA since 1973, and counting.
Dear Lord please make a way of escape for those that have truly confessed your name when you judge this nation for it's evil slaughter of the preborn.
Good for B-H. Who is gonna stop the Commies at Ford Foundation, though?
$$$$ will not buy him "squat" when "his" day arrives.
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