Gates: Rare Wisdom For a Neophyte Giver

To the Editor:

In a year, Bill Gates has gone from being criticized for his lack of philanthropy to being a member of the Andrew Carnegie league of philanthropists.

And for a neophyte in the field, he seems to have begun with uncommon wisdom. Research into immunizations for diseases common in poor countries is perhaps the finest form of charity, ahead even of Maimonides’ top category, teaching someone to make his own living so he no longer needs help. (Immunization could be thought of as the easiest form of teaching, as it involves teaching someone’s immune system.)

The recent announcement that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will dedicate a billion dollars to the support of higher education for minority students (“Gates Pledges $1-Billion in Scholarships,” September 23) is a huge step forward, and comes at the top of Maimonides’ scale. Both of these brilliant ideas on how to give money away usefully are likely to make the world richer, as well as healthier and fairer, over the next generation. May Mr. Gates live long and see the results.

Talent, fate, and chance have given great wealth to various people throughout history. Rarely has great wealth come to someone with such an innate talent for sharing it wisely.

David Grant
San Antonio