Google Founder Sergey Brin Donates $1 Million To HISA, Jewish Charity That Helped Family Relocate

New York Times:

Were it not for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, there might be no Google.

Thirty years ago today, Sergey Brin, a 6-year-old Soviet boy facing an uncertain future, arrived in the United States with the help of the society.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[SwingingFromCenter]

How cavalier some of you are with someone else's money. Oh, he didn't give "enough" to your liking. Boo hoo. A million is a huge chunk of change.

Course, this coming from people who probably only donate 20 bucks a year.

[AbeMartin]

Well, of course you have point, but proportionally, a $20 donation coming from someone making $40,000 per year and a net worth of $100k, represents a contribution 1/5000th. To that person it is a much larger contribution than Mr. Brin's $1 million donation. He gave a nice sum of money (and got a nice tax write off), but the Brin's gift represents approximately 1/16,000th of his total worth. Assuming his fortune is appreciating at about $1 billion per year, he is donating the equivalent of, oh, I'd guess two hours worth of his income to the agency that brought him and his family over.

I am encouraged by extremely wealthy people like Ted Turner, Paul Newman, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet and George Soros, who say, "I can live pretty comfortably on $1 billion. I will give the rest to charity, educaiton, , medical research." When Sergei ponies up in that way, I will be impressed.

[Feanor]

his 'total worth' is based on his stock holdings, which arent really worth anything until he sells them. But what he gave away was real money.

[NilesCrane]

whats different from jews and every other religion on the planet, is that when a jew becomes successful they always give back to their people, thats why they have survived so long....they help others get good educations, they fund public works projects in their area, they start charitable organizations all to give back to the people who helped them. I wish some of these music stars and professional sports players did the same....

[KIVPossum]

That's something I've admired in my friends of the faith. They give time and money to their community as a whole, and to members of their religion. Think how much could be done if protestants had the same attitude.

[BMS]

Wow. The nasty comments on here are unbelievable. The article says he has given $30 million to various charities SO FAR.

I'd just like to hear from the people making these hateful comments after they themselves give a million dollars to anyone. Anywhere.

Bless him for giving the gift. Who knows how many people it will help.

People making nasty comments are just envious.

[brady61995]

everytime someone donates money or time its nice. period

[Sinick]

Quit your bickering folks. This is a RARE and fading example of the lure of America and the way it SHOULD be in a perfect captialist society.

On the other hand, I hope that this news doesn't lull more immigrants into thinking that they too can be the next Sergey Brin. The deck is stacked higher against them now than at any time in our nation's history. If his name was Sergey Rodriguez, it would be another story altogether.

[katielady]

None of us know all the good he has done or may in the future.. Thank you Sergey..
More than the rich chowder heads in our Congress ever do..

[bgofca]

The article does not list all of the organizations to which he contributed. People who say that is a cheap donation are being stupid. It is wonderful for those who have done well to contribute their time and money to help others. He has done this. It is not up to us to judge the size of the gift in proportion to his wealth. As I said, this is just one group he has helped.
Instead of griping, get out and do something for the good of others, yourself.

[Mannock]

This is something that the commenters here haven't come to understand. This is ONE of many charities and projects that the Google guys give to. There are many more. Here's looking at you, Sergey!

[renatam]

Very cheap. Very small. Very sad.

[tonewheel]

And clearly, you didn't read either the article or his comments on how he plans on developing his philanthropic efforts.

[tonewheel]

As opposed to, what?

[BMS]

"Very small. Very sad." You must be looking in the mirror.

[EdMuse]

Big frickin' whoop!
That's a far, far cry from the 10% the Bible prescribes.
The lowest socio-economic class give far more of their income to charity, percentage-wise, than these self-righteous types and where are they celebrated in print?

[KIVPossum]

Throughout history the less afluent have done more, as a percentage of income, than upper classes. They are closer to poverty and understand it a bit better.

[skippypicasso]

Bible-schmible. Why does anyone in America have to adhere to your definition of an appropriate level of giving? The amount required is "$0.00."

[talkingdog]

I'm still cursing myself for not investing every penny I have into Google when it went public.

[zermatt]

What a nice Jewish boy.

[dwill123]

Charity, Eric Cantor was right.

[Feanor]

bizarre comments....

Someone gives away a million dollars and he's called cheap... lol

Jealousy is manifest at HuffPo

[ETSpoon]

Another heartwarming story of an American billionaire very publicly forking over a tiny scintilla of his fortune to a charitable organization, undoubtedly with an eye toward Heaven and the other on a sizable deduction for charitable giving on his '09 federal and state income tax.

[EdMuse]

Bingo!