Promising to give more than half of their wealth to charity, Groupon CEO Eric Lefkofsky and his wife, Liz, are the latest billionaires to join The Giving Pledge.
Lefkofsky has said he supports human rights, medical and cultural programs, according to CNN Money. Liz Lefkofsky runs the couple's charity, the Lefkofsky Family Foundation.
Crain's Chicago Business reports Lefkofsky wrote in a letter about the pledge:
“Today Liz and I find ourselves in the rare position to be able to help so many people; a position neither of us takes lightly. We recognize that perhaps our greatest accomplishment — with the exception of the kids we raise — will come not from businesses we started, but from the help we provide to people and causes around the world.”
The brainchild of ultra-rich business-philanthropists Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates, the pledge is described as "a commitment by the world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy."
During the Tuesday announcement, the campaign revealed seven billionaires in all -- including the Lefkoskys and GoDaddy founder Bob Parsons and his wife Renee -- were taking the pledge.
“In this season of giving, we are inspired by the millions of people across the globe who give what they can in meaningful and significant ways,” Melinda Gates said, according to Forbes. “The Giving Pledge is rooted in this spirit and hopes to inspire people to tackle problems that are inherently difficult and diverse in an effort to address the pressing social issues they care about most.”
Lefkofsky, who lives in the northern Chicago suburb of Glencoe, is already active in several philanthropic efforts around the Windy City. According to the Tribune, he currently serves as a trustee for the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, Steppenwolf Theater Company, the Museum of Science and Industry and World Business Chicago.
As of September, Forbes estimated Lefkofsky to be worth an estimated $.175 billion making him the 408th richest person in the U.S. In addition to serving as Groupon's boss after the ouster of founder Andrew Mason, Lefkofsky also co-founded the venture capital firm Lightbank.