GLIDE is pleased to announce The Power of One Lunch, the 16th Annual eBay Power Lunch with Warren Buffett Auction. Offered through eBay Giving Works, one of the largest charitable giving platforms, bidding for this year’s charity auction opens at 7:30 pm PDT on Sunday, May 31, and closes at 7:30 p.m. PDT on Friday, June 5.
Each year, legendary investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett hosts just one charity lunch, always in support of GLIDE. Over the past 16 years, Buffett’s sustained commitment -- and the giving spirit of the winning bidders -- have helped raised nearly $18 million to support GLIDE’s unwavering mission to help San Francisco’s residents in need.
“This auction has empowered and inspired so many people,” said GLIDE’s Co-Founder and Minister of Liberation Reverend Cecil Williams. “Mr. Buffett has extended GLIDE’s legacy of unconditional love and acceptance. Offering this luncheon is different. It’s creative. It’s innovative. It’s a unique way to inspire others to see how they can give and connect with the humanity that is perhaps invisible to them.”
“We are profoundly moved by the generosity of all the bidders and Warren Buffett’s commitment to our neighborhood and community,” said Janice Mirikitani, Co-Founder of GLIDE. “The divides are getting bigger between the haves and have-nots. Mr. Buffett inspires others who have the means to help bridge that divide – and every person who is involved is a pillar to that bridge.”
This year’s auction offers bidders an opportunity to be one of those pillars, to be a part of one of the country’s most well-respected and progressive philanthropies, to leave a legacy of generosity – and make this powerful investment for good by sharing a meal and conversation with the world’s most renowned investor.
“GLIDE helped me understand just how much a life can be transformed by unconditional love and some real material help,” said Buffett. “Nobody who’s donated to GLIDE has ever felt shortchanged. They always get their money’s worth.”
“eBay is committed to building a future that enables and inspires charitable giving at scale, and is grounded in what the company does best – technology enabled commerce,” said eBay’s vice president of Global Communications, Claire Dixon. “Last year alone, we helped charities raise $91.6 million - eBay is a proud supporter and partner to GLIDE as we assist in its mission of helping San Francisco residents in need.”
Bidding for this year’s eBay charity auction opens at 7:30 pm PDT on Sunday, May 31, and closes at 7:30 p.m. PDT on Friday, June 5. The bidding starts at $25,000 and all bidders will be pre-qualified prior to bidding. eBay, who will host the auction for the thirteenth year in a row, will augment their support for GLIDE in 2015 with additional cash donations and an employee volunteer event. To pre-qualify, visit: ebay.com/glide. The winning bidder will have the opportunity to invite up to seven friends to join him or her and Mr. Buffett for lunch at Smith & Wollensky in New York City. Since 2004, Alan Stillman, founder of Smith & Wollensky, has generously donated at least $10,000 each year to GLIDE for the privilege of hosting the lunch. Smith & Wollensky has been called “the quintessential New York steakhouse” by Gourmet Magazine and “the steakhouse to end all arguments” by The New York Times.
The Annual Warren Buffett Lunch Charity Auction was conceived in 2000 by the late Susie Buffett who had a strong affinity for GLIDE and its work to provide dignity and opportunity to all people, regardless of income, gender, religion, political persuasion or any other factor. Each year, generous donors bid for the opportunity to meet Warren Buffett for lunch in New York City at Smith & Wollensky. Over the past 15 years, the winning bids have ranged from $25,000 to $3,456,789, with the funds going directly to support GLIDE’s programs, which help people overcome hunger, poverty, homelessness and debilitating health challenges. Last year’s auction brought in $2,166,766.
For more information about the 16th GLIDE Annual eBay Auction for a Power Lunch with Warren Buffett, please contact GLIDE at (415) 674-6001,Buffett@Glide.org, or visit ebay.com/glide. For more information about GLIDE please visit www.Glide.org.