Annual Auction for Lunch with Warren Buffett to Benefit San Francisco’s GLIDE, June 3–8, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO - Thursday, May 24th 2012 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For the 13th year, Warren Buffett, legendary investor and philanthropist, will host his charity power lunch to benefit San Francisco’sGLIDE, one of the country’s most respected and beloved charitable organizations. Last year’s winning bid on eBayset a world-record at $2,626,411.00.

Over the years, the Warren Buffett Lunch Charity Auctionhas raised more than $11.5 million for GLIDE. The power lunch event was born out of a friendship between Buffett’s late wife Susan, who attended GLIDE’s Sunday Celebrations, and GLIDE Founders Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani. Over the past dozen years, the two men have created a unique friendship grounded in a legacy of generosity.

The funds raised from the Buffett auction have been used to directly aid San Francisco’s neediest residents through GLIDE’s various programs. In addition to serving nearly one million meals annually, GLIDE provides supportive housing, a nationally recognized community health clinic, a rooftop garden and dozens of service programs designed to help with people’s basic needs.

“I am extremely grateful to my friend Warren Buffett for his exceptional commitment to giving back to the community and supporting organizations like ours that directly help the neediest people in our society,” said GLIDE’s Founder Reverend Cecil Williams.

“What I witnessed is an institution and individual that really gave up on nobody,” Buffett said referring to GLIDE and Williams. “They took the people that the rest of the world would have forgotten, people who had given up on themselves. And they felt every human being had a potential, no matter what their circumstances.”

This year’s auction beginsJune 3 at 7:30pm (PDT) and runs toJune 8 at 7:30pm (PDT). Bidding starts at $25,000 and all bidders must pre-qualify through Kompolt,specialists in Cause Branded Social Media. The lunch will be listed through eBay Giving Works. The winning bidder may invite seven friends to join Buffett for lunch at Smith & Wollensky, “the quintessential New York steakhouse.” Since 2004, Smith & Wollensky has donated $10,000 annually to GLIDE for the privilege of hosting the lunch.

For information on the auction or to pre-qualify, visit: www.GlideLunchWithWarrenBuffett.com, call 415-674-6070or emailBuffett@Glide.org. For more information about GLIDE, visit www.Glide.org.

Contacts

For GLIDE

Denise Lamott, 415-381-8793

Denise@DeniseLamottPR.com