In 2010, Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates launched the Giving Pledge, a platform for some of the world's wealthiest people to dedicate the majority of their wealth to philanthropy. Judy Faulkner, founder and CEO of Verona, Wis.-based Epic Systems, is one of the latest individuals to join the Giving Pledge, according to a Forbes report.
Ms. Faulkner joins 136 other individuals and families who have pledged to donate at least half of their fortunes to charity. In her formal pledge letter, Ms. Faulkner said she plans to give away 99 percent of her assets.
In May, Forbes named Ms. Faulkner among the "Wealthiest Female Techies in America," noting her net worth at $2.6 billion.
In her pledge letter, Ms. Faulkner said that while Epic needs to remain financially secure so the company can help healthcare organizations take better care of patients, she never cared for the money.
"The work of my life has been to develop software that would help keep people well and help sick people get better…Epic needs to be strong, successful and financially secure so that we can continue to support the healthcare community and build creative solutions for the future," Ms. Faulkner wrote.
She continued, "But I never had any personal desire to be a wealthy billionaire living lavishly." Ms. Faulkner mentions in her letter how her shares from Epic are going into a foundation that will give money to continue to improve healthcare.
"Many years ago I asked my young children what two things they needed from their parents," she wrote. "They said, 'food and money.' I told them, 'roots and wings.' My goal in pledging 99 percent of my assets to philanthropy is to help others with roots — food, warmth, shelter, healthcare, education — so they too can have wings."
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