We know that Spanx founder Sara Blakely is a pretty spectacular woman, having created a wildly successful line of shape wear that can be found all over the world while still managing to keep her feet on the ground. So if that isn’t enough of a reason to appreciate what she’s built for herself, here’s another reason to love her. In May of this year, Sara Blakely also became one of the newest members to join The Giving Pledge, a foundation created to motivate the world’s wealthiest people to commit more than half of their wealth to philanthropic causes.
The Giving Pledge is a joint venture created by Warren Buffet and Bill and Melinda Gates as a way to donate the majority of their fortunes to charity foundations and philanthropic causes that are close to their hearts. To date, there are 115 of the world’s billionaires who have pledged the majority of their wealth. The pledge does not directly donate an exact amount to The Giving Pledge or the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, but instead, works as a promise from the billionaires to society that they will contribute the majority of their wealth to the organizations of their choice over the course of their lifetime or upon their death.
Blakely is already known for her contributions to women’s charities and the establishment of the Sara Blakely Foundation, and says in her pledge letter that, “Since I was a little girl I have always known I would help women.” According to Blakely, Bill and Melinda Gates approached her at a dinner party they held, and Blakely spent a few months mulling the proposition over before deciding to make the pledge.
Of course, Blakely would never let her signature style be lost, even with joining such a large foundation. As a form of introduction in her pledge letter Blakely says, “At Spanx we say it’s our goal to make the world a better place, one butt at a time. With this pledge my goal is to make the world a better place… one woman at a time.” Even Blakely herself never thought such a success could be built from wanting a better looking behind.
Blakely is now among the likes of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and inventor Elon Musk, who have all made the same pledge. In the years to come, it will be both interesting and influential to see the good these entrepreneurs will continue to do, and who else will make such an impressive pledge.
© Zoe Begopoulos, DemGe Inc. 2013
