Mark Zuckerberg welcomed his first daughter into the world today, and he did so with gusto.
In an open letter posted to Facebook introducing his girl Max to the social network he invented, he announced that he wanted to make the world a better place for her.
For most of us, that would consist of modest monthly contributions into our kid’s 529 college savings plan in the hope that they aren’t saddled with tremendous student loan debt and I guess some recycling, but we are not messianic tech billionares.
Mark, as you may know, comes from different means.
Instead, he and his wife have pledged 99% of their Facebook shares to charity in the name of providing a better planet for their daughter.
You know, a cool 45 billion dollars.
As you begin the next generation of the Chan Zuckerberg family, we also begin the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to join people across the world to advance human potential and promote equality for all children in the next generation. Our initial areas of focus will be personalized learning, curing disease, connecting people and building strong communities.
We will give 99% of our Facebook shares — currently about $45 billion — during our lives to advance this mission. We know this is a small contribution compared to all the resources and talents of those already working on these issues. But we want to do what we can, working alongside many others.
No pressure, though, Max.
Seriously, Max. No pressure at all.
You can read his whole screed here.