eBay | A Legacy of Generosity

SAN FRANCISCO, April 30, 2019 /3BL Media/ - GLIDE is pleased to announce the annual eBay for Charity Auction for Power Lunch with Warren Buffett, which will run Sunday, May 26 through Friday, May 31, 2019. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the legendary auction, which to date has provided nearly $30 million to support GLIDE’s comprehensive suite of social services that help San Francisco’s most vulnerable residents.

“It makes a difference, and it translates into human beings finding that there is hope in life and that something better is there,” Mr. Buffett said recently about the money raised for GLIDE over the past 20 years. “The rest of the society may have given up on them, but GLIDE is going to give them a chance to find out what their real potential is.  And the people that buy lunch feel good about that, I feel good about that. The most important thing, though, is what it does to resurrect many thousands of people from hopelessness.”

“I like backing the right people,” added Mr. Buffett. “There's nothing like backing winners and helping people become winners.”

The annual Power Lunch with Warren Buffett is made possible through the support of eBay for Charity—one of the world’s largest charitable platforms, which helps millions of eBay users support the causes they care about. The winning bidder and up to seven friends will have the opportunity to dine with Mr. Buffett at Smith & Wollensky in New York City.  

Conceived in 2000 by the late Susie Buffett, all proceeds from the Annual Power Lunch go to help vulnerable individuals and families through GLIDE’s integrated and comprehensive services that help people overcome hunger, poverty, homelessness and health challenges as well as social isolation and marginalization. Susie Buffett was a member of GLIDE who long maintained a strong affinity for GLIDE’s efforts to provide dignity and opportunity to all people, regardless of income, gender, religion, political persuasion or any other factor.

Over the past 19 years, the winning bids have ranged from $25,000 (prior to eBay’s involvement) to the millions on eBay, including the highest bid of $3,456,789. Last year’s winning bid was $3,300,100.00 Bidding for this year’s Power Lunch begins at 7:30 pm PDT on Sunday, May 26 and ends at 7:30 pm PDT on Friday, May 31. Bidding starts at $25,000 and all bidders must be pre-qualified prior. To pre-qualify, visit: eBay.com/GLIDE.   

“For two decades, this incredible generosity by Warren Buffett has allowed us to deliver services consistently and unconditionally to our neighbors who are in most need,” said GLIDE President and CEO Karen Hanrahan. “We are now poised to build on this legacy with a new generation of integrated services that will extend our reach, deepen our impact and effect systemic change to meet the ever-growing need and imminent challenges in San Francisco.”

“I’m so grateful for Warren’s continued partnership,” said GLIDE’s Co-Founder and Minister of Liberation Reverend Cecil Williams. “Our longtime friendship is grounded in a shared dedication to helping others and providing unconditional support.”

“I’m proud that we’ve played a part in supporting GLIDE, especially as we reflect on this milestone,” said eBay’s President and CEO Devin Wenig. “It’s an organization that has lifted up the most vulnerable among us and aligns with our values. I’m honored that Cecil, Janice and Warren have trusted eBay for Charity to support this important work.”

As host of the annual Power Lunch with Warren Buffett since 2004, Alan Stillman, founder of Smith & Wollensky, has generously donated at least $10,000 each year. 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.

Funds raised go directly to support GLIDE’s programs, which help people overcome hunger, poverty, homelessness and health challenges as well as social isolation and marginalization.

For more than five decades spanning political, economic and cultural changes, GLIDE has served as a social justice movement, social service provider and spiritual community dedicated to strengthening communities and transforming lives. Located in San Francisco’s culturally vibrant but poverty-stricken Tenderloin neighborhood, GLIDE addresses the needs of, and advocates for, the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals and families. As GLIDE moves forward into the next 50 years, it will provide a new generation of services that go beyond meeting basic needs to create lasting change. This will include expanding to new locations and increasing targeted and mobile outreach to extend GLIDE’s reach into the communities that need it most; ensuring that more women and families of color get the support to make sustainable changes in their lives; using evidence-based practices to drive more effective results; and advocating for systemic changes in policies that penalize the effects of growing inequities and unjustly impact the communities GLIDE serves.

For more information about GLIDE’s 20th Annual eBay Auction for Power Lunch with Warren Buffett, please contact GLIDE at (415) 674-6060, Buffett@GLIDE.org or visit eBay.com/GLIDE. For more information about GLIDE please visit GLIDE.org.