DORIS BUFFETT

Doris Eleanor Buffett was born in 1928 in Ohama, Nebraska, the oldest sister of Warren. She was married four times and fought two bouts with cancer. She was known as the “retail” philanthropist and the founder of The Sunshine Lady Foundation, The Learning By Giving Foundation, and The Letters Foundation which she co-founded alongside Warren. Buffett attracted attention with the publication of a 2010 book titled, Giving It All Away: The Doris Buffett Story, which was authored by Michael Zitz. The book, which she pursued at the urging of her brother and U2’s Bono, describes Doris's background and life as a philanthropist. She donated $100 million of her own money, mostly to individuals, often taking the time to call and write to them personally and determine the best way to help. A hand-up and not hand-out was her principle in philanthropy. Warren Buffett helped fund some of the foundation's early projects though later she began providing funds herself from Berkshire Hathaway stocks she owned. Buffett made her home in Fredericksburg, Virginia and moved to Boston in 2016 to be closer to family, and to receive treatment for Alzheimer's disease. In December 2018, she released a second book titled Letters to Doris: One Woman's Quest to Help Those With Nowhere Else to Turn. She passed away in 2020 at her home in Rockport, Maine.