Google Co-founder Sergey Brin Gives Big

$1 million for charity that helps his family immigrate to America.

By JACKSON WEST

Updated 2:45 PM PST, Mon, Oct 26, 2009

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Sergey Brin, left, and wife Anne Wojcicki, right, are pitching in to help the charity that made Brin's life in America possible.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin is giving back to an organization that helped him and his family in a big way.

He recently donated $1 million to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, which helped him and his family leave the former Soviet Union and move to the United States.

While compared to the estimated $16 billion net worth, $1 million isn't much, but along with $29 million in gifts to other organizations, it's a good start to promised further philanthropic efforts.

In an interview with the New York Times, Brin said that he admires how Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates handled his own philanthropic efforts after becoming one of the richest individuals in the world.

The HIAS promises to use the money to improve its online outreach efforts.

In a separate interview held at the Web 2.0 conference last week, the quirky billionaire was on full display, as he revealed his choice in footwear to the audience -- colorful FiveFingers shoes with individual toes that have become somewhat popular among the geeky set.

So maybe they're not in the best taste, but clearly Brin's heart is in the right place.

Jackson West thinks those FiveFingers shoes are the new Crocs.