A auctioned-off power lunch with legendary investor Warren Buffett raised over $2.6 million for San Francisco's Glide foundation, topping last year's record-breaking bid.
The online charity auction, which started at $25,000 on June 5, ended Friday night at $2,345,678. News of the donation is sure to be welcomed with a few extra "amens" during Sunday services.
The winner, who wished to remain anonymous, wanted to top last year's bid, however, and pledged an additional amount to bring the total to $2,626,411 -- the entirety of which will go to the Glide Memorial Church's social service organization, a Glide spokeswoman said.
"We are thrilled and astonished by Mr. Buffett and the winning bidder for their generosity and philanthropy, which allows Glide to continue to help those on society's margins transform their lives," Glide founder the Rev. Cecil Williams said in a statement.
This is Buffett's 12th annual power lunch for charity. The winner will be allowed to bring up to seven friends to a lunch at New York City's famed Smith & Wollensky steakhouse.
Alan Stillman, the founder of Smith & Wollensky, had pledged to donate an additional $10,000 to Glide.
Over the past 12 years, Buffett's lunches have raised nearly $9 million for the Tenderloin neighborhood organization, a Glide spokeswoman said.
Bay City News
