Susan Alice Buffett (born July 30, 1953)^[1] is an American philanthropist who is the daughter of Warren Buffett and Susan Thompson Buffett. Her charitable work has focused largely on the Sherwood Foundation, formerly known as the Susan A. Buffett Foundation, an organization in Omaha that provides grants in public education, human services^[2] and social justice in the interest of promoting the welfare of children from lower-income families.^[2][3] She is also on the boards of the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation,^[4] The Buffett Early Childhood Institute, and Girls, Inc.^[5] According to a 2010 interview with her brother Howard Graham Buffett, Buffett's philanthropic focus has consistently remained on children, education^[6] and family issues,^[5] but she has also committed to other causes, including Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa, a non-governmental organization dedicated to various improvements in Africa.^[7]

Biography

Born in Omaha in 1953, Buffett, commonly called Susie, is the eldest child of Warren Buffett.^[1][8][9]

She attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she majored in home economics, and studied at the University of California, Irvine, where she majored in social ecology.^[10]

Her parents separated in the late 1970s (though they remained married until her mother's death in 2004).^[9] Despite his wealth, Warren Buffett encouraged his children to be financially independent; Susan Buffett recalled in 2006 that in spite of her father's generosity, he once refused her a personal loan of $41,000 to expand her kitchen.^[3] Her foundation, however, was funded primarily by $1 billion in shares from her father, Warren Buffett.^[11]

In 1983, Buffett wed Allen Greenberg, a lawyer for Public Citizen, whom she had met in Washington.^[12] The couple divorced in 1995 and have two children.^[13][14]

In 1987, Greenberg became the first director of the Buffett Foundation, a title he retained after the couple's divorce.^[13]

As a child, Susan was known for her love of horses and spent much of her time riding and competing in equestrian events. She also took an interest in social issues, volunteering at local organizations and advocating for causes like women's rights and access to education.

After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in education, Susan worked as a teacher in inner-city schools in Omaha.

In the 1980s, Susan began to take a more active role in her family's philanthropic endeavours. She served on the board of directors for the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, which was established by her mother to support reproductive health and family planning initiatives.

Susan also became involved in the Omaha Community Foundation, a local nonprofit that works to improve the quality of life for residents of the Omaha area.^[15]

References