How America Gives | PARADE Magazine

How America Gives | PARADE Magazine: "Americans at all economic levels give generously: About 68% of U.S. households gave something to charity in 2006. At the top level, 21 people (up from 11 in 2005) wrote checks for at least $100 million. They included billionaires Warren Buffett, who pledged a staggering 85% (more than $40 billion) of his net worth, and Oprah Winfrey, whose $58 million in donations made her last year’s most generous celeb. These gifts grab headlines, but they’re only a small part of the story. According to the Giving U.S.A. Foundation, a whopping 65% of the contributions that help fund soup kitchens or free day care and such come from families earning less than $100,000—many of them, a lot less."