Select a region
Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have announced the birth of their baby daughter Max – and used her arrival to reveal their plans to give away 99% of their Facebook shares.
The couple shared their happy news in a post uploaded to Zuckerberg’s social media profile, entitled “A letter to our daughter”, in which they expressed their hope that the shares – currently worth about £30 billion – would help their mission to promote equality.
The letter, addressed to Max, begins:
“Your mother and I don’t yet have the words to describe the hope you give us for the future. Your new life is full of promise, and we hope you will be happy and healthy so you can explore it fully. You’ve already given us a reason to reflect on the world we hope you live in.
“Like all parents, we want you to grow up in a world better than ours today.
“While headlines often focus on what’s wrong, in many ways the world is getting better. Health is improving. Poverty is shrinking. Knowledge is growing. People are connecting. Technological progress in every field means your life should be dramatically better than ours today.
Mark Zuckerberg – Mobile Uploads | Facebook
“We will do our part to make this happen, not only because we love you, but also because we have a moral responsibility to all children in the next generation.
“We believe all lives have equal value, and that includes the many more people who will live in future generations than live today. Our society has an obligation to invest now to improve the lives of all those coming into this world, not just those already here.”
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative | Facebook
The post marks the launch of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, with the mission of “advancing human potential and promoting equality”.
The letter continues: “We will give 99% of our Facebook shares — currently about $45 billion — during our lives to advance this mission. We know this is a small contribution compared to all the resources and talents of those already working on these issues. But we want to do what we can, working alongside many others.”
Mark Zuckerberg – Timeline Photos | Facebook
The couple announced news of Priscilla’s pregnancy on Facebook in July and told followers they had previously experienced three miscarriages, to encourage others to open up about the issue.
They have since used the social media site to share details of the pregnancy.
Mark Zuckerberg – Mobile Uploads | Facebook
The powerful letter ends:”"Max, we love you and feel a great responsibility to leave the world a better place for you and all children.
“We wish you a life filled with the same love, hope and joy you give us. We can’t wait to see what you bring to this world. Love, Mom and Dad.”
