On April 9, renowned collector and Wall Street money manager William H. Gross sold pieces from his unparalleled U.S. stamp collection for the first time at an auction at the Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries here in New York. Since 2008, Bill and his wife Sue have donated over $19 million to the Millennium Villages project, and they continued their generosity by donating the proceeds from the auction to the Earth Institute and to Doctors Without Borders. The Earth Institute’s Funding Initiatives staff were on site to accept the generous gift of $1 million to be directed to the Millennium Villages project.
“For the past 20 years I have enjoyed collecting and seeking out stamps and postal history from around the world, particularly rare items from the United States. Sue and I are delighted that proceeds from the various sales of portions of my collection have been able to benefit those much less fortunate than most of us.”
The Earth Institute is thankful to have such thoughtful and dedicated supporters of the Millennium Villages project. “The Gross’s generosity continues to play a critical role in bringing hope and self-sufficiency to some of the poorest people on the planet—those who are faced with overwhelming odds in the struggle to achieve better lives for themselves and for their families,” Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of the Earth Institute, said. “Their support is driving critical efforts to improve the lives of the 500,000 people in 10 countries who are part of the Millennium Villages project. We are so grateful for their partnership in this important work.”
