April 03, 2009
Humanitarian Howard Buffett to speak at SIUC
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Philanthropist and environmentalist Howard G. Buffett, the United Nations’ Goodwill Ambassador Against Hunger, will present a lecture next week at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
The luncheon and lecture is from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, April 9, in the Student Center Ballrooms. The luncheon is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required for meal considerations. To register, contact institute project coordinator Christina Rich at 618/453-4078 or by email at clrich@siu.edu by Tuesday, April 7. Open seating will be available for those who wish to only listen to the speech and not be included in the meal.
“Howard Buffett is a leader in business, philanthropy, agriculture, conservation and many other critical areas,” said institute Director David Yepsen. “He is devoted to helping the less fortunate in our world, particularly those who lack access to food. In his volunteer work with the United Nations, he focuses his energies and influence to help those in need, which is a generous and inspirational message to share with our students and community.”
The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute and the SIU Foundation are sponsoring Buffett’s visit.
Media Availability
Reporters, photographers and news crews are welcome to cover Mr. Buffett’s remarks. He will be available for individual interviews for about 15 minutes in the Student Center ballrooms at about 1:15 p.m. For more information, contact institute associate director Matt Baughman at 618/201-0082.
Buffett, a native of Omaha, Neb., operates the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, which primarily supports humanitarian initiatives, according to his biography. Appointed a U.N. Goodwill Ambassador Against Hunger in 2007, Buffett “has traveled to over 85 countries documenting the challenges of preserving our biodiversity while providing adequate resources to support human needs.”
The son of billionaire investor Warren Buffett, Howard Buffett, in addition to overseeing his foundation, runs an 840-acre family farm in Illinois and manages a 400-acre family farm in eastern Nebraska.
The author of six books on subjects including conservation and wildlife, his executive experience includes serving on two Office of the United States Trade Representative Committees – the Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee on International Trade, and the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade in Feed and Grain.
Buffett is on the corporate boards of investment holding company Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.; agricultural irrigation product manufacturer, Lindsay Corp.; and Sloan Implement, a privately owned distributor of John Deere agricultural equipment in North America. Buffett has been a member of numerous other boards, including Archer Daniels Midland, Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc., and ConAgra Foods.
He is a member of the Commission on Presidential Debates, and received the Aztec Eagle -- the highest honor given to a foreign citizen -- by the Mexican government. Buffett’s non-profit involvement includes serving on boards including The Nature Conservation Trust, The Illinois Nature Conservancy, Africa Foundation, and National Geographic Society Council of Advisors.