Mark Zuckerberg, Wife Announce Birth Of Daughter, Plans To Give Away 99 Percent Of Facebook Shares
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla are the proud parents of a baby girl, Max.
The couple penned a letter to their newborn daughter on -- you guessed it -- Facebook Tuesday.
In the letter, Zuckerberg also talked about focusing on the good that is happening in the world as opposed to the bad.
Like any new father, he mentioned his hopes and dreams for Max and her generation and outlined a plan to make the world a better place for them.
"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."
The 31-year-old billionaire also said he and his wife plan on giving away 99 percent of their Facebook shares, valued at $45 billion, over the course of their lifetime, via the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
"As you begin the next generation of the Chan Zuckerberg family, we also begin the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to join people across the world to advance human potential and promote equality for all children in the next generation. Our initial areas of focus will be personalized learning, curing disease, connecting people and building strong communities.
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."
The couple said they plan on sharing more details in the coming months.
To read the entire letter, click here.
Zuckerberg has a history of giving back to communities in the tri-state area too -- five years ago, he made a $100 million donation for education in Newark.
On Tuesday, the foundation managing Zuckerberg's $100 million donation for education in Newark says it will finance a new project that helps poor students.
The Foundation for Newark's Future will invest $1.2 million now and up to $12.5 million total on two initiatives, which will include additional support to students living in poverty, including programs in school and the community.
Zuckerberg said last month that he learned in Newark that it's important to understand the desires of a community when working in education.
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