MANILA, Philippines – Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday, December 2 (Tuesday, December 1 in the US), that he will use the majority of his Facebook shares to help build a better world.

Zuckerberg said in a letter to his daughter that he and wife Priscilla Chan will commit “to spend our lives doing our small part to help solve” the challenges the world faces. Zuckerberg defined two major points – advancing human potential and promoting equality – as the thrusts of their mission.

The couple “will give 99% of [their] Facebook shares – currently about $45 billion – during [their] lives to advance this mission.” 

According to Forbes, Zuckerberg is currently the 7th richest person in the world, with a net worth estimated at $46.8 billion. 

They have also set up the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to “join people across the world to advance human potential and promote equality for all children in the next generation.” Initial areas of focus, they said, will be personalized learning, curing disease, connecting people, and building strong communities. 

The announcement came as part of a letter to his newborn daughter.

– Rappler.com