What Warren Buffett Means to Your Education : Yahoo! Finance

"When you hear that philanthropic giving hit record levels in 2006, you probably don't think that money directly helps you or your family, other than the happy thought that those gifts make the world a better place for those less fortunate.
But a big portion of wealthy donors' substantial gifts are lavished on educational institutions or initiatives -- and sometimes that largesse brings benefits to Americans who may not realize the connection between the wealthy philanthropists of the world and their own ticket to college and other fortuitous perks.
The sheer size of Warren Buffett's $30 billion-plus gift (the exact amount is unclear as it's based on his company's future stock price) to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation last year changed the face of philanthropic giving, but Buffett was not alone in his generosity."