Although his overall pledge generated big headlines, the grants that his foundation makes are generally for small, innovative programs that would not otherwise receive financial support from the United States.
The first pledge generated the most comment at the time.
And PBS and the stations collect the bulk of their money from membership drives and on-air pledges (which generate nearly twenty-five per cent of their support) and from corporate underwriters, state and city governments, universities, foundations, and a variety of other sources.
It now pledges to generate or source all electrical power for its 300+ operations in nearly 60 countries with 100% renewable energy -- such as wind, sun and landfill gas -- by 2050.
A UN donor conference in New York City in late March generated pledges of $9.9 billion, with $5.3 billion to be used during the first two years of reconstruction efforts.
In its submission for renewal of its Royal Charter, the BBC pledged to generate £1.2 billion for new programming through BBC Worldwide.
The plan is aimed at helping Britain reduce carbon emissions and achieve its pledge of generating 15 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
In setting a numeric goal, Beijing has lined up with the European Union, which has pledged to generate 22percentt of its electricity, and 12percentt of all its energy, from renewable sources by 2010.
Nobuyuki Idei, the chairman, said the company has pledged to generate stronger profit margins by 2006 by blending the company's electronics with its movies, music and other entertainment divisions.
But the biggest difference is arguably that those two government parties have pledged to generate a surplus on the current budget by 2017-18.
