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Sister Of Warren Buffett Donates $100M To Northwestern

(CBS) -- Northwestern University is celebrating a huge donation from a former student and sister of a man who's well known for making, and giving away money, reports WBBM's John Cody.

Roberta Buffet Elliott, brother of investor Warren Buffett, has given Northwestern University its largest single gift ever, $100 million, to establish an institute for global studies.

Elliott graduated from Northwestern University in 1954 and has already given the school $10 million and this brings her total to $110 million.

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Northwestern University Morton Schapiro says the Roberta Buffett Institute of Global Studies will look at international religious movements, immigration policies, forced migrations using study techniques already employed domestically

"I think a lot of people who have been contributing to educational policy, social policy, economic policy for the U.S. are now going to think more broadly about what the impact might be for the world," Schapiro said.

Schapiro says the $100 million gift from Roberta Buffett Elliott puts Northwestern over the $2 billion mark in its current $3.75 billion fundraising campaign.

CBS 2's Jim Williams reports Roberta Elliot, her husband David and her famous brother Warren Buffett received an enthusiastic welcome Wednesday night at Northwestern's concert hall, packed with students and faculty.

Schapiro was not only floored by the largest gift in the school's history but Elliot's timing. It had been scheduled to be made after her death.

"Then when we talked about what we would do with the money, she got so excited about it and she said 'You know what I don't want to wait, I want to be alive to watch this implement it,'" Schapiro said.

Roberta Elliott's brother Warren Buffett is one of the world's richest people and she is a longtime investor in his company.

"She really loves her big brother and I'm not surprised she has invested along with him throughout his incredible career," Schapiro said.

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