Charity should start at home

Re “For Better Healthcare, They Share the Wealth” (July 10), on the history of American philanthropists giving their wealth to improve the public health: It was totally inspiring! Then I looked up the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

I was disappointed to find that it primarily gives to improve health in developing countries, to increase U.S. graduation rates, to fund individual scholarships, to improve and build libraries and to help Pacific Northwest-specific initiatives. With all that wealth, I wish it would also consider addressing the root causes of health disparities in some of our state’s poorest communities, such as West Oakland or Richmond.

JENNY WANG

Richmond