Billionaire Warren Buffett is auctioning off a high-tech signed portrait of himself to raise money for one of his favorite charities, and the bidding has already topped $30,000.

Philanthropists Melinda French Gates, MacKenzie Scott and the family foundation of billionaire Lynn Schusterman awarded $40 million Thursday to four gender equality projects.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Girls Inc. of Jacksonville has been serving girls in grades K-12 who attend Title 1 Duval County Public Schools for 50 years. The organization is an affiliate of a national organization whose mission is to “inspire all girls to grow up strong, smart and bold” or healthy, educated and independent. News4Jax Morning Show anchor Melanie Lawson spoke Thursday afternoon at the group’s annual Celebration Luncheon, inspiring the young girls in the program to take on the challenges of life with equal amounts of fire and grace. Girls Inc. helps to ensure the girls avoid risky behaviors so they can graduate from high school, are prepared for college and the workplace, and have the tools and resources to break female generational poverty cycles. You can donate to Girls Inc at: https://www.girlsincjax.org/donate/.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A half-century ago, Girl’s Inc. began empowering Jacksonville’s girls at a Title One school in Duval County to be confident and responsible. “The Girls Inc. program has taught me positive life lessons to handle stress and peer pressure,” said Raines High School senior Amber Ferrell. Ad“These life skills are necessary because, personally, when I was younger, I was a very stubborn young girl,” Ferrell said. “We have curriculums that address all of those three areas, (encouraging) healthy living, academic enrichment, as well as life skills development,” Rose said. There is a small fee to become involved with Girls Inc. and its programs are funded thru Humana, United Way and other donors.