NEW YORK (AP) – Mexican telecom billionaire Carlos Slim Helu and Canadian mining mogul Frank Giustra have each pledged $100 million to help President Clinton fight global poverty, the three men announced Thursday.

Mr. Giustra, a Vancouver-based mining financier who also founded Lions Gate Entertainment, is the driving force behind the Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative.

In addition to his initial $100 million, he has pledged half of his future earnings from mining.
>[?”I am honored to join President Clinton in launching the Clinton-Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative today,” Mr. Giustra said. “I firmly believe that this innovative partnership between the Clinton Foundation and the business community – and the mining industry in particular – will have a profound and positive effect on the lives of countless people in the developing world during the months and years ahead.”

Mr. Slim, the Chairman of Grupo Carso, has committed at least $100 million to the initiative’s work in Latin America.

Mr. Slim was third on Forbes’ most recent list of the world’s richest people with an estimated worth of $49 billion.

“Latin America faces major challenges related to poverty and education, and these needs go beyond any single country, industry, or donor,” Mr. Slim said.

Mr. Clinton said the initiative would help local leaders in Latin America and other parts of the developing world address social, economic and environmental issues in a cost-effective and sustainable way.

The Clinton Foundation has several ongoing campaigns including efforts to fight AIDS in the developing world and childhood obesity in America.

Messrs. Giustra and Slim were joining Mr. Clinton at his Harlem office on Thursday for the announcement.

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On the Net: http://www.clintonfoundation.org.