When a member of the Buffett family asks what your foundation needs to make a difference, you don’t waste the opportunity. And if you’re Melissa Etheridge and your passion for your nonprofit is something incredibly personal, you dream big.
She asked for $10 million.
During a dinner with Etheridge Foundation supporters Thursday at [AV] Irvine, the Oscar- and Grammy-winning singer revealed the eight-figure donation that she and other members of her organization believe will be a game-changer in the world of alternative treatments for opioid use disorder.
Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Ian McCall, founder of the nonprofit Athletes Journey Home, and his girlfriend, Finja Huensener, listen to Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about the Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge greets visitors to her R.I.S.E. Summit before chatting with Dr. Gabor Maté about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Share a moment as they listen to Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Robert Cohen, with Fireside Project, dons a shirt offering help to people who are tripping during the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge thanks visitors to her R.I.S.E. Summit after chatting with Dr. Gabor Maté about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Melissa Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté talk about Etheridge’s story and her foundation during the Fireside Chat at the R.I.S.E. Summit at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, November 12, 2026, in Irvine. The R.I.S.E. Summit is a conference hosted by the Etheridge Foundation focused on Research, Innovation, Science and Education regarding psychedelic-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder and addiction recovery. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The dinner, which was capped off by Etheridge’s acoustic performance of two songs for the gathering of approximately 70, followed the day-long R.I.S.E. Summit that focused on the use of psychedelic medicines for addiction.
The summit dealt with everything from scientific research to an emotional – yet still often funny – keynote chat between Etheridge and Dr. Gabor Maté, who works with people in Vancouver, B.C., who are dealing with addiction and mental illness.
Their discussion dealt significantly with Etheridge’s loss of her son, Beckett Cypher, in 2020 at 21 years old due to causes related to opioid addiction.
“I’m going to need some medicine after this,” she joked.
Etheridge actually was the one who delivered the medicine in the form of her music — the songs “Call You” and “Rise” explore her journey since her son’s death — and the story of the Buffett family donation.
After she had gotten to know some members of the family, she met Howard Buffett, the son of philanthropist Warren Buffett, in August. She invited him to one of her shows, and he arrived early enough for her soundcheck and a conversation in her dressing room, along with Etheridge’s wife, Linda Wallem.
Buffett had a question for her.
“‘Well, how much would make a difference to your foundation?’” she said he asked, and after a moment she seized the opportunity. “Well, sir, $10 would make a difference. And he said, ‘OK.’”
Melissa Etheridge performs during the ARISE Dinner following her foundation’s R.I.S.E. Conference at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (Photo by Todd Harmonson, OC Register/SCNG)
Philanthropist Erin Samueli speaks during the ARISE Dinner following Melissa Etheridge’s foundation’s R.I.S.E. Conference at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (Photo by Todd Harmonson, OC Register/SCNG)
Melissa Etheridge, right, reveals a donation her foundation received as foundation executive director Anna Symonds joins her during the ARISE Dinner following the R.I.S.E. Conference at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (Photo by Todd Harmonson, OC Register/SCNG)
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Melissa Etheridge performs during the ARISE Dinner following her foundation’s R.I.S.E. Conference at [AV] Irvine on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (Photo by Todd Harmonson, OC Register/SCNG)
