Knicely Done: "The couch"

Timing was everything for Craig Wilkins of Omaha.

He just happened to be shopping at Nebraska Furniture Mart during the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in early May when he noticed a pair of dress shoes as he was looking down at his cell phone.

"And so I stopped and looked up," explained Wilkins in an interview with WOWT 6 News. "When I did, I looked into the eyes of Warren Buffet. We were maybe six feet away."

Wilkins said after that awkward moment, Buffett sat down on a couch on the showroom floor with billionaire Bill Gates for an interview on camera.

Wilkins, a long-time banker in Omaha, snapped a few pictures as did his fellow worker Dave Ulch.

"A few hours later he came into the office and said 'We blew it!' " said Wilkins. "He thought we should have bought the couch so we could use it for charity."

With that idea in mind, they purchased the couch that evening. It was still on the showroom floor.

Wilkins and Ulch checked to make sure it's the same couch that Buffett and Gates sat on for the interview and later received an authentication letter from Nebraska Furniture Mart.

They were really excited when both Buffett and Gates responded to their requests to autograph a picture of the two billionaires sitting on the couch together.

"Someone told me it's easier to get an autograph from the President of the United States than it is to get one from one of these guys," said Ulch.

The charity they chose to support by donating the couch along with pictures is Project Pink'd, a volunteer organization that supports breast cancer patients.

"My wife in the past year was diagnosed with breast cancer," said Wilkins. "Project Pink'd was so instrumental if giving Shelly support during the course of her treatment."

"Every dollar is critical when someone is diagnosed," said Kelly Konen who is one of the many volunteers with Project Pink'd. "On average our programs help about 1000 people every year. The money raised helps us in provided financial grants for utilities, gas, mortgage payments, a lot of those expenses you don't expect."

Project Pink'd will auction off the couch at its annual dinner Friday August 18. The event is sold out.

"How many people across the world can say that they own a couch sat on by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates?" said Ulch. "And with two personal autographs from each of these gentleman, it's unbelievable. This thing is as rare as it can be out there. We're happy to donate it to Project Pink'd.

Knicely Done!

For more information on Project Pink'd