Women Who Change The World
Written by Quantum Study Club on 08.33Women Who Change The World
Melinda Gates
| Melinda Gates | |
| Born | August 15, 1964 Dallas, Texas, USA |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Co-Chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation |
| Spouse(s) | Bill Gates |
| Children | Jennifer Katharine Gates (1996),  Rory John Gates (1999) and Phoebe Adele Gates (2002) |
| Website www.gatesfoundation.org | |
Melinda French Gates (born Melinda Ann French on August 15, 1964)[1] is the co-founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and a former unit manager for several Microsoft products such as Publisher, Microsoft Bob, Encarta, and Expedia. In 1994, she married Bill Gates, founder, chairman, and former chief software architect of Microsoft. They have three children: Jennifer Katharine Gates (b. 26 April, 1996), Rory John Gates (b. 23 May, 1999) and Phoebe Adele Gates (b. 14 September, 2002).
Gates was born and raised in Dallas, Texas to Raymond Joseph French, Jr., an engineer, and Elaine Agnes Amerland, a stay-at-home mother. She was valedictorian of her class at Ursuline Academy of Dallas in 1982. She earned a bachelor degree in computer science and economics from Duke University in 1986 and an MBA from Duke's Fuqua School of Business in 1987, and served as a member of Duke University's board of trustees from 1996 to 2003.[2] She met Bill Gates in 1987 at a Microsoft press event in Manhattan.[3] She is an alumna of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She married Gates on Jan 1, 1994 in a private ceremony in Hawaii.
Today, Gates also attends Bilderberg Group conferences and holds a seat on the board of directors of the Washington Post company.[4] She retired from the board of Drugstore.com in August 2006 to spend more time working for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.[5] The Gates' have donated more than US$24 billion to the Foundation.[6]
In December 2005, she and her husband, along with musician Bono, were named by Time as Persons of the Year. The Gates couple received the "Spanish Medal of Freedom" prize — the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation — on May 4, 2006, in recognition of their world impact through charitable giving.[7]
She was ranked #24 in Forbes magazine list of the 100 Most Powerful Women in 2007[8] and #12 in 2006.[9]
In November 2006, she and her husband were awarded the Order of the Aztec Eagle for their philanthropic work around the world in the areas of health and education, particularly in Mexico, and specifically in the program "Un país de lectores"
External links
- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Melinda Gates Charlie Rose, 26 June 2006
- Melinda Gates Goes Public, Fortune magazine
- Melinda Gates at the Internet Movie Database
References
- ^ Texas Births, 1926-1995
- ^ Gates Joins Trustees
- ^ "Profile: Bill Gates", BBC News (2004-01-26). Retrieved on 2007-04-26.
- ^ "Biography: Melinda French Gates". The Washington Post Company (2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-14.
- ^ "Officers and Directors". Drugstore.com (2005). Archived from the original on 2006-02-07. Retrieved on 2008-02-14.
- ^ Melinda Gates on Charlie Rose.com
- ^ Jason Cowley (22 May 2006). "Heroes of Our time: The Top 50", New Statesman. Retrieved on 2008-02-14.
- ^ #24 Melinda Gates - Forbes.com
- ^ #12 Melinda Gates - Forbes.com
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