Creative Vision

MELINDA GATES
Melinda French Gates
(born Melinda Ann French)
(August 15, 1964, Dallas, Texas, USA)
Nationality: United States
Category: Votaries of Spirit and Humanity
Occupation: Philanthropist, businesswoman
Specification: Co-founder and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Gender: Female
Religion: Roman Catholic
Residence: Medina, WA, near Seattle.
Education: She earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and economics from Duke University in 1986 and an Master of Business Administration, Duke University Fuqua School of Business in 1987.
Family: Father-Raymond Joseph French, Jr., an engineer and mother- Elaine Agnes Amerland French a homemaker (from Germany). Melinda was 16 when her father brought home the first Apple III computer.
Spouse – Bill Gates, 2nd Richest Man in the World (Net Worth $66 Billion as of Sept. 2012). They met in 1987 at a Microsoft press event in Manhattan. On 1st of January, 1994, she married Bill Gates in a private ceremony held in Lanai, Hawaii.
Children: Melinda and Bill Gates have three children: daughters Jennifer Katharine Gates (b. 26 April 1996) and Phoebe Adele Gates (b. 2002), and son Rory John Gates (b. 23 May1999).
Contributions:
1. In 1987 she joined Microsoft Corp. and distinguished herself in business as a unit manager and leader in the development of Microsoft’s multimedia products.
2. In 1996, M. Gates retired from her position as Microsoft’s General Manager of Information Products.
3. She is a former member of the board of trustees of Duke University (1996 to 2003) and is a former co-chair of the Washington State Governor’s Commission on Early Learning.
4. Melinda is Co-founder and co-chair of the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world, which was formed in 1994 and renamed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF) in 1999. The basic Values of the foundation are: Optimism, Collaboration, Rigor, Innovation and the primary aims are, in the world to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and in America, to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology, improve public libraries and support at-risk families.
As of 2009, Melinda and Bill Gates have donated more than US$24 billion to the Foundation. And as of 2011 it had an endowment of US$33.5 billion andas of 2012- $37.6 billion.
Awards:
In December 2005, Melinda and Bill Gates were named by Time as Persons of the Year alongside Bono.
In 2006 Melinda and Bill Gates received the Spanish Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation and Order of the Aztec Eagle for their philanthropic work around the world in the areas of health and education.
In May 2006, she was honored for her work to improve the lives of children locally and around the world.
She and her husband, Bill Gates, were both awarded the 2010 «J. William Fulbright» Prize for International Understanding.
Melinda Gates was ranked list of the 100 Most Powerful Women, #12 in Forbes in 2006, #24 in 2007, #40 2008 and #4 in 2012.
Quotes by Melinda Gates: “Our desire to bring every good thing to our children is a force for good throughout the world. It’s what propels societies forward.”