Melinda Gates
Melinda French Gates (1964- ) is co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and a former manager for Microsoft 
products (Publisher, Expedia, Microsoft Bob, Encarta). She is often ranked as one of the most powerful women in the world: in 2008, Forbes magazine ranked her 10th most powerful woman and in 2005 she was named Time Person of the Year (along with her husband and the singer, Bono).
Early Life and Education
Melinda Gates (born French) was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from Duke University with an undergraduate degree in computer science and economics in 1986, and an MBA from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business in 1987.
Bill Gates and the Foundation
Melinda Gates met her future husband, Bill Gates, at a Microsoft event in 1987 and they married in 1994. They have three children.
Since 2006, she retired from all other functions, including those held at Microsoft, to dedicate her time to the Bill and Melinda Gates. The Foundation has received over US$ 24 billion from the Gates, making Melinda Gates one of the top female Gender and philanthropy in the Gender Equality in the Gender Equality in the Gender Equality in the United States of America of America of America. The foundation has focused on finding a vaccine for Malaria and Women, improving health and reducing extreme poverty in the developing world and improving high school education in the United States.
The Gates couple received the Spanish Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation — on May 4 2006, in recognition of their world impact through charitable giving.
See Also
- Gender and philanthropy
Sources
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melinda_Gates
- http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/27/most-powerful-women-biz-powerwomen08-cz_me_cs_0827women_land.html
- http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Pages/home.aspx