Research done by: Clay Flanders

Bill Gates William Henry “Bill” Gates III was born on October 28, 1955, and is alive today. Bill and his friend, Paul Allen, founded Microsoft on April 4, In 1994, Bill became the world’s richest man because of the success of the computer software company he co-founded, Microsoft.

Melinda Gates Melinda French was born August 15, Bill Gates met Melinda French in 1987 while she was working at Microsoft. On January 1, 1994, Bill and Melinda were married in Hawaii. They have three children.

Warren Buffet He is a very successful and wealthy stock trader. He took over a company named Berkshire Hathaway in In 1981, he began a program of giving to charities through Berkshire Hathaway. He and Bill Gates became good friends.

Bill Gates established the William H. Gates Foundation in He and Melinda established the Gates Library Foundation in In 1998, they founded the Bill and Melinda Gates Children’s Vaccine Program. The foundations merged to form the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in In 2006, Warren Buffett pledged $31 billion to the Foundation and became a Trustee. History of the Foundation

Leadership of the Foundation Belief: “Every Life Has Equal Value.” The Foundation’s headquarters is in Seattle, Washington. The Foundation has offices in Washington, D.C.; Delhi, India; Beijing, China; and London, England. Leaders are Bill and Melinda Gates, Bill’s father, William H. Gates, Sr., and Warren Buffett. The Foundation has 957 employees.

Work of the Foundation Since 1994, the Foundation has given over $26 billion. The Foundation gave $2.6 billion in The Foundation makes grants in three areas: – Global Health Program, – Global Development Program, and – United States Program.

Global Health Program Over one-half of all grants the Foundation has given since 1994 have gone to Global Health. The Foundation works to cure and prevent malaria, pneumonia, diarrheal diseases, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. The Foundation’s biggest investment is in vaccines because most children in wealthy countries get vaccines, but in poor countries many children cannot get vaccines.

Global Health Program–Example Bill read about how rotavirus kills 600,000 children per year. Rotavirus causes diarrhea and is often fatal in poorer countries, but in America, children can get treatment. The Foundation works with UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the GAVI Alliance and other organizations to immunize children against rotavirus.

Global Development Program Over 2 billion people live on less than $2 per day. The Foundation wants to help people in poor countries overcome hunger and poverty. The Foundation helps farmers grow more food and brings safe banks to people in poor countries. The Foundation works to bring clean water and sanitary toilets to poor countries.

Global Development Program–Example 2.6 billion people don’t have a sanitary place to use the bathroom, and this causes many diseases. 1.1 billion people don’t have enough clean water to drink, and lack of sanitary toilets pollutes water. The Foundation has a “Reinvent the Toilet” program, which gives grants to scientists and chemical engineers who are trying to develop clean, safe ways for people in poor countries to use the bathroom without using water or sewer systems.

United States Program The Foundation wants all students to get high school and college educations. The Foundation helps local libraries give people free internet access. Because the Foundation is located in Washington state, it helps homeless people in that area of the country.

United States Program–Example In 10 years, 4.5 million students will not be able to go to college because their families do not have enough money to pay for college. The Foundation gives scholarships to pay for college for students who need help. The Foundation gave a Gates Millennium Scholarship to Thelron Pleas, a Macon student who graduated from Central High School in 2011.

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