Melinda French Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has announced her departure from the organization she has helped lead since its inception in 2000. As part of her separation agreement with former husband Bill Gates, she will receive an additional $12.5 billion for her philanthropic endeavors, with a focus on women and families.
“This is not a decision I came to lightly,” French Gates stated. “I am immensely proud of the foundation that Bill and I built together and of the extraordinary work it is doing to address inequities around the world.”
The Gates Foundation, henceforth to be known as the Gates Foundation, will see Bill Gates assume the role of sole chair. The foundation's CEO, Mark Suzman, expressed regret at French Gates' departure but remained optimistic about her future philanthropic impact.
French Gates' exit follows the announcement of her divorce from Bill Gates in May 2021. The couple had initially agreed to a trial period through 2023 to determine if they could continue their joint oversight of the foundation. However, a contingency plan was put in place in July 2021 to ensure the continuity of the foundation's work should either party decide they could no longer work together.
The Gates Foundation, one of the most influential forces in global public health, has spent over $75 billion since its inception to combat poverty and disease. The foundation's mission is to improve healthcare in developing countries, enhance educational opportunities, and reduce poverty by providing grants and support to various initiatives and organizations worldwide.
In addition to her work with the Gates Foundation, French Gates also founded Pivotal Ventures in 2015, a separate charity that focuses on removing barriers for minorities and women in the United States. She committed $1 billion to the organization in 2019.
French Gates' departure from the Gates Foundation is set to take effect on June 7. She has not yet disclosed detailed plans for her future philanthropic work, but her commitment to uplifting women and families remains clear.
Bill Gates, in a separate statement, expressed his continued commitment to the foundation's work, stating, “Looking ahead, I remain fully committed to the Foundation’s work across all our strategies, and to realizing the opportunities we have to continue improving the lives of millions around the world.”
The Gates' divorce, finalized in 2021, ended their 27-year marriage. Despite their personal separation, they had initially pledged to continue their philanthropic work together.
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