(Los Angeles) Melinda French Gates, who chaired one of the most influential philanthropic foundations in the world, announced Monday that she would leave this organization, created with her now ex-husband, one of the founders of Microsoft, Bill Gates.
Mme French Gates declared on poverty, will be June 7.
The foundation is a major donor to the World Health Organization (WHO) and has considerable influence on policies in developing countries, particularly in the areas of health and education.
His work has, among other things, made it possible to reduce mortality linked to malaria and other infectious diseases.
Mr and Mme Gates announced their plans to divorce in May 2021, after 27 years of marriage. The foundation said at the time that they would remain co-presidents of the organization.
PHOTO MANISH SWARUP, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Bill Gates
“The time has come for me to embark on the next chapter of my philanthropy,” explained M.me French Gates added that she would have $12.5 billion to engage “with women and families”.
“This is a pivotal moment for women and girls in the United States and around the world, and those fighting to protect and advance equality urgently need support,” she added.
The announcement comes in the middle of the presidential campaign in the United States, where the issue of abortion has become a major political issue since the annulment of its constitutional guarantee by the Supreme Court in 2022.
New name
Democrat Hillary Clinton, former presidential candidate, particularly welcomed Ms.me French Gates.
“Thank you for everything you’ve already done, and I can’t wait to see everything you do next,” she responded on X.
This departure was marked shortly after the announcement of the couple’s divorce.
In July 2021, the foundation published a press release to announce that “if, after two years, one or the other decides that they cannot continue to work together as co-presidents, Mme French Gates will resign from his position.”
“In this case, Mr.me French Gates will receive personal resources from Mr. Gates for his philanthropic work,” the organization already anticipated.
Before embarking on philanthropy, Mme French Gates was notably a computer programmer, then marketing manager at Microsoft.
Bill Gates on Monday praised the “essential contributions” of his ex-wife to the foundation.
“I’m sorry to see Melinda go, but I’m sure she will have a huge impact in her future philanthropic work,” the billionaire, one of the founders of the IT giant based near Seattle, said on X.
He will remain “fully committed” to the foundation, he added.
After this departure, the organization will be renamed and will bear the name Gates Foundation, said its executive director, Mark Suzman.
Since its founding in 2000, the organization has spent $53.8 billion, according to its website. An amount which, according to her, has contributed to the halving of mortality among children under five, observed since 1990.
As of 2023, the foundation has funded projects in 48 states in the United States and 135 countries around the world.
In addition to Bill Gates’ personal fortune, the organization was also largely funded by American billionaire and businessman Warren Buffett.