Melinda French Gates will step down from the prestigious Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations, the organization’s co-founder announced Monday.
Gates, the ex-wife of billionaire Bill Gates, said in a statement posted on multiple online platforms, including her LinkedIn and Instagram pages, that after “careful thought and consideration, I have decided not to serve as co-chairman. I have decided to resign.” “This is not a decision I made lightly.”
She said her last day of work at the Seattle-based global health development charity will be June 7.
“I am extremely proud of the foundation that Bill and I have built together and the extraordinary work it is doing to address inequality around the world,” she wrote. “I care deeply about the Foundation team, our partners around the world, and all the people whose work touches us.”
Over 30 years, the Gates Foundation has made $77.6 billion in charitable giving.
Bill Gates said he expects greatness from his ex-wife as she steps away from her role.
“While we are sad to see Melinda leave, we are confident that she will have a tremendous impact on future philanthropy,” the Microsoft co-founder said in a separate statement published on X Monday. “Looking to the future, I remain committed to the Foundation’s work across all its strategies and to realizing the opportunities we have to continue to improve the lives of millions of people around the world. ”
Mark Suzman, the foundation’s CEO, said in a video posted to his LinkedIn page that the foundation’s mission remains the same, saying, “Everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life. It’s about creating a world where we can have.”
“Melinda, who has set our values and led our work, has played a key role in everything we have accomplished over the past 24 years,” he said in the video. Stated. “Her vision and influence will leave a profound and lasting legacy that we will continue to build upon…the millions of people our work serves, and my You can continue to rely on the Foundation for the thousands of partners we work with.”
In a separate email to employees shared on the same platform, Suzman wrote: “Melinda cares deeply about the Foundation and is extremely proud of all of you and the work you do every day to improve the lives of millions of people…and of the United States and the world. After a difficult few years watching women’s rights regress in the United States, she wants to focus this next chapter specifically on changing that trajectory.”
Announced immediately after divorce
The announcement comes three years after the philanthropist couple announced their split in May 2021.
After 27 years of marriage, the divorce was finalized in August 2021. The former couple have three children.
Their separation caused surprise from most people around the world.
“I think we’re all surprised on some level, especially in this time of coronavirus, when many of us are surprised by the building blocks,” said Leslie Barbara, a divorce and family law attorney at Davidoff Hatcher & Citron in New York. “I respect Melinda Gates and Melinda Gates,” he told America. Today is the day this big-name couple announced their divorce on X.
Honda recalls lawn mowers, details:Lawn mowers and pressure washers recalled due to injury risk when starting
The couple initially said they would continue to work together.
The same year they divorced, Melinda and Bill Gates said they would continue to work together on a foundation they founded in 1994.
“No changes are planned to their role or organization,” the foundation said in a statement at the time. “They will continue to work together to develop and approve Foundation strategy, champion Foundation issues, and set the overall direction of the organization.”
Gates sets aside $12.5 billion for additional philanthropy on women and families
“This is a critical moment for women and girls in the United States and around the world, and for those fighting to protect and advance equality,” her statement continues.
Under an agreement with her ex-husband, Gates said she would set aside an additional $12.5 billion to work on behalf of women and families.
“We will tell you more about what that looks like in the future,” she wrote.
Why did Bill and Melinda Gates divorce?
In a March 2022 interview with CBS Morning anchor Gayle King, Melinda Gates opened up about her breakup with her ex-husband.
Shortly after the divorce announcement, the Wall Street Journal reported that while the Microsoft board was investigating Bill Gates’ past romantic relationships with female Microsoft employees, Microsoft board members The company has learned that it has been determined that it is not appropriate for him to continue as a director in 2020.
The newspaper reported at the time that an unnamed spokesperson for Gates confirmed that Gates had an affair some 20 years ago and claimed it had ended “amicably.”
When Dr. King asked Gates about the alleged affair, she replied:
“Well, I do believe in forgiveness, so I thought I was kind of over that,” she said. “It wasn’t a moment or something specific that happened. It’s just that at some point we had enough that we realized it wasn’t healthy and we stopped trusting what we had. I could not do it.”
Contributor: Mike Snyder, amy hainline and craig harris
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund.
