Bill Gates Philanthropy

It's amazing how the success of one can positively effect the lives of many. Bill Gates philanthropy has been shared with countless worthy causes.

He's a man that knows how to make money and then turn that money into hope for others.

If you spend any time researching Bill Gates history or a Bill Gates biography you'll know that Gates was born into a wealthy family. His father was a lawyer and his mother was on the board of directors for a bank.

He excelled in mathematics and science (lucky for us!) and became the wealthiest man in the world.

He reigned supreme as the worlds richest man from 1995 to 2006 according to the Forbes list of 'The Worlds Richest People'.

His ride to success is not nearly as fascinating to me as his philanthropic nature.

Between the Bill Gates scholarships for minorities and the Bill Gates Foundation (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), his philanthropy is going beyond just mere 'helping'. Bill Gates wealth has globally enhanced health care, reduced extreme poverty, expanded education opportunities and access to information technology.

According to a 2004 Forbes magazine article, Gates gave away over $29 billion to charities since 2000.

Bill Gates philanthropy has been used in AIDS prevention and other diseases prevalent in third world countries. Time named Gates, his wife Melinda and U2's lead singer Bono as the 2005 Persons of the Year for their humanitarian efforts. In 2006 a list compiled by the magazine New Statesman, he was voted eighth in the list of "Heroes of our time". Can you imagine being known as a 'Hero of our time'? Now that is cool.

Bill Gates is also known for supporting a term that is near and dear to my heart, 'Creative Capitalism.' Gates states, "Creative capitalism takes this interest in the fortunes of others and ties it to our interest in our own fortunes in ways that help advance both. This hybrid engine of self-interest and concern for others can serve a much wider circle of people than can be reached by self-interest or caring alone" and I agree.

---