The Bill and Melinda Gates FoundationBy Kari Savoie

The Basics

Gives out $26,194,000,000 in grants annually

Gives out $15,271,000,000 in grants for Global Health

Has 2 types of programs- Agricultural Development (includes water, sanitation, and hygiene), and Global Health

Mission of Foundation

The goal of the Gates Foundation is to "increase opportunities for people in developing countries to overcome hunger and poverty."

Bill Gates

Bill Gates was born on October 28th, 1955 in Seattle, WA. When he was 13, we knew he wanted to be a computer programmer. He started Microsoft and became one of the richest people in the world.

Melinda Gates

Melinda French was born on August 15, 1964 in Dallas, Texas. In 1987, she joined the company called Microsoft and eventually married Bill Gates and became Melinda Gates in 1994.

Interesting Facts2.5 million people live on less than $1 a day

3/4 of 1.1 billion people living on less than $1 a day live in rural areas

1 billion people live in chronic hunger

Agricultural Development

Farmers in rural areas face four challenges.

They lose the nutrients of their soil from overuse, they lack farming tools, their crops are threatened by diseases, droughts, or pests, and they usually live a fair distance away from any market.

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Poor sanitation kills 1.6 million children annually.

In many poor countries, people use the restroom out in the open or in drinking water.

What does the Foundation do to help?

Global Health

Tries to make advancements in technology to support health on poor countries.

Tries to fight diseases

Has three main programs- Discovery, Delivery, and Policy and Advocacy

Bibliography

http://www.biography.com/people/bill-gates-9307520

http://www.biography.com/people/melinda-gates-507408

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/Pages/foundation-fact-sheet.aspx

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/agriculturaldevelopment/Pages/overview.aspx

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/agriculturaldevelopment/Pages/overview.aspx

http://www.gatesfoundation.org/global-health/Pages/overview.aspx