READ: Bill Gates gives $750m to help African children

[TechZ]

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has donated $750m of his fortune to immunisation programmes for children in the Third World. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a charity set up in 2000, made the donation to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi) yesterday. The sum is more than 10 times the $63m donated by the UK government to the project.

"In just five years, Gavi's efforts have saved hundreds of thousands of children's lives, and its work in the coming years will save millions more," said Gates. Bill Gates will be sharing a stage with Tony Blair at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week to press world leaders on the need for greater effort in ensuring Third World health.

The Gates family are prominent philanthropists and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was formed with the merger of Bill Gates's education charity and a foundation set up by his father William H. Gates.

Full story: vnunet.com At least he gives back.

[Spork]

Tax write off.

[jitBob]

The Seattle newspapers report that figure as $1,000,000,000.00 One billion dollars.

[TechZ]

Yeah I know Spork, but at least if the other rich folk also continue to give in such large sums, then it helps, even if it lets them remain rich.