The Tech Museum of Innovation, one of the nation's
premier science and technology museums focused on "inspiring the
innovator in everyone," announced today that Microsoft co-founder Bill
Gates is the recipient of the 2006 James C. Morgan Global Humanitarian
Award. Gates will accept this top honor during the annual Tech Museum
Awards on November 15th at The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose,
where 25 innovators from around the world will be celebrated for
applying technology in creative and practical ways to solve
humanitarian problems and critical issues facing our planet.
The Global Humanitarian Award, sponsored by Applied Materials,
honors individuals whose leadership is helping society find solutions
to some of humanity's greatest challenges. It was inspired by Applied
Materials Chairman James Morgan's belief that technology can be a tool
to turn ideas into solutions for a better world.
"From Microsoft's early days, to the founding of the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates has consistently made
philanthropy a priority, and demonstrated that technology can be
applied not just to business problems, but for the benefit of
humankind," said The Tech Museum's president, Peter Friess. "We are
delighted to honor Bill Gates with this award, and to celebrate his
humanitarian contributions with the next generation of innovators who
can take great inspiration from his example."
"I'm honored to be named as the recipient for this year's James C.
Morgan Humanitarian Award," said Bill Gates. "Melinda and I are
optimists who believe in the power of science and technology to help
solve some of the world's most difficult problems. Through our
foundation, we are committed to reducing the greatest inequities in
global health, and to providing greater access to information and
technologies that can help people lift themselves out of extreme
poverty."
While in Silicon Valley, Gates will meet with the Museum's 2006
Tech Award Laureates to learn how they're using technology in the
areas of education, equality, economic development, environment and
health.
Bill Gates' philanthropic contributions have come in two stages.
The first was creating a culture of giving at Microsoft. In 1983 he
initiated a United Way giving campaign for his 476 employees; 30 years
later the company has 68,000 employees and contributes $61 million,
60,000 of hours of volunteer work, and $273 million in software and
services across 95 countries. Today, Microsoft employees consistently
lead the nation in per capita contributions to philanthropic causes.
The second phase began in 1994, when Bill created the William H.
Gates Foundation. Three years later, he and Melinda created the Gates
Library Foundation, which worked to bring public-access computers with
Internet connections to public libraries in the U.S. The two groups
merged in 2000 to form the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. At the end
of 2005, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation endowment totaled $29.1
billion. The foundation has made $10.5 billion in grant commitments
since its inception, and in 2005 it made grant payments of $1.36
billion.
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation works to reduce inequities and improve lives
around the world. In developing countries, it focuses on improving
health, reducing extreme poverty, and increasing access to technology
in public libraries. In the United States, the foundation seeks to
ensure that all people have access to a great education and to
technology in public libraries.
Established in 2001, The Tech Museum Awards honor 25 Laureates
(individuals, for-profit, public and not-for-profit organizations)
from around the world who are developing innovative ways to use
technology to solve global challenges. Five of these Laureates share a
$250,000 cash prize. These individuals will be selected from 951
entries received this year. The cash prize winners will also be
announced at the November 15 gala dinner. The black tie event will be
hosted by NFL Legend Steve Young, a member of The Tech Museum's Board
of Directors.
The Tech Museum Awards represent a collaborative effort among
educational institutions and businesses. Silicon Valley leaders
supporting The Tech Museum Awards include presenting sponsor Applied
Materials and Santa Clara University's Center for Science, Technology,
and Society. Category sponsors include Intel, Accenture, Microsoft,
Agilent Technologies Foundation, The Swanson Foundation and Applied
Materials. Program sponsors include Wells Fargo, KPMG and Celerity.
For more information about The Tech Museum Awards, visit
www.techawards.org.
The Tech Museum of Innovation is one of the nation's premier
science and technology museums, located in the heart of Silicon
Valley, The Tech embodies the spirit of innovation synonymous with the
region, offering exhibits, films, and educational programs that make
science and technology fun, and that encourages a lifetime of
curiosity.
For more information, visit www.thetech.org or call (408)
294-TECH.
