Now it's Jeff Raikes' turn to give away Bill Gates' billions. The Microsoft business division chief will succeed Patty Stonesifer Sept. 2 at the helm of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a development heavyweight with a $37.5 billion endowment. Raikes shares their passion for reducing global poverty, the Gateses told National Public Radio's Michele Norris.
"I've known Jeff for years, and we have chosen a leader who embodies the characteristics essential to continuing this work: an extraordinary mind and an uncompromising commitment to getting the job done," said billionaire philanthropist Warren Buffet, who stunned the world two years ago by announcing he would give much of his fortune to the Gates foundation.
While chairing the United Way fundraising drive 2006-2007, Raikes "went out at night on the homeless count to see what it means to sleep at 3 a.m. on the streets of Seattle," Melinda Gates told NPR. Insomnia never seemed to hurt Microsoft employees, and Raikes' dedication to the job may help him transition into his new philanthropic role.
"At Microsoft, the magic of software is used to take on very interesting challenges," the Associated Press quotes Raikes. "Here, you have a similar situation, where the use of technology … and systems thinking is used to take on very complex problems in society."
