Jennifer Alcorn

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

We are optimists on a mission to create a world where every person has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life. In 2000, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was created out of a desire to tackle the world's toughest challenges, including improving the world's health and decreasing poverty. Since 2000, the Gates Foundation has spent $53.8 billion supporting efforts to make a difference in the world. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.