A Tribute To The Gates Family

In February 2025, Bill Gates released his memoir Source Code, which focuses on his early years and the people and moments that shaped his path to becoming one of the most influential business leaders and philanthropists in history. In honor of Bill Sr. and Mary Maxwell Gates’s commitment to civic engagement and philanthropy, Bill is generously donating his proceeds from Source Code to United Way Worldwide.

Mary Maxwell Gates and Bill Gates Sr.

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Mary Maxwell Gates contributed her time and talent to United Way for many years, first as a volunteer, board member, and board chair of the United Way of King County in Seattle, and later as a board member and board chair for United Way of America. Bill Gates’s father, Bill Gates Sr., also served on United Way of America’s board. In the mid-1980s, Mary helped to found United Way International. United Way America and United Way International were the two predecessor organizations that merged to become United Way Worldwide in the early 2000s.

Bill has commented on how his mother instilled in the family a sense of responsibility to the community. United Way played a meaningful part in their family life, and discussions around volunteerism and United Way were a focal point around the dinner table as Mary and Bill Sr. wanted to impart in their children a sense of civic responsibility and community service.

In 2010, United Way Worldwide dedicated its new onsite learning center at its headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia in Mary Gates’s honor as the Mary M. Gates Learning Center. It serves as a lasting tribute to Mary’s commitment to educating and empowering fellow nonprofit leaders and volunteers.
Mary Maxwell Gates Center.

Bill Gates’ Philanthropic Journey

Like his parents, Bill Gates served on United Way of America’s board, from 1987 to 1992. He contributed substantial time to growing the Tocqueville Society – United Way’s global community of deeply committed philanthropic leaders – across the U.S. Over a ten-year period in the 1990s, Bill met with major United Way donors in cities across the country to encourage them to increase their support of the United Way in their communities.

I believe that people who are financially successful have a responsibility to give back to society."

-Bill Gates

Bill’s impact on philanthropy has been invaluable, through his generous gifts of time, talent, treasure, and influence. Through the Gates Foundation, he has become one of the world’s most prominent philanthropists, focusing on global health, education, and poverty alleviation. Through the Giving Pledge, which Bill launched in 2010, more than 240 of the world’s wealthiest individuals have committed to donating at least half of their wealth to philanthropic causes, either during their lifetimes or via their estates.

Mary’s impact on United Way and her influence in shaping Bill’s philanthropic views have contributed enormously to the nonprofit sector. Bill’s decision to contribute all author proceeds to United Way Worldwide in honor of his parents is a touching recognition of their many contributions to improving the lives of countless individuals and families.

United Way is deeply grateful to Bill Gates and the Gates family for their generosity and rich legacy of service to United Way and to so many communities and causes around the world. Through Bill’s continued support, we look forward to advancing our vision of a world where every person in every community is thriving.