Melinda French Gates Feeling ‘Complicated Mix of Emotions’ on Last Day at Gates Foundation

"There is no question that the foundation and its future are in good hands," French Gates said in a statement on June 7

• Melinda French Gates marked her last day as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Friday, June 7

• "I'm sad to be saying goodbye, proud of all we accomplished, energized by what's ahead, and excited to see what you do next," the philanthropist wrote in a farewell letter

• It was previously announced that following her departure, the foundation would be changing its name to the Gates Foundation

Melinda French Gates is marking her last day with the foundation she co-founded alongside ex-husband Bill Gates over two decades ago.

"l'm holding a complicated mix of emotions today," she said in a June 7 letter to foundation colleagues and alumni. "I'm sad to be saying goodbye, proud of all we accomplished, energized by what's ahead, and excited to see what you do next. But the emotion I feel most strongly right now is gratitude.

"I recognize what a gift it is that, for the past twenty-five years, you've been such an enormous part of my life," the philanthropist and advocate added. "I'm incredibly impressed by you and so glad to have had this chance to work with you."

"As you know better than anyone, the work we do here every day isn't always glamorous-there are lots of spreadsheets, lots of slide decks, lots of inconveniently timed meetings to accommodate a globe's worth of time zones-but the impact you and our partners are having in the world could not be more important," French Gates continued.

Related: Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates Celebrate Daughter Jennifer’s Medical School Graduation

Speaking to all the foundation has been able to accomplish, she wrote that "there are more fifth birthdays being celebrated by healthy kids" and "more women with their own bank accounts, controlling their own resources."

"More farmers coaxing lifechanging surpluses out of small family plots. More students stepping onto college campuses prepared to learn and lead," she added. "After twenty-five years of traveling on behalf of this foundation to see our partners in action, I can assure you that it is real-and it's in no small part because of you."

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French Gates announced her resignation on May 13, saying that the decision was not made lightly.

"After careful thought and reflection, I have decided to resign from my role as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation," the philanthropist said in her statement.

"I am immensely proud of the foundation that Bill and I built together and of the extraordinary work it is doing to address inequities around the world. I care deeply about the foundation team, our partners around the world, and everyone who is touched by its work," she added.

In an op-ed for The New York Times, published over two weeks later, she announced that she will be giving $1 billion to support women's rights in the United States over the next two years.

"With the rollback of women’s rights and headwinds to social progress in the U.S. and around the world, Melinda believes that now is the time to provide urgent capital to people and organizations fighting to protect and further equality and remove the barriers that hold women back," read a statement from French Gates' Pivotal Ventures. "This includes investing in the health and well-being of women and families, in line with her belief that health is a critical lever in enabling women to have their full power in society."

Related: Melinda French Gates Says Billionaires Can Afford to Give Up Half Their Wealth — and 'We Should'

When French Gates initially announced her departure, Gates thanked his ex-wife, with whom he shares three children, for all her "critical contributions."

"As a co-founder and co-chair Melinda has been instrumental in shaping our strategies and initiatives, significantly impacting global health and gender equality," he wrote in a statement posted to LinkedIn. "I am sorry to see her leave, but I am sure she will have a huge impact in her future philanthropic work."

When the former couple announced their divorce in May 2021, they shared that they planned to continue their work together with the foundation, which they founded together in 2000.

Still, the following year, CEO Mark Suzman said an agreement had been reached regarding her possible departure.

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"They have agreed that if after two years either one of them decides that they cannot continue to work together, Melinda will resign as co-chair and trustee," the statement read. "In such a case, Melinda would receive personal resources from Bill for her philanthropic work. These resources would be completely separate from the foundation's endowment, which would not be affected."

In her statement announcing her departure, French Gates said she would have an additional $12.5 billion "to commit to her work."

The foundation previously announced that following her departure, they would be changing their name to the Gates Foundation and that the Microsoft co-founder will be the sole Chair.

Related: Bill Gates Says He Had a 'Great Marriage' to Melinda French Gates: 'I Wouldn't Have Changed It'

On her last day, French Gates said that "there is no question that the foundation and its future are in good hands."

"Between Mark, the ELT, and a deeply experienced board of trustees, there are many trusted and proven leaders in place to carry the foundation's work forward," she added. "If I didn't believe that with all my heart, there's no way I'd be walking out that door."

But the philanthropist noted it isn't truly a "goodbye," vowing to continue to work "on the things we all care about and still doing my part to fight for a healthier, more prosperous, more equal future for everyone."

She continued, "Until we meet again, please know that I will remain deeply grateful for all of you, for all we've done together, and for all the ways I know you will continue to put our collective optimism into action."

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