Gates Honors Mother With Gift To UW

Bill Gates, the founder of software powerhouse Microsoft Corp., has donated $10 million to the University of Washington in honor of his late mother, the university said Friday.

The gift will establish the Mary Gates Endowment for Students, which will support outstanding undergraduate students.

Mary Gates, who died in June 1994, was a 1950 graduate of the university and served on its board of regents from 1975 to 1993.

“My mother championed the efforts of the university to enhance undergraduate education,” Gates said. “Melinda (Gates’ wife) and I are pleased to make this gift in her honor and in support of an objective that was very important to her.”

The university also is considering naming a building Mary Gates Hall.