Mary Maxwell Gates - Mother of Microsoft's Bill Gates

Bill Gates had a very close relationship with his mother, Mary, who after a brief career as a teacher devoted her time to helping raise the children and working on civic affairs and with charities. She also served on several corporate boards. She would often take Bill along on her volunteer work in schools and community organizations.

Civic Leader & Mother of Microsoft Founder

Mary Gates played a pivotal role in her son's early career. In many occasions when Bill Gates was marketing Microsoft, he would take his mum with him. Mary served as a University of Washington regent for 18 years. When she was on the National Board of the United Way, the CEO of IBM, John Opel served with her. Thru her, her son met John Opel. IBM later contracted with Microsoft, then a small firm, to create an operating system for its first personal computer. Microsoft was given a lift by IBM that eventually made it the world's largest PC software company.

Throughout her career, Mary Gates promoted philanthropic causes. In 1991 the Gateses were named philanthropic family of the year by Washington Gives. Bill Gates began his major philanthropic efforts in 1994 and created several Foundations since then. In 2000, William H. Gates Foundation and Gates Learning Foundation merged into the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

This philanthropic family reminds me of some Bible verses - Proverbs 22:9 "He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his bread to the poor"; Isaiah 58:10 "And if you draw out your soul to the hungry and satisfy the desires of the afflicted; Then your light will rise in the darkness, and your gloom will be like midday;"

Reference :
Bill Gates Biography
Video : Bill Gates - Help from Mom
Mary Gates; Businesswoman, Mother of Microsoft's Bill Gates
Mary Gates Dies -- Cancer Claims Longtime Seattle Civic Leader And Mother of Microsoft Founder Bill Gates
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Leadership