Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Gates Donates $15M to Preserve Computing History

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-so-evil dept.

Dan-DAFC writes "The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is donating the sum of $15 million to the Computer History Museum in California, according to the BBC. The money is the biggest single gift in the museum's $125 million fund-raising campaign, which is still $50 million short of its target. The funds raised will be used to add more exhibits and educational programs."

6 of 291 comments (clear)

  1. In other words... by nmb3000 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The change jar on Bill's dresser was getting full :)

    Don't take that the wrong way. Whatever his reasons (and I believe them honest), you can't help but respect the Foundation. A quick look shows they've donated over $28B and over $1B each year. That's a lot of money doing a lot of good, and is probably better spent than most Government-sponsered projects.

    --
    "What do you despise? By this are you truly known." --Princess Irulan, Manual of Muad'Dib
    /)
    1. Re:In other words... by Atario · · Score: 3, Informative
      A quick look shows they've donated over $28B and over $1B each year.
      Uh, no. It says their endowment -- the amount in the bank -- is currently $28B. They are required to donate at least 5% of their assets per year, which, therefore, is currently over $1B/yr.

      Still a boatload of cheddar. Hey Bill! Care to give to the "Atario Solvency Fund"?
      --
      "A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great democracy." --Theodore Roosevelt
  2. Re:Too late for PR stunts BG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    You make it sound like Bill Gates is Hitler or something. Queue Gates = Hitler jokes. The Gates Foundation has donated an enormous amount of money to many different types of organizations that helps millions.

  3. Re:Computer History Museum website! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Admission is free at CHM. Donations welcome, and membership encouraged, but tours are free. It's an exciting tour through the last century of computing

  4. Re:Give me a break! by ChipMonk · · Score: 3, Informative

    give me half that money and I'll double the size of that collection

    Having gone through the museum twice, I can tell you that the collection on display (less than half their actual inventory) is irreplaceable. The very first Apple I, with Woz's signature, is there. Several other artifacts are similarly unique. You may be able to double the inventory, but you would lessen its actual value in the process.

    However, the funds are not all for the collection. The Museum also needs operating funds, such as very strict climate control (typical for a museum), building maintenance, insurance, and material expenses for cataloging, handling, and restoration of the artifacts. The material expenses are unique, due to the Museum's unique inventory and the stringent policies regarding restoration.

  5. Fantastic news, sincerely. by admactanium · · Score: 4, Informative
    i did some pro-bono advertising work for the computer history museum and our agency also had the microsoft account. so we somewhat facilitated this step. if you have a chance to visit the chm, it's really a worthwhile trip. when i met them they weren't in their current building and their "visible storage" was in an old airplane hanger. the new display is quite interesting. everyone stops at the front display for at least 20 minutes looking at all the tech they've owned over the years. they have a lot of very significant machines (including one of the enigma machines).

    they also hold a number of symposia with very significant speakers. i saw a tim berners-lee there. pretty humbling to see the man who is largely responsible for the invention of the internet. try to catch some of their lectures by people who have made history. it's really enlightening.