February 25, 2008

Late Microsoft Pioneer Leaves $65 Million to HIV/AIDS and Gay Rights Groups

The estate of Ric Weiland, an early pioneer at the Microsoft Corporation and a gay rights activist, has left $65 million to support HIV/AIDS and gay rights organizations, reports the Associated Press (AP) (ap.google.com, 2/24).

The Pride Foundation of Seattle, where Weiland was a board member, announced February 24 the funds they received, and called it the largest single bequest given to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender causes.

Weiland, who died in 2006, was a high school classmate of Microsoft founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen. He was one of the first five people to work at the company.

Weiland’s estate has established a fund at the Pride Foundation to give $46 million to 10 national gay rights and HIV/AIDS groups over the next eight years. These groups include advocacy group Lambda Legal; the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays; and amfAR, according to the AP.

The Pride Foundation also received $19 million to establish scholarships and grants that support the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community in the Pacific Northwest.

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