Melinda French Gates recently announced the launch of a new $250 million fund called “Action for Women’s Health” to improve women’s mental and physical well-being. The fund, established through her organization Pivotal Ventures, aims to address the underfunding, oversight, and misunderstanding of women’s health issues. The goal is to support organizations around the world that are working to break down barriers to women’s health and provide them with the attention and funding they deserve.
After the US Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, which allowed individual states to decide abortion rights, French Gates decided to focus on supporting reproductive freedoms in the United States. She has long worked on improving contraceptive access internationally but now feels compelled to support reproductive rights at home. She sees a need to level the playing field, as lack of funding has put organizations fighting for women’s rights on the defensive while opponents of progress remain on the offense. French Gates is determined to help ensure that laws related to women’s health are not rolled back in the US or any other country.
French Gates has expressed concerns about the devastating impacts of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark abortion rights case. She believes it is crucial for laws related to women’s health to be protected and not rolled back. She has also voiced her support for Kamala Harris, endorsing her for president and emphasizing the importance of having leaders who understand and prioritize women’s needs. French Gates views Harris as someone who can address these issues effectively and advocate for women’s reproductive rights.
As one of the world’s wealthiest and most prominent philanthropists, Melinda French Gates resigned from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in June, an organization she helped create over two decades ago. As part of her divorce agreement with Bill Gates, she received $12.5 billion from the foundation for her work upon resigning. French Gates has since focused her philanthropic efforts on empowering women and girls, particularly in the areas of health and rights. She believes that investing in women’s health and well-being is essential for creating a more equitable and sustainable future.
French Gates is gravely concerned about the state of women’s health worldwide and recognizes the need for greater attention and resources to address the existing inequities. She aims to support and amplify the work of organizations that are already working on women’s health issues and ensure that they receive the funding they need to make a meaningful impact. By championing women’s rights and reproductive freedoms, French Gates hopes to contribute to a world where all women have access to the care and resources they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.
Through her philanthropic initiatives and advocacy efforts, Melinda French Gates continues to be a powerful voice for women’s health and rights. She is committed to advancing gender equality, supporting women’s empowerment, and ensuring that women have the resources and opportunities to thrive. By creating initiatives like “Action for Women’s Health” and focusing on addressing key issues such as reproductive rights, French Gates is working to create a more just and equitable world for women and girls everywhere.
