14 Facts About Patty Stonesifer

Patty Stonesifer's father, Bill Quigley, was a car salesman and her mother was a physical therapist.

Patty Stonesifer spent two decades working at for-profit technology companies as a consultant to DreamWorks SKG and at Microsoft in various vice president positions.

Patty Stonesifer began her tenure at Microsoft in 1988 running its Canadian division before being promoted to vice president and revamping Microsoft's Product Support operations.

Patty Stonesifer helped Bill and Melinda Gates found their foundation, growing it from its inception in 1997 to the world's largest philanthropy with 500 employees by the time she stepped down in 2008.

Patty Stonesifer was its CEO from 2006 to 2008 and President and co-chair from 1997 to 2006.

Patty Stonesifer is a founding board member of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences.

Patty Stonesifer served on the board of the GAVI Fund, which helps to provide vaccines to developing countries.

Patty Stonesifer has served on the US delegation to the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on AIDS.

Patty Stonesifer is a founding co-chair of the CITIES board, which promotes expanding the use of technology in Seattle's community colleges.

Patty Stonesifer donates both time and resources to a number of other regional nonprofit organizations; serves on the boards of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Center for Global Development, and the Broad Institute; is a member of the Circle of Allies and Champions for the National Council of Young Leaders, the advisory board for America Achieves, and the executive committee of RaiseDC; and is a Hope Street Group advisor.

In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Patty Stonesifer to serve as the Chair of the White House Council for Community Solutions.

Patty Stonesifer has received honorary degrees from Tufts University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Trinity University, and American University, in addition to her alma mater.

Patty Stonesifer is married to Michael Kinsley, a political columnist and founding editor of the Microsoft-funded online journal Slate.

Patty Stonesifer has two children, a son and a daughter, from a previous marriage, as well as two grandchildren.