George W. Bush to Honor Bill and Melinda Gates in Dallas

The George W. Bush Presidential Center is honoring Bill and Melinda Gates with its annual award for those who work to improve the lives of others.

Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush on Thursday evening in Dallas will present Bill and Melinda Gates with the George W. Bush Medal for Distinguished Leadership.

The center says this year's daylong leadership forum will focus on those "tackling today's most pressing challenges with compassion."

Bill Gates, who co-founded Microsoft, and his wife formed the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

"They not only can talk the issue. They have produced amazing results as a result of their generosity and their skills," said Former President George W. Bush. 

Over the last two decades, the foundation has given more than $45 billion to a variety of causes with a focus on healthcare and education. 

"Philanthrophy's job is to figure out to experiemnt, to innovate, to try things, to prove them out and actually measure the results," said Melinda Gates.

The Bush center presented its inaugural leadership medal last year to Bono , lead singer of the band U2, for his humanitarian work against poverty and diseases including HIV/AIDS.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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