Several years ago, I had the opportunity to attend one of the most talked about events of the summer, at least among Microsoft interns. I, along with several hundred other guests, was invited to an annual BBQ cookout at Bill Gates’ house. These had been going on for a while, however this would be the last time Mr. Gates opened his house to Microsoft employees since he would be retiring later that year.
The Drive
We drove to an office building on Microsoft's main campus in Redmond. From there, about 75 interns boarded two large coach buses similar to those used for sight seeing. The buses took us to some undisclosed location where everyone had to go through airport-level security. We were not allowed to take cameras, cell phones, or the like into Mr. Gates' premises for privacy reasons, but a simple Google search will solve that issue. From there, it was a short wait until a group of smaller buses came and drove us to the house.
It was surreal thinking that the world's richest man lived less than 3 miles from where I used to live in Downtown Bellevue. Driving to his house was very anti-climactic. There's not a lot to see, mainly because of the thick woods and foliage that follow down the long and winding driveway to the front of his house. You may have seen pictures and graphics of his house online, but it's nothing compared to seeing the real thing.
The House (and food)
Stepping out of the smaller buses onto the driveway was an experience on it's own. I distinctly remember stepping out and feeling the texture of his driveway. It was unlike anything I've ever walked on before. Smooth, soft, and, for lack of a better word, perfect. Walking up to the entrance of the house I could see two massive doors that were open leading into a huge open space and master staircase leading down to his backyard. Massive steps, glass, gorgeous wooden beams, and what looked like a glass elevator were all exposed and absolutely stunning.
At the bottom of the staircase, I could see his movie theater and what looked like another large room to the right. There were dozens of people outside in his backyard, with gorgeous views of Lake Washington. The event was catered and the food was excellent, with your typical BBQ fare of burgers, salads, ribs, etc. I think they even served wine and beer for those over 21. For the most part, people were free to explore his backyard, walk by the dock, and his guest house. It was a totally surreal experience. I've seen this house many times while passing on Lake Washington from a boat, but never imagined that I'd be having dinner in his backyard!
After food was served and people started to mingle with other Microsoft executives, I noticed a small crowd of people gathering towards one side of the backyard. Mr. Gates had come out and started to socialize with the interns. He answered several questions and generally seemed like a very chilled-out, down-to-earth guy. I heard from some others that on another date, his children actually came out and mingled with some of the interns.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, the intern BBQ at Bill Gates' house was certainly a nice gesture, and an indication of his willingness to give back to others. After all, Gates is the founder of the world's largest charitable foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. At the same time, there was a bit of smart HR marketing going on, since who would not want to take a full-time offer from a company who'se CEO invites you to his house for a summer BBQ...
Still, it was an incredible experience. I've told this story to several dozen friends over countless dinners and get-togethers. Every time, they were impressed by his generosity and willingness to do something special for his interns. Recently, Bill Gates has teamed up with Warren Buffett and several other billionaires to create the Giving Pledge, where some of the world's wealthiest individuals pledge to give away the majority of their net worth to charity over their lifetime.
While this incredible gesture of generosity will likely provide a lasting effect on society for years to come, being able to make a lasting difference in the world doesn't require having a billion dollars, or even a million dollars in the bank. That's partially the reason why givr was started. We want everyone to show how they give and the impact it has on others. There's no right way or wrong way, and it doesn't require a lot of money, if any at all. Perhaps the easiest, and most powerful way to give is by just clicking "Like" on a charitable campaign's Facebook page, or following a fundraiser on Razoo. If you have any thoughts about how you want to express your giving, consider posting it to this blog by emailing post@givr.posterous.com.