She was awarded an honorary damehood by Queen Elizabeth II in 2014 for her services to charity and international development. As an American citizen, she cannot be called "Dame Melinda", but can use the letters "DBE" after her name. Her current occupations are that she is a philanthropist and she is running the "Bill and Melinda Gates's Foundation" with her husband. She has three children : Phoebe Adele Gates, Rory John Gates, and Jennifer Katharine Gates. She got awarded for the Gates's Foundation in May 2006.