Bill Gates away half of its value, as detailed in "The Power of Half". Gates and his wife invited Joan Salwen to Seattle to speak about what the family had done, and on December 9, 2010, Bill and Melinda Gates, and investor Warren Buffett signed a commitment they called the "Giving Pledge." The pledge is a commitment by all three to donate at least half of their wealth over the course of time to charity. Gates has also provided personal donations to educational institutions. In 1999, Gates donated $20 million to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for the construction of a
USS Thomas S. Gates apprehended Jose Miguel Battle, Jr. the suspected leader of The Corporation, an organized crime outfit. "Thomas S. Gates" also provided an escort for the aircraft carrier through the Strait of Magellan. Due to poor weather in the Pacific, "Thomas S. Gates" exited the strait via the Smyth Channel and conducted a 36-hour transit through restricted maneuvering waters. "Thomas S. Gates" was the first "Ticonderoga"-class cruiser to make that transit. The cruiser returned to home port on 2 August 2004. Due to Hurricane Katrina, her last deployment was cut short. The crew was given leave to take care of their families