Satya Nadella, the current CEO of Microsoft, announced on May 26, 2021, that he would be donating $15 million to Seattle Children’s Hospital in honor of his son, Zain.
“When our son Zain was born with cerebral palsy,” said a statement shared by Satya Nadella and his wife, Anu. “Our family formed a deep connection to Seattle Children’s, relying on their expertise, care, and resources as we navigated the challenges, of raising a child with complex medical needs. It is our hope that in honoring Zain’s journey, we can support Seattle Children’s in advancing precision medicine neurosciences, mental and behavioral healthcare, and providing equitable access to care for every family and community.”
The donation is earmarked specifically for neuro medicine, meant to help in four particular areas – recruiting talent and educators in precision medicine, expanding the hospital’s clinical trial program and mental health initiatives, and creating the Zain Nadella Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurosciences.
“We’re incredibly grateful for Anu and Satya’s tremendous generosity and commitment to improving the lives of children and teens with neurological conditions and brain injuries,” said Dr. Jeff Sperring, CEO of Seattle Children’s, in a statement. Anu Nadella, Satya’s wife, is chair of Seattle Children’s Foundation Board of Trustees.
The $15 million donation, while generous, is a drop in the bucket of the $1.35 billion that Seattle Children’s hopes to raise in 2021, money needed to fund and support the wide-ranging scope of pediatric health care and research. Their fundraiser, titled “It Starts With Yes” seeks donors at all levels to ensure that everyone has access to one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals. The hospital sees more than 377,000 patients annually, including over 18,000 via their pediatric neuroscience departments.
Under Satya Nadella’s leadership, Microsoft has expanded its efforts developing assistive and accessible technology, and has increased access to employment for workers with disabilities.
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