Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (or the Gates Foundation, abbreviated as BMGF) is the largest private foundation in the world, founded by Bill and Melinda Gates. It was launched in 2000 and is said to be the largest transparently operated private foundation in the world. The primary aims of the foundation are, globally, to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty, and in America, to expand educational opportunities and access to information technology. The foundation, based in Seattle, Washington, is controlled by its three trustees: Bill Gates, Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. Other principal officers include Co-Chair William H. Gates, Sr. and Chief Executive Officer Susan Desmond-Hellmann.

On June 25, 2006, Warren Buffett (then the world's richest person, estimated worth of US$62 billion as of April 16, 2008) pledged to give the foundation approximately 10 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares spread over multiple years through annual contributions, with the first year's donation of 500,000 shares being worth approximately US$1.5 billion. Buffett set conditions so that these contributions do not simply increase the foundation's endowment, but effectively work as a matching contribution, doubling the Foundation's annual giving: "Buffett's gift came with three conditions for the Gates foundation: Bill or Melinda Gates must be alive and active in its administration; it must continue to qualify as a charity; and each year it must give away an amount equal to the previous year's Berkshire gift, plus an additional amount equal to 5 percent of net assets. Buffett gave the foundation two years to abide by the third requirement." The Gates Foundation received 5% (500,000) of the shares in July 2006 and will receive 5% of the remaining earmarked shares in the July of each following year (475,000 in 2007, 451,250 in 2008). In July 2013, Buffet announced another donation of his company's Class B, this time in the amount worth $2 billion, is going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Answer the following questions:
1. What is the name of the foundation this article is centered around?
2. what is the shortened name?
3. who founded the foundation?
4. When did it launch?
5. how much was Warren Buffet worth in 2008 approximately
6. as of what day?
7. how much did he pledge to BMGF
8. at one time?
9. what was the first year's contribution?
10. worth how much?
11. how many conditions were there for buffet's contribution?
12. How long did Buffett give for the third condition to be met?
13. what year did he announce another donation?
14. what month?
15. worth how much?
16. who has to be alive in order for buffet to make his pledge?
17. Will he make the contribution if they are alive, but not active?
18. Does the foundation have to qualify as a charity?
1. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2. BMGF
3. Bill and Melinda Gates
4. 2000
5. US$62 billion
6. April 16, 2008
7. 10 million Berkshire Hathaway Class B shares
8. no
9. 500,000
10. US$1.5 billion
11. three
12. two years
13. 2013
14. July
15. $2 billion
16. Bill or Melinda Gates
17. no
18. yes