United Way to honor Bill Gates' mother

Microsoft founder Bill Gates will be in northern Virginia on Wednesday to dedicate a new $17 million learning center at United Way Worldwide headquarters that will bear his mother's name.

Most of the funding for the learning center at the Alexandria headquarters came from a $10 million donation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill's mother, Mary Gates, was a longtime United Way supporter and board member. She died in 1994.

The learning center will allow United Way to use high-definition video conference and webcasting technology to train staffers and volunteers at United Way chapters all over the world. United Way also anticipates that outside groups will use the space on a rental basis.

-- Associated Press