I know I pinch myself on the rare occasion that I see Melinda Gates eating breakfast at the 5-Spot on upper Queen Anne. This woman not only got Bill to comb his hair, but she has helped create one of the most amazing and unparalleled experiments in giving and world aid ever. EVER!

We are reminded about the work and promise of this still-fledgling philanthropic monolith today, because The Gates Foundation announced a new CEO: Jeff Raikes, a longtime Microsoft exec. He takes over for Patty Stonesipher, who held the post since 1997.

 The foundation is building new headquarters in lower Queen Anne, across from the Space Needle and Music Experience Project. They have hired upwards of 500 of the world's most talented and innovative professionals, cherry-picking brilliance in the fields of agriculture, health care, technology, information resources, finance and administration. The projects they fund ($16 billion so far) and the scope of the foundation's work will only continue to amaze.