Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awards $50,000 to Ralph Munro Endowment for Civic Education at Western Washington University

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded $50,000 to the Ralph Munro Endowment for Civic Education at Western Washington University to establish a distinguished professorship in civic education in honor of Washington's former Secretary of State Ralph Munro, a 1966 Western graduate.

The award complements efforts by the Western Foundation, the university's fund raising arm.
"We are very gratified by this generous grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation," President Karen W. Morse said, in announcing the gift. "With help from nearly 400 friends and supporters of Ralph and Karen Munro, Western had raised approximately $125,000 in contributions and pledges toward the Munro endowment. The grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is the largest single contribution we have received. It increases our endowment to $175,000, a giant step closer to securing the $250,000 we need to be eligible for a matching state grant."

"Western's Munro endowment will enable the university to accomplish three long-term goals," Morse explained. "We will use support from the endowment to help conduct our summer seminar for social studies teachers, to enrich civics programs during the regular academic year, and to recognize Washington citizens who contribute significantly to civic education."

Western will further honor its distinguished alumnae by renaming the Taft Seminar summer program, the Munro Seminar for K-12 Social Studies Teachers.

"For 15 years, Western's political science department has offered the seminar to K-12 and community college educators to help them better understand how government really works," Morse noted. "During five terms as secretary of state, Ralph has been a dedicated participant in the seminar."

For further information on the Munro Endowment for Civic Education, please call the Western Foundation, 360.650.3027.