We’re inspired by the innovation, compassion and focus of our founders, Gordon and Betty Moore. Gordon’s thinking was part of the birth of Silicon Valley in the late 1950s. Betty’s commitment to improving the lives of patients resulted in a regional collaborative that is making a difference in the care that Californians receive. Together, they’ve identified places where they, and the foundation, could create positive change for future generations.
In 1965 Gordon made a rule-of-thumb prediction, later dubbed
Moore’s Law, that became a guiding principle for the delivery of ever-more powerful semiconductor chips at proportionally lower costs. Today, this standard continues to set the pace of technology development and progress. Gordon has been committed to progress in science and technology throughout his career as a leader in the semiconductor industry, first as co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor, and then as co-founder of Intel Corporation.
Betty met Gordon at San Jose State College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1949. Gordon and Betty were married the following year. While Gordon attended graduate school at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Betty worked for Consolidated Engineering Corporation in advertising and public relations before joining the Ford Foundation. Gordon and Betty established their own foundation in 2000 to create positive outcomes for future generations around the world and at home in the San Francisco Bay Area.