Former Microsoft executive Patty Stonesifer has donated $1 million to the capital campaign of a Redmond, Wash., organization that helps the homeless.

The gift to the "Raise the Roof" campaign for the Multi-Service Centers of North & East King County is the agency's largest private individual gift in is 28-year history. The gift is second in size only to a $1.2-million grant from the William H. Gates Foundation.

The Raise the Roof project is a $9.5-million public-private partnership working to build three new facilities to help serve the homeless, hungry and working-poor, says Doreen Marchione, MSC executive director. Construction has already begun on a new Family Development Center and Food Bank, due to be completed in October, with the other two projects scheduled for completion in January 2000.

Stonesifer is a longtime center volunteer and member of the group's capital campaign steering committee. Stonesifer's gift, along with other individual and corporate donations, has brought the campaign to within $1 million of the $9.5 million to be raised, says Marchione.

Stonesifer, current president of the Gates Learning Foundation, challenged residents and businesses to raise the last of the money needed to fund the three facilities.

"I have seen firsthand the important services and support the agency provides for our neighbors in need," she said. "Through the excellent work of MSC, hope is available to more and more families."

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