BRAC was awarded the 2004 Gates Award for Global Health during a banquet in Washington DC on June 3, 2004 in recognition of its contributions to improving health in the developing world. Bill Gates Senior, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, presented the $1 million award to Mr. F H Abed, Chairperson of BRAC and President BU Governing Board, at the Global Health Council's 31 Annual International Conference. A jury of international public health leaders and the Global Health Council"s Board of Directors selected BRAC for the award from among 50 nominated organizations.