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Founders
Paul G. Allen, Co-Founder
Investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen creates and advances world-class projects and high-impact initiatives that change and improve the way people live, learn, work and experience the world through arts, education, entertainment, sports, business and technology. He co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1976, remained the company's chief technologist until he left Microsoft in 1983, and is the founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc. and chairman of Charter Communications. In addition, Allen's multibillion dollar investment portfolio includes large stakes in DreamWorks Animation SKG, Digeo, Oxygen Media, real estate holdings and more than 40 other technology, media and content companies. In 2004 Allen funded SpaceShipOne, the first privately-funded effort to successfully put a civilian in suborbital space and winner of the Ansari X-Prize competition. Allen also owns the Seattle Seahawks NFL and Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchises.
Named one of the top philanthropists in America, Allen gives back to the community through the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, whose goal is to transform individual lives and strengthen communities by supporting arts and culture, youth engagement, community development and social change, and scientific and technological innovation throughout the Pacific Northwest. Allen is also founder of Experience Music Project, Seattle's critically-acclaimed interactive music museum, the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, and Vulcan Productions, the independent film production company behind the award-winning feature HARD CANDY, the "Evolution" series on PBS, "The Blues," executive produced by Martin Scorsese in conjunction with Allen and Jody Patton, and the six-part series, Rx for Survival – A Global Health Challenge. Learn more about Allen online at www.paulallen.com.
Jody Patton ,
Co-Founder and President
Since co-founding Paul G. Allen's management company with Allen in 1986, Patton has developed and led a wide variety of Allen's business, charitable, educational and entertainment endeavors. In addition to serving as a senior advisor to Allen and directing the ongoing strategic and corporate development of the organization and its broad portfolio of projects and investments, Patton's responsibilities include serving as president of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, president of Vulcan Productions (the independent film production company of Hard Candy and Evolution acclaim), vice-chair of First & Goal Inc. (the developer and manager of Qwest Field and Exhibition Center), and executive director of Experience Music Project, Seattle's one-of-a-kind interactive music museum that opened in 2000 to international critical acclaim. In addition, Patton serves as executive director of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, which supports nonprofit organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest in the areas of health and human services, the arts and medical research. An active member of the arts and education communities, Patton serves on the board of directors of the University of Washington Foundation, the International Glass Museum, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the Theatre Communications Group, as well as the advisory board of Meany Hall.
