Melinda French Gates is stepping down as co-chair of the charitable foundation she co-founded with her ex-husband Bill Gates more than two decades ago, taking a $12.5 billion package to continue her own work aimed at uplifting women and families. Gates wrote in a statement that her decision to resign from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which she co-founded nearly 25 years ago, was not made lightly and came after “careful thought and reflection.” Her last day is next month, on June 7. “The time is right for me to move forward into the next chapter of my philanthropy,” Gates said. “This is…