(Washington, DC)  --  Bill and Melinda Gates are among those honored at the White House by receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  Yesterday's event was President Obama's last Medal of Freedom ceremony, which also honored such noted personalities as Vin Scully, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Ellen DeGeneres and Michael Jordan.  The Gateses received the medal for contributions by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  The couple founded the organization in 2000 with the goal of helping people live better lives in developing countries and the U.S.