Phil Knight
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Nike The co -founder Phil Knight is donating $ 2 billion to the Knight Cancer Institute of the University of Health and Sciences of Oregon, the largest donation of the University, College or Health Institution of the United States, according to the Knight Foundation.
The Foundation said on Thursday the gift that will be used to change the scientific approach to cancer treatment, research and patient care results.
As part of the gift, the gentlemen will be associated with the pioneer of Dr. Brian Druker's cancer investigation.
A decade ago, Druker and Ohsu assumed a challenge to raise $ 500 million for cancer investigation, and the knights signed to coincide with the dollar increase per dollar.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to invest in the next stage of the revolutionary vision led by Druker of the investigation, diagnosis, treatment, attention and one day, eradication,” said Phil and Penny Knight in a statement. “We could not be more excited about the potential for transformation of this work for humanity.”
Phil and Penny Knight with Dr. Brian Druker of the Ohsu Knight Cancer Institute.
Courtesy of the Ohsu Caballero Cancer Institute.
Knight's fortune comes from his success with Swoosh, the company he founded in 1964.
Originally called Blue Ribbon Sports, the business began humbly, with Knight selling sneakers outside the trunk of his car, as he said in his 2016 memories, “Shoe dog”.
Nike became public in December 1980 and quickly became the most dominant shoes brand, associated with some of the best athletes throughout the sport.
During the Knight mandate in the public company, from its OPI to its retirement in June 2016, Nike's shares rose almost 30,500%.
Although Nike Stock has had painful years, more than 50% since its peak at the end of 2021, it remains the most valuable public company in sports shoes, valued at more than $ 110 billion.
The gentlemen are regularly in the lists of the best philanthropists. In May, Time magazine estimated its life at $ 3.6 billion, including $ 370 million endowed only in 2024.
According to the latest fiscal documents of the Knight Foundation, the Foundation had more than $ 5 billion in assets at the end of 2023.
“I wanted to build something of mine, something I could point out and say: I did it. It was the only way I saw to make significant life,” Knight said in his 2016 memories.
Correction: The head of this story has been updated to correct that Phil Knight is donating to the Knight Cancer Institute of the Oregon University. An earlier version erroneously indicated to the institution.