Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight Donates $2 Billion to Oregon Cancer Center

Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny have made a record-breaking $2 billion donation to the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). The gift, announced on Friday, is the largest charitable contribution ever made to a cancer center in the United States. The funds will be used to expand cutting-edge research, accelerate cancer treatments, and enhance global collaboration in the fight against the disease.

This latest donation builds on the couple’s long-standing commitment to cancer research, following a $500 million contribution in 2013 that helped establish the Knight Cancer Institute as a world leader in early detection and precision medicine. OHSU officials described the new donation as “transformational,” saying it will not only improve treatment options but also potentially save millions of lives by making breakthroughs more accessible.

At 86, the Nike co-founder continues to direct much of his fortune toward education, health, and scientific research. What do you think about this? Should more billionaires channel their wealth into life-saving causes like this?

Share to: