October 15, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute
Age at death: 81
How he made his fortune: Founded the clothing chain Gap Inc. with his wife, Doris, in 1969.
Major philanthropy: Along with his wife, Doris, who survives him, Mr. Fisher gave about $200-million to education and organizations benefiting children during his lifetime.
Of that total, about $70-million went to the charter school group, Knowledge Is Power Program Foundation, known as KIPP, and approximately $30-million to Teach for America. In September, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art announced a partnership with the Fishers to house the couple’s extensive collection of important contemporary art.
How he will be remembered: Mr. Fisher became KIPP’s main donor and the driving force behind that group and Teach for America. His donations to KIPP made it possible for the organization to increase its network of schools from its original two pilot schools in 2000 to 82 schools today, which provide a free, college-preparatory education to at least 20,000 students who would not have had access to such an education.
Mr. Fisher saw schools as “equalizers in this country, and he was concerned there weren’t enough high-quality public schools in America,” said Steve R. Mancini, a spokesman for KIPP.
