Nike Chairman and Wife Give $125-Million for University’s Heart Institute

Phil Knight made the gift to Oregon Health & Science University after a 50-minute pitch—without PowerPoint. Phil Knight made the gift to Oregon Health & Science University after a 50-minute pitch—without PowerPoint.

September 30, 2012 | Read Time: 1 minute

How much: $125-million pledge over five years

Who gave it: Phil Knight, chairman of Nike, and his wife, Penelope

Who got it: Oregon Health & Science University

What the gift will be used for: To establish the OHSU Cardiovascular Institute

Connection to OHSU: In 2008, the Knights gave the university $100-million for its Cancer Institute, in part at the urging of a longtime friend who was an adviser to the cancer institute.

How the gift came about: A team that included the university’s president, Joe Robertson, and leaders of the cancer center met with Mr. Knight in a meeting at which they were told to make a 50-minute presentation without using PowerPoint. Impressed with the pitch, Mr. Knight decided on the $125-million level of support and said Mr. Robertson could decide how to use the money.