In a philanthropic milestone, Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny, have pledged a record-breaking $2 billion to the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). The donation, the largest single gift ever made to a U.S. university or academic health center, promises to revolutionize patient care, research, and the institutional structure of the cancer center.
The gift is set to dramatically expand support services available to cancer patients across Oregon and beyond. These enhancements will include psychological counseling, genetic and financial guidance, symptom management, nutritional resources, and extended survivorship care—ensuring that treatment becomes more holistic and patient-centered than ever before.
A watershed moment in philanthropic leadership, this contribution allows the Knight Cancer Institute to reorganize into a self-governing entity under a newly established board of directors within OHSU. This structural evolution will provide the institute with greater autonomy and visibility, strengthening its ability to move decisively on cutting-edge care.
At the helm of the institute’s ambitious growth will be Dr. Brian Druker, the pioneering leukemia researcher who developed the breakthrough drug Gleevec. Druker is set to return as president of the newly structured Knight Cancer Group. His leadership—and the expanded philanthropic resources—aims to create a seamless continuum of care from diagnosis through treatment to recovery.
This gift builds upon the Knights’ longstanding support for OHSU. Their previous $500 million pledge in 2013 catalyzed the successful Knight Cancer Challenge, a campaign that ultimately raised $1 billion to launch the Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research Center. Now, this latest commitment far exceeds previous efforts and signals a new chapter in the institute’s evolution.
The timing of this donation is especially significant, as universities nationwide face federal funding cuts and uncertainty in research support. In contrast, this unprecedented philanthropic infusion positions OHSU not only to sustain its foundational programs but to become a magnet for top-tier medical talent and transformative discoveries.
The Knight family’s generosity extends beyond OHSU. Phil Knight, an alumnus of the University of Oregon, has contributed extensively to various institutions across the state. His donations have funded academic centers, athletic infrastructure, research complexes, and endowed fellowships—totaling well over a billion dollars across education and healthcare initiatives. This $2 billion gift brings his and his wife’s cumulative giving to Oregon’s public institutions to a historic scale.
This campaign stands out not just for its size but for its ambition: elevating the role of cancer care as both compassionate and innovative. The vision ahead foresees a future where comprehensive clinical trials, real-world patient support, and breakthrough treatments coexist within a unified care environment that treats individuals as humans, not as statistics.
As the impact of this donation unfolds, OHSU and the Knight Cancer Institute are poised to lead a national conversation on how philanthropy can reshape the future of healthcare. By uniting council with cutting-edge science, patient-centered services, and independent governance, the Knights have cast a bold vision for a more humane, effective, and inclusive standard of cancer care.
In doing so, they have not only made a landmark gift but have illuminated a path forward—where hope, science, and compassion converge to redefine what is possible in the fight against cancer.
