Catholic Health World Articles

March 03, 2026

$75 million gift from Nike co-founder will advance cardiac care at Providence

Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny, have given a second gift of $75 million to advance cardiac care at the Providence Heart Institute and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.

The heart institute is based in Portland, Oregon, and the hospital in a suburb of the city. Both are part of Providence Oregon, which is within the Providence St. Joseph Health System.

Nike's headquarters is also in suburban Portland.

The Knights gave $75 million to the Providence Heart Institute in 2019, which set a record for a single gift. The donation helped start the institute's heart transplant program.

The Providence St. Vincent Medical Foundation said in a release that the new donation brings the Knights' gifts to the heart institute to almost $200 million over the last 10 years.

"The Knights' game-changing generosity has ensured patients with life-threatening heart conditions have access to pioneering clinical trials, advanced procedures and cutting-edge care that offers them the best chance of recovery," the foundation said.

With the new gift, Providence has established the Knight Innovation Fund. The foundation said the fund "will deepen patients' access to state-of-the-art programs and buoy the visionary work of clinicians at Providence Heart Institute and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center."

 

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