Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny, are donating $1.1 billion to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Oregon and the Providence Heart Institute, marking one of the largest gifts ever made to an American healthcare institution.
The donation follows another major contribution from the Knight family last year, when the couple gave $2 billion to Oregon Health & Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute.
Funding Women’s Health and Cardiac Care
The latest donation will support the creation of Oregon’s first hospital dedicated specifically to women’s health and expand cardiovascular care across Providence’s eight hospitals in the state.
Providence President and CEO Erik Wexler said the gift will create new opportunities in women’s healthcare, heart care and patient access throughout the region.
The Knights have previously supported Providence’s healthcare programs, donating $200 million to the Providence Heart Institute over the past decade.
Expanding Cardiovascular Innovation
Dr. Dan Oseran, executive medical director of the Providence Heart Institute, said previous funding from the Knights helped establish a successful heart transplant program and allowed Providence to recruit physicians while supporting research initiatives.
The new donation will continue funding cardiovascular programs through physician recruitment, medical technology development, clinical trials and personalised patient care initiatives.
New Women’s Health Hospital in Portland
A portion of the gift will help create a dedicated women’s hospital at the Providence St. Vincent Medical Center campus in Portland.
The facility will include a modernised neonatal intensive care unit and provide integrated services covering areas such as gynecology, pregnancy, labour and delivery, menopause care and cardiology.
The Knight Family’s Philanthropic Legacy
Phil and Penny Knight are among America’s most prominent philanthropists. The couple was included on TIME100 Philanthropy 2025, and Forbes estimates that they had already donated approximately $4.5 billion to charitable causes before the latest contribution.
Phil Knight built his fortune after co-founding Nike with former track coach Bill Bowerman in 1964. Originally named Blue Ribbon Sports, the company later became one of the world’s largest athletic apparel brands.
Knight led Nike’s global expansion and helped develop the company’s iconic “Just Do It” brand before retiring as chairman in 2016.
Nike Faces Recent Business Challenges
While Nike remains one of the world’s leading sportswear companies, the brand has faced challenges in recent years, including weaker sales and increased competition in China.
The company’s stock price recently reached its lowest level since 2014 as investors continued to monitor its efforts to regain growth momentum.