Nike Co-Founder To Donate $100 Million To Oregon

Money will be used to create the Oregon Athletics Legacy Fund

Aug. 21, 2007

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - The University of Oregon's plan to build a new basketball arena moved a giant step forward Monday when Nike co-founder Phil Knight, and his wife, Penny, pledged $100 million to the university, the largest philanthropic gift in school history.

The money is not targeted specifically for an arena, university officials said. Rather, it will create the Oregon Athletics Legacy Fund, which will help support all athletic programs.

But indirectly, officials said, the donation will boost the university's effort to replace aging McArthur Court with a new arena near the eastern edge of campus.

"This extraordinary gift will set Oregon athletics on a course toward certain self sufficiency and create the flexibility and financial capacity for the university to move forward with the new athletic arena," Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny said. "Now we can roll up our sleeves and get to work on making the arena a reality."

The university last year estimated it would take more than $200 million to pay for the arena once land costs are figured in. Fundraising for the project has been one of the top priorities for Kilkenny since he got the job earlier this year.

"Gifts like this are almost unprecedented at any level of college athletics. I was asked to lead the charge from self-supporting to self-sustaining and we took one gigantic leap on that front and there a number of other people we are hoping will help support this fund," Kilkenny said. "It's going to give us the resources we need where we'll never be a financial burden on this university."

The $100 million gift is the lead contribution toward a $150 million goal for the legacy fund, the university said.

"We are still stunned and pleased by the receipt of these funds. We have not spent them yet on these projects," UO President Dave Frohnmayer said. "We will be very careful stewards of these funds. Speculation as to how they will be used is very premature at this point."

Phil Knight ran track for the Ducks and graduated in 1959 with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He and wife have been longtime supporters of the university and are now the largest donors in school history.

Prior gifts have included money for the School of Law, the UO Libraries, more than 15 endowed faculty positions, and a number of other academic and athletic gifts.

"They have demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering both athletic as well as academic excellence on the Oregon campus," Frohnmayer said. "This contribution reflects a continuing strong dedication to higher education and our students. We are deeply moved by their unprecedented generosity."