Phil Knight, the Nike co-founder, philanthropist and major University of Oregon benefactor, drew attention over the weekend when the 88-year-old was seen arriving at the Ducks’ game against UCLA in Eugene.
The afternoon ended painfully for Knight and his alma mater. UCLA (5-0, 3-0 Big Ten) held on for a 17-15 victory, even after Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava suffered an injury.
Before the error-filled contest, which featured 10 turnovers, Knight entered Autzen Stadium with the help of a cane. The 59-year-old venue has benefited from tens of millions of dollars in donations he made to Oregon’s athletic department.
“Nike Co-Founder Phil Knight couldn’t miss the game between Oregon Ducks and UCLA Bruins,” KATU News anchor Guillermo Motta wrote on X, sharing video of Knight’s arrival.
Knight walked from the vehicle to the Autzen Stadium elevator without assistance, but the cane was noticeable and quickly prompted reactions from some Oregon supporters.
“Damn he really aged from the last time I saw him,” one Ducks fan posted on X.
Nike co-founder, philanthropist and leading University of Oregon donor Phil Knight prompted concern after appearing at Saturday’s Ducks game at age 88
UCLA’s Anthony Woods runs over Oregon’s Koi Perich during Saturday’s game
“Makes me sad to see this,” another Oregon supporter wrote. “He looks very frail.”
Others expressed appreciation that Knight continued to attend games despite his advancing age.
“Oh wow,” one fan wrote. “He’s really aged. Big ups for Uncle Phil.”
Many more offered sympathy for a different reason: Knight had to watch Oregon (3-2, 1-1 Big Ten) lose control in the second half to a UCLA team relying on its backup quarterback.
“He deserved better,” another fan wrote online.
The arrival video also featured a lighthearted exchange, as a stadium usher greeted Knight in an unusually old-fashioned way.
“Your chariot awaits, sir,” the woman told Knight, who competed as an Oregon middle-distance runner during his time at the school in the late 1950s.
Knight has donated millions of dollars to Republican candidates over the years, while also directing substantial resources toward Oregon and his alma mater. In September, he pledged $1 billion to establish the Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, a new engineering school at the Eugene campus.
Last month, Knight and his wife, Penny, announced another $1.1 billion commitment to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and the Providence Heart Institute. The funding will support construction of Oregon’s first hospital dedicated to women’s health.
Phil Knight, right, and his wife Penny watch the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the Phil Knight Invitational in Portland, Oregon, on November 26, 2017
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The Knights have backed the institute for more than 10 years, contributing over $200 million before the latest pledge, including a $75 million donation earlier this year. Their new gift will help create the women’s hospital while expanding cardiovascular treatment, clinical research and training for heart-care professionals. It is also intended to improve coordination of patient services throughout the medical center.
“Women’s health needs change throughout life, and too often patients are asked to navigate multiple specialties and care settings on their own,” Providence medical center CEO Ray Moreno said in a statement. “The Knights’ gift is an opportunity to bring these resources together, expanding access for women across Oregon and creating a strong foundation to bridge care gaps in women’s health.”
The donation is particularly significant because it comes at a moment when US hospitals are seeing far more pregnant patients who are also managing chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, addiction, and behavioral and mental health issues. It also lands at the same time healthcare organizations are struggling with the impact of government funding cuts.
‘Resources are scarce, and healthcare is increasingly looking to philanthropy to fill in the gaps,’ Dan Oseran, the heart institute’s executive medical director, told the Chronicle. ‘A gift like this reduces that friction a little bit and provides the ability to do things we wouldn’t otherwise be able to do.’
Fans were admittedly sad to see Knight subjected to the Ducks’ play on Saturday in Eugene
Counting pledges and direct gifts, the Knights’ latest commitment pushes their total charitable giving to more than $9 billion over the past two decades, with about $2.5 billion of that going to their family foundation and donor-advised funds. They have appeared on the Chronicle’s annual Philanthropy 50 list of the biggest donors 12 times since 2006.
The Knights’ charitable giving is often the result of long-term relationships they have built with nonprofit leaders they have come to trust over time.
Remarkably, they have donated more than $2 billion to the University of Oregon to support scientific and related programs, including $500 million in 2016 to launch the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact. They gave another $500 million in 2021 to expand research programs, build new facilities, and support students and faculty at the Knight Campus.
The couple also gave $400 million in 2023 to the 1803 Fund, a Portland, Oregon, nonprofit, for its Rebuild Albina project, an effort to revive the economic and cultural prosperity of a once-thriving Black neighborhood that fell into neglect in the 1970s.
The Knights have given at least $580 million to Stanford University, where Phil earned an MBA. That includes $400 million in 2016 to establish Knight-Hennessy Scholars, a graduate program, and $105 million to Stanford’s business school to create the Knight Management Center.
They also gave Stanford $75 million in 2022 to launch the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience, an effort to learn what causes cognitive decline and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and how to delay and treat degenerative brain conditions.
The Knights have also supported college athletics, environmental programs, and sports and recreation activities for youth, among other causes.
A view of Autzen Stadium, which has benefitted from millions in donations from Knight
Gifts like the Knights’ latest one prove that spending time with donors and educating them about an organization’s work is extremely important and can lead to surprising windfalls, said Erin Hall, a development consultant and former nonprofit CEO.
‘I don’t think we can ever do enough of that because that is how donors find out everything about your organization and that is how donors feel good about where their investment is going,’ Hall said. ‘What a great way to leave a legacy and to be able to watch your investment come to life. That’s a pretty cool thing for a donor, and that’s going to also keep the donor engaged for the next need that that organization has.’
As for Nike, the sneaker and athletic apparel company reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, but its revenue weakened by more than feared. Nike also gave a forecast for profit this fiscal year that fell short of analysts´ expectations.
These days, Knight serves as Chairman Emeritus, and while he attends board meetings, he is no longer a voting member.
