$100 Million Gift To Oregon Athletics Fund

[The Jason]

Knight's $100 million gift to bankroll Oregon athletics fund

Associated Press

Updated: August 21, 2007, 9:08 AM ET

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EUGENE, Ore. -- 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.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[FirefightnRick]

Gee that dude has pumped some money into that program?

Rick

[greenminer]

Phil Knight received his undergrad from Uof Oregon in financing.

Do we have a Phil Knight equivalent here in the metroplex, or anywhere for that matter? one hundred million freakin' dollars!

[GreenBlooded1]

one hundred million freakin' dollars!

AND it's a tax deduction to boot!!

[UNTLifer]

Phil Knight received his undergrad from Uof Oregon in financing.

Do we have a Phil Knight equivalent here in the metroplex, or anywhere for that matter? one hundred million freakin' dollars!

Sam Moon???

jk

Edited August 21, 2007 by UNTLifer

[untStein]

Did any of that money go to Pac-10 refs?

[buff64]

Not $100 million, but I noticed a ex-football player at Western New Mexico pledged $50,000 a year for the next 20 years to them.

[Green Crazy]

It's the least he could do for making them wear those Nike uniforms.

Edited August 21, 2007 by Green Crazy

[risinggreen]

And Charles Duncan just gave 30 mill. to Rice University. Tis the season for giving I guess. Where's our piece of pie?

[Eagle1855]

And Charles Duncan just gave 30 mill. to Rice University. Tis the season for giving I guess. Where's our piece of pie?

take a post-dated check for 20mill? shooting for 2040...ha

[recman]

who was it that donated money to us this past year? and how much was it?

[UNTLifer]

$1.5 million from the Goldfields.

[THE CLAW]

Do you think we could ask Mattress Mac to give us some?

[meangreendork]

Dr. Phil? Norah Jones?

[runt96]

Norah Jones & Don Henley ? Benefit concert ?

[gksmith]

Not $100 million, but I noticed a ex-football player at Western New Mexico pledged $50,000 a year for the next 20 years to them.

Chump change by comparison....not that there is anything wrong with any donation to schools or needy causes.