Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife, Penny Knight, have committed $1.1 billion to Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and Providence Heart Institute in Oregon, marking one of the largest philanthropic gifts ever made to a U.S. healthcare institution.
The donation will support major expansions in cardiovascular care, improve patient services and help establish Oregon’s first hospital dedicated to women’s health. Providence announced the gift on September 15.
New Women’s Hospital Planned in Oregon
A major portion of the donation will help create a new women’s hospital at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland.
The facility will bring together services including gynecology, pregnancy, labor and delivery, menopause care and cardiovascular treatment. Plans also include a modernized neonatal intensive care unit, expanded recovery areas and additional patient-support spaces.
Providence said the project is expected to create hundreds of new clinical and non-clinical positions while expanding access to specialized healthcare for women across Oregon.
Major Investment in Heart Care
The gift will also significantly expand the work of the Providence Heart Institute, which treats nearly 63,000 patients each year from across the Pacific Northwest.
Funding will support advanced cardiac imaging, new clinical trials, emerging treatments and the recruitment of physician leaders. Providence said the investment is intended to strengthen its ability to provide complex cardiovascular care and advance research and innovation.
The Knights have already contributed nearly $200 million to Providence Heart Institute over the past decade, making the latest commitment a major continuation of their support for the organization.
Knight Philanthropy Extends Across Oregon
The new gift adds to a long record of healthcare philanthropy by Phil and Penny Knight.
In August 2025, the couple committed $2 billion to Oregon Health & Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute, one of the largest single gifts ever made to a U.S. university or academic health center. That funding is aimed at advancing cancer research, diagnosis, treatment and patient care.
The Knights have therefore committed billions of dollars to healthcare initiatives in Oregon, with their philanthropy spanning both cancer and cardiovascular care as well as broader medical infrastructure.
Providence Looks to Expand Access and Technology
Providence said the $1.1 billion commitment will also support improvements in technology and patient services at St. Vincent Medical Center.
The hospital is a 539-bed facility and serves as the home of the Providence Heart Institute, along with women's and children's services and other specialized programs.
The additional investment is expected to help the medical centre expand services while improving coordination between different specialties, particularly for patients managing complex or multiple health conditions.
A Significant Moment for Healthcare in Oregon
For Providence, the Knights’ commitment comes at a time when demand for specialized medical services is increasing.
The organization says the funding will help bring together advanced cardiovascular treatment, women's healthcare and patient-support programs under one broader system of care. That could be particularly important for women with conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension or diabetes who require care from multiple specialists.
Phil Knight said the couple believes major advances come from tackling difficult challenges and that Providence's work in cardiovascular care offers an opportunity to make a broader impact.
A New Chapter in Knight’s Giving
The $1.1 billion commitment reinforces Phil Knight's role as one of the United States' most prominent healthcare philanthropists.
While the donation is closely tied to Oregon, its planned impact extends beyond a single hospital. Providence expects the investment to support new facilities, medical technology, research, specialist recruitment and expanded care for patients across the Pacific Northwest.
With the creation of Oregon's first dedicated women's hospital and continued investment in advanced heart care, the donation is set to reshape parts of the state's healthcare infrastructure for years to come.
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