Bill Goodwin, VT alum and critical player in getting Virginia Tech into the ACC, has just announced that his family has pledged $250M to create a new cancer foundation that will foster collaboration across five major existing research centers: Harvard's Dana-Farber Institute, Johns Hopkins, University of Texas's Anderson Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering, and MIT. The foundation, called Break Through Cancer, will focus on four of the most confounding types of cancer: pancreatic, ovarian, glioblastoma, and acute myelogenous leukemia. Half of the $250M gift is from Bill Goodwin and his wife with the other half coming from his late son's estate. Hunter Goodwin passed away from cancer last year, but was involved in the planning of this new foundation that has been in the works for several years. The intent of the foundation is to avoid duplicating research, thereby providing faster and more effective results through intensive collaboration.
Here is a link to the announcement in the Richmond Times Dispatch: https://richmond.com/news/local/family-of-richmond-philanthropist-willia...
Brilliant idea.
Incredibly generous gift.
Ut Prosim!
Comments
Fuck cancer!
Never heard of him before but awesome work! Fuck Cancer!
Former CEO/Owner of AMF, owns the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond and Kiawah Island Golf Resort (among other vacation properties). Former Hokie engineer, self-made multi-billionaire.
Bio Here
Goodwin is an impressive guy. Personally, he can be a bit surly and expects to get his way, but he's given a helluva lot of money to VT and UVA (he's got a degree from Darden as well) over the years. He owns Kiawah, Sea Pines and The Jefferson off the top of my head. He was the lead contributor on the VT River Course Pete Dye upgrade and was the impetus for the Birdwood renovation. He gave $1M to name the floor at JPJ (which was eventually sold to a bank and his $1M moved elsewhere) and many other millions to the academic side.
Because of his ties to UVA and VT (he's served as Rector on both BOV's I believe) he was one of the 3-5 most important people in getting VT into the ACC.
I've met him a couple of times (his son and my older brother were friends in high school). He's an awesome guy to sit down and talk shop with - he's like a cross between Frank Beamer and Bobby Axelrod.
Yep. He has always seemed so unassuming to me and would hold a conversation while drinking *choose any brand* light beer. He was good friends with my grandfather for many years and would always stop by my family's tailgate before heading into the stadium. He's just a very friendly and philanthropic man.
As a Memorial Sloan-Kettering patient, I approve. Fuck cancer!