12 October 2023
Institute news
The Baker Institute community is deeply saddened by the passing of entrepreneur and philanthropist Charles ‘Chuck’ Feeney, whose extraordinary generosity transformed the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and our collaborators on the Alfred Research Alliance precinct.
Chuck Feeney’s name is immortalised in our history, thanks to a transformational gift at the start of the 21st century.
The Baker Institute moved from the back of The Alfred Hospital, where we had been located since our establishment in 1926, to state-of-the-art, purpose-built facilities in 2002.
Baker Institute Director, Professor Tom Marwick said this gift had many benefits, building research capacity and capability as well as collaborative opportunities.
“It paved the way for the development of one of Australia’s leading scientific precincts, the Alfred Medical Research and Education Precinct, integrating biomedical and clinical research, education and health care,” Professor Marwick said.
As an Institute established in Melbourne by philanthropy, Chuck’s gift exemplified the transformative power of philanthropy.
The Irish-American entrepreneur made his money selling luxury duty free goods to travellers across the world, but he rejected the trappings of wealth himself. He went on to found the Atlantic Philanthropies in 1982, an international organisation set up to distribute his fortune to good causes and projects that he supported around the world. Atlantic Philanthropies quoted Mr Feeney, who said: "I had one idea that never changed in my mind—that you should use your wealth to help people."
In 2020, at age 89, he achieved his wish to give away his multi-billion fortune while living, donating more than $8 billion worldwide.
In 2022, Charles ‘Chuck’ Feeney was appointed an Honorary Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia for his services to Australian health, research and higher education. Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman said Mr Feeney’s philosophy of “giving while living” had changed the culture of Australian philanthropy. “Mr Feeney has not just donated his own wealth but has encouraged governments at different levels to match that investment in scientific and medical research. His visionary approach has ensured a magnified contribution to society that will endure for many generations, alongside his support for groundbreaking scientific discoveries.”
Professor Marwick said this was an extraordinary legacy which spoke volumes about the power of philanthropy. “As we look to our centenary in 2026, philanthropy has been, and continues to be, a critical part of our story,” he said. “We are enormously grateful to people like Chuck who support our vision to help people live healthier for longer in the community, and to stop cardiovascular disease and diabetes in its tracks.”
Read about Chuck Feeney contributions to Australia’s biomedical research and higher education sectors.
