Charles "Chuck" Feeney, 1931 to 2023, gave away more than 8 billion dollars during his lifetime, and his final and largest commitment created the seven Atlantic Fellows programs and the Atlantic Institute. This tribute gathers reflections from Fellows and staff across the global community on his life, his Giving While Living philosophy, and the legacy that will continue to shape the work for a fairer, healthier, more inclusive world.
The passing of Charles Francis Feeney, affectionately known as Chuck, has been the source of countless tributes from around the world.
Chuck was born into a modest, working-class family in New Jersey, as the Great Depression was unfolding. He was inspired by his mother's charitable impulse and later by Andrew Carnegie's essay, Wealth, which argued that the best use of one's wealth was to help others.
His last big bet was the creation of the seven Atlantic Fellows programs and the Atlantic Institute through his private foundation the Atlantic Philanthropies. Atlantic made its final grant commitments at the end of 2016 and closed its doors in 2020. Over 38 years, it invested over $8 billion in promising programs and people, and in places where it saw the chance to create opportunity and promote greater fairness and equity for all.
Atlantic Fellows and staff from the seven Atlantic Fellows programs and the Atlantic Institute collectively share their reflections on his life, his impact and lasting legacy. At the time of Chuck's death, the Atlantic Fellows community numbered 899 Fellows active in nearly 80 countries, with around 125 program and Institute staff supporting them.
Chuck's immense generosity has left a remarkable legacy that will live on as the Fellowship continues to grow. Over the next two decades, the number of Fellows is expected to grow to 2,700, all committed to bringing lasting improvements to people's lives and advancing a fairer, healthier, more inclusive world.
He donated almost all his personal fortune, more than $8bn, to causes on five continents. Initially, he wanted Atlantic's giving to be anonymous but after his identity was revealed, he decided to actively promote the Giving While Living philosophy. Big donors Warren Buffett and Bill Gates cite him as an inspiration for the Giving Pledge.
We mourn his loss but celebrate a remarkable man and a life well lived. His legacy will positively impact communities around the world for generations to come.
He was renowned for humility and, in particular, his generosity and empathy for people. These are attributes we all aspire to and although he did not like the spotlight, his impact on the world has been immense.
Chuck and Helga with some of the Atlantic Fellows for Equity in Brain Health at the Global Brain Health Institute at UCSF in October 2019. Photo credit: Elisabeth Fall.
My home is the island of Ireland, a land touched by the transformative philanthropy of Chuck Feeney, I am deeply thankful. His contributions for peace, education, and global health inspire me. As an Atlantic Fellow, I'm honored and resolute in pursuing his vision of fairer, healthier, and more inclusive societies.
He pioneered donating to causes for humanity. One thing that attracted my attention is that he didn't want the donations to be named after him.
I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to cross paths with Chuck on my journey. Chuck's immensity cannot be measured: his generosity, purpose in life, and ability to transform other lives is a legacy that will be perpetuated forever.
It was with great emotion that I learned of Chuck's passing. His story and work will forever be engraved on my memory. His departure calls me to work and continue the social mission that he started to make the world a better place in terms of brain health.
Chuck made visionary contributions to the emergence of modern Ireland. His hand is in the peace process, in the transformation of Limerick as a city, the reimagining of third level education and in changing the narrative around ageing and dementia in this country. We will not see his like again.
Chuck Feeney was an extraordinary person, and his time on Earth benefited millions of people. In Jewish tradition, there's a lovely concept called Tzadikim Nistarim. It suggests that in every generation, there are 36 hidden righteous individuals whose purpose in life is to justify humanity's existence in the eyes of God. Even though we don't know who they are, I am sure that Chuck Feeney would certainly be at the top of that list.
Chuck Feeney's global generosity and visionary spirit have sown seeds of equity and change through the Atlantic Fellows, globally. Thank you for inspiring us to create meaningful change and nurturing courageous communities worldwide. I am grateful for your legacy and committed to passing on your impactful work. Thank you, Chuck.
Chuck Feeney put his greatest adage into practice: In the end, it's all about people. I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity to be part of a training program that carries on his legacy, and I hope to give back in kind by reducing inequities related to illiteracy in older adults.
You changed the world for the better. You will be missed. We, your Fellows, will try to continue your legacy of kindness, empathy and unity towards a better future.
Muito obrigada (Thank you), Chuck Feeney! Your selfless commitment to making the world a better place has inspired countless others around the world to follow your noble example. Your legacy of generosity and impact will be always remembered and cherished.
The world has lost a rare gem. A sterling philanthropist. A role model in Giving While Living. Surely, his memory will remain a blessing to me. His global legacy will live on. He will be missed for his kindness. Rest on, Chuck.
Reconnaissante a jamais (forever grateful).
Through generosity and kindness, he has created hope and opportunity beyond what many of us could have dreamed of. Thank you! May he rest in perfect peace.
In memory of the remarkable Chuck Feeney for his selfless generosity that has uplifted countless lives. His unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes and boundless compassion have left an indelible mark on the world.
Beloved and honored for the rare spiritual values of charity, self-sacrifice, and nobility of heart. Rest in peace. You have planted good seeds and left the blossoming to nature.
Chuck didn't just give us a legacy; he gave us a family, an intellectual, socio-emotional and multicultural heirloom to pass along to the upcoming generations of leaders. He has woven us into a living, breathing organism with a heart beating as one.
You made and continue to make significant impacts through your selflessness and generosity. Thank you for living for others, and farewell, Charles Chuck Feeney.
I am always wishing and hoping someone with power would help humanity. He was the exception to the rule that I was hoping to find. We were so far in distance and in age but he impacted my life greatly. I only hope the universe is being kind.
Through your gift: the opportunities for collaborations, friendships, and social justice impact are endless. I am very grateful, and will continue to share this gratitude through my work and interactions with others. I wish you could see what the Atlantic community creates together in 50 years.
It is difficult to think of someone who had a greater impact on the island of Ireland than Chuck Feeney. His was the definition of a meaningful life well led. His legacy inspires us all, and together, we will continue his mission to create more equitable societies for all.
Chuck Feeney was a truly extraordinary man, whose generosity and values have influenced and changed the lives of so many, including myself. I will forever be grateful to him and will continue to be inspired by his life and continue his legacy through my work.
Chuck Feeney redefined what it is to be a changemaker. His unique vision, empathy and compassion shone out. He transformed Irish society. I had the joy of witnessing how he changed the whole landscape for people living with dementia in Ireland.
Chuck Feeney has changed my life in a myriad of ways. Learning about Chuck's work and seeing these values lived out during my time as an Atlantic Fellow at GBHI has played a pivotal role in my career, the values I live by, and how I approach entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
Chuck Feeney will be greatly missed. But the social and institutional changes that his generosity and vision are creating across the globe will continue for a long, long time. He is moving all of us forward into a better place.
A mid-year convening for Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity in Rwanda, an important opportunity to find out more about health equity in a different context. Photo credit: Selam Chale.
A heartfelt eulogy to Chuck Feeney, an eminent philanthropist whose altruistic giving touched many lives, including mine. His dedication to Giving While Living has set a remarkable example for all, reminding us of the power of generosity and the world-changing impact it can have.
Chuck and Helga, with Tom Mitchell (behind) at grantee dinner, Da Nang, Viet Nam, in March 2007. Credit: Le Nhan Phuong.
Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity in South Africa giving a presentation, Who We Are, at the Global Atlantic Fellows Annual Convening 2023 at Rhodes House, Oxford, UK. Photo credit: Lee Atherton.
Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity with program staff at the Global Atlantic Fellows Annual Convening 2023.
Atlantic Fellows from across the programs gathered for the thematic convening, Collective Leadership for Change, hosted by the Atlantic Institute in Oxford in 2022. Photo credit: Lee Atherton.
A private funeral ceremony for the late Irish-American, Chuck Feeney, was held at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin, Ireland, on Friday, Dec. 8. At the burial of his ashes, those gathered heard that Chuck left the world better than he found it through his incredible compassion for the less fortunate.
The world needs the light cast by Mr. Feeney and his great humanity more than ever, said his daughter Leslie Feeney-Baily. The Irish president, Michael D. Higgins, attended the funeral, where he met Mr. Feeney's widow Helga and his five children, Juliette, Caroleen, Leslie, Diane and Patrick.
On the Saturday night (Dec. 9), dozens of the Feeney family members gathered in Dublin's Trinity College dining room at a memorial to remember the man who spent the last four decades of his life giving away his billion-dollar fortune.
Chuck was a tenacious, empathetic and inexhaustible man with an impatience for self-importance and a fundamental drive to invest in people's talents, the memorial heard.
He was a sort of Robin Hood to the people, Patrick, his son, told those attending the event organized by The Atlantic Philanthropies. Others saw him as a bit of a rebel and a peacemaker; some saw him as a sort of freedom fighter like Che Guevara. Other people thought he had taken a vow of poverty like Mother Teresa.
By the time of his death, he had donated more than $8 billion to education, medical research, health care, ageing and civil society through his Atlantic Philanthropies foundation in the United States, Ireland, Vietnam, Australia, Bermuda and South Africa.
A selection of the global media coverage following Chuck Feeney's death on October 9, 2023.
Forbes reran its 2020 profile of the entrepreneur and philanthropist who influenced a generation of America's richest with his Giving While Living philosophy. Warren Buffett said: Chuck's been the model for us all. Chuck Feeney is a good hero to have.
The final big bets of Atlantic Philanthropies included funding the Global Brain Health Institute, creating the Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity with Columbia University and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and forming the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity with the University of Melbourne.
The Irish-American entrepreneur donated more than $8bn to causes on five continents. The Tanaiste Micheal Martin said Mr Feeney had extraordinary generosity, and paid particular tribute to his sustained support for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland over many years.
Charles Chuck Feeney, a retail entrepreneur and investor who amassed a multibillion-dollar fortune and then gave it all away, has died. He was 92.
For decades, the former duty-free tycoon donated nearly $8 billion to humanitarian efforts and institutions. He tried to keep it all secret. The reach of his giving while living was virtually unparalleled in its scope and diversity.
Feeney's final gift to the world was to donate the remaining $740 million of his foundation to build a global network of Atlantic Fellows to advance his vision of a fairer, healthier and more inclusive society. His legacy is the philanthropic model he created, combining anonymity, freedom of action, entrepreneurship, flexibility, limited lifespan, willingness to make big bets and global impact.
Despite his soft-spoken nature and desire for anonymity, he was always glad to talk about what he was learning in the hope of helping others. He inspired others to think about the merits of spending down a foundation's assets, or as he put it, giving while living. I'm grateful to have known and learned from Chuck.
Tributes and obituaries also appeared in The Telegraph, The Times, Forbes India, Forbes Italia, NPR, ABC (Australia), the Cornell Chronicle, the Irish Examiner, the Irish Independent, the New York Post, Vietnam Times, Il Giornale, and the Sydney Morning Herald, reflecting the global reach of his philanthropy across the United States, Ireland, Vietnam, Australia and South Africa.
A selection of films about Chuck Feeney, his Giving While Living philosophy, and the work of The Atlantic Philanthropies.
Human beings suffer, they torture one another, they get hurt and get hard. No poem or play or song can fully right a wrong inflicted and endured. History says, Don't hope on this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime the longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up, and hope and history rhyme. So hope for a great sea-change on the far side of revenge. Believe that a further shore is reachable from here. Believe in miracles and cures and healing wells.
Now it's high watermark and floodtide in the heart and time to go. What's left to say? Suspect too much sweet-talk but never close your mind. It was a fortunate wind that blew me here. I leave half-ready to believe that a crippled trust might walk and the half-true rhyme is love.
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