At first Chuck had lived a jet-set life, but As the wealth of the foundation soared through the more riches he accumulated, the more uncomfortable he became with the trappings of wealth. He got rid of his It’s up to them what they do with shrewd investments, Chuck and the directors took a momentous decision – they would give everything away. As he liked to say, tuxedos, began travelling economy class, and embraced frugality and modesty. their money, but they should try giving ‘There are no pockets in a shroud.’ He became passionate about promoting the He took to heart the advice given to Rockefeller that if he did not distribute it away. It’s fun! cause of giving while living, hence the book. He wished to promote his template, unique in his wealth in his lifetime, it would roll up and its combination of size, freedom of action, speed destroy him and his family. This resonated with Chuck of decisions, flexibility, and global impact. who had five children and was concerned money would spoil them. The industrialist, Andrew Carnegie, once said, ‘He who dies rich, dies disgraced.’ I wanted to put that on the fly page of his He began his philanthropy in the 1980s by setting up a biography, but Chuck said ‘It’s up to them what they do with their foundation to which he quietly transferred all his wealth. money, but they should try giving it away. It’s fun!’ From then on Chuck devoted himself to giving, while continuing to run the business empire. The whole thing was kept secret. Not even his business partners knew. In Ireland he pretended for years to be a front man for a group of rich, concerned Americans. After his billions were disbursed, Chuck spent his final years as a pensioner, living modestly in a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco with his wife Helga. He died on 9 October, not rich, but honoured and respected throughout the world. Giving while living Chuck Feeney was the most generous benefactor to Trinity in the university’s history. Starting in 1994 with the gift that established Trinity Foundation, up until 2015 with the launch of the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) to tackle dementia worldwide, Chuck Feeney supported the university in all facets, with gifts for research programmes, academic posts, research institutes, student accommodation, the Sports Centre, the Ussher Library, and the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities. To walk around campus or to review Trinity research, particularly into ageing and dementia, is to be reminded again and again of the extraordinary impact of Chuck Feeney and his philosophy of ‘giving while living’.
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